Nourishing & Hearty Chicken Guksu (Noodle Soup)
A Comforting Chicken Guksu Recipe for Parents, Perfect for Boosting Energy
As the weather fluctuates, it’s easy to feel drained. For generations, Koreans have turned to hearty chicken soup to replenish their energy. Just like eating Samgyetang during the hottest summer days, chicken and its broth are known for their revitalizing properties. In celebration of Parents’ Day, I wanted to prepare a special dish for my parents. Luckily, I had some noodles at home! Noodles have long symbolized longevity and are a staple in celebratory meals. Combining the nourishing power of chicken soup with the auspicious meaning of noodles makes this Chicken Guksu a perfect fit for occasions like Parents’ Day. Let’s make this delightful and energy-boosting meal together!
For the Chicken Soup Base- 1 piece chicken breast
- 1 piece chicken thigh
- 1300ml water
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 Tbsp minced ginger
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 stalk green onion (chopped)
- 1 whole onion (washed thoroughly, skin on)
For the Noodles and Seasoning Sauce- 2 servings somen noodles
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce (jin ganjang)
- 2 Tbsp red pepper flakes (gochugaru)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 cheongyang chili pepper (finely chopped)
- 1/3 Tbsp sugar
- 2 servings somen noodles
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce (jin ganjang)
- 2 Tbsp red pepper flakes (gochugaru)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 cheongyang chili pepper (finely chopped)
- 1/3 Tbsp sugar
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the spicy seasoning sauce that will accompany the chicken guksu. Finely chop the cheongyang chili pepper for the sauce. If you enjoy a spicier kick, feel free to add more.
Step 2
Combine all the seasoning sauce ingredients in a small bowl, including the finely chopped cheongyang chili pepper: soy sauce, red pepper flakes, minced garlic, and sugar.
Step 3
Mix everything thoroughly until well combined. The seasoning sauce is now ready. Setting it aside for a bit will allow the flavors to meld beautifully.
Step 4
Now, let’s begin making the chicken soup. Rinse the chicken breast and thigh pieces. We’ll briefly boil the chicken to remove any impurities and gamey odors. Boil for about 5 minutes.
Step 5
Discard the initial boiling water. Rinse the chicken pieces under cold running water to ensure they are clean. This step helps achieve a clear and clean chicken broth.
Step 6
Place the cleaned chicken pieces into a pot. Add 1300ml of water. Ensure the water level covers the chicken generously, about two-thirds of the pot’s height.
Step 7
Add the whole washed onion to the pot. The onion will help eliminate any chicken odor and add a pleasant sweetness to the broth. Leaving the skin on can also enhance the broth’s color.
Step 8
Add 1/2 tablespoon of minced ginger. Ginger not only helps remove any unwanted chicken smell but also complements the chicken flavor, adding a subtle warmth.
Step 9
Bring the pot to a boil over high heat, uncovered. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer until the chicken is cooked through.
Step 10
When the volume of the broth has reduced by about one-third, add the remaining 1300ml of water (the same amount as the initial addition). Adding water in two stages helps develop a deeper, richer flavor in the broth.
Step 11
After adding the second round of water and bringing it back to a boil, continue to simmer for about 10 more minutes. Then, carefully remove the chicken pieces. Let them cool slightly before shredding them into bite-sized pieces.
Step 12
With the chicken removed, season the remaining clear broth with salt to your taste. Remember to season lightly, as the seasoning sauce will add more saltiness later.
Step 13
Add 1/2 tablespoon of minced garlic to the well-simmered chicken broth. The garlic will add a wonderful depth of flavor to the soup.
Step 14
Return the shredded chicken to the pot. Simmer over medium-low heat for another 15 minutes, allowing the chicken’s flavor to infuse thoroughly into the broth. Your delicious chicken soup base is now ready.
Step 15
While the soup is simmering, it’s time to cook the noodles. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil and add the somen noodles. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent them from sticking together.
Step 16
Once the noodles are cooked, immediately rinse them thoroughly under cold running water to remove excess starch. Drain them completely. This process makes the noodles wonderfully chewy and firm.
Step 17
Simply adding the cold noodles to the hot soup can cool it down and dilute the flavor. Also, plain noodles can taste bland on their own. To prevent this, we’ll use a technique called ‘to-gyeom,’ where you dip the drained, chewy noodles into the hot chicken soup about 5-6 times. This warms the noodles evenly and allows them to absorb some of the soup’s rich flavor, resulting in a much more delicious dish.
Step 18
Finally, prepare the chopped green onion as a garnish. The fresh green onion adds a lovely aroma and a pop of color to the finished dish.
Step 19
Place the ‘to-gyeom’-ed noodles into a serving bowl. Ladle a generous amount of the hot, flavorful chicken soup over the noodles. Top with the shredded chicken and garnish with the prepared spicy seasoning sauce and chopped green onion. Your nourishing and delicious Chicken Guksu is complete! Enjoy your meal!
