Spicy and Sweet Chewy Dakbal (Korean Spicy Chicken Feet)
Authentic ‘Spicy Dakbal’ Recipe from Mom, Perfect for Late-Night Snacking
Tender chicken feet coated in a fiery, flavorful sauce are always a welcome late-night treat! How about enjoying a cozy movie night at home this weekend while picking at some delicious dakbal? This recipe ensures you can recreate this popular Korean dish easily at home, perfect for any occasion.
Boiling Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs (approx. 1kg) chicken feet
- 1/4 onion
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1 piece ginger (garlic-sized)
- 5 whole peppercorns
- 1 stalk green onion (with roots)
- 1/2 cup cooking wine (or soju)
- 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt (for washing)
- 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt (for boiling)
Spicy Sauce Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 6 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 piece ginger, minced (garlic-sized)
- 1 Tbsp sugar (leveled)
- 3 Tbsp corn syrup or rice syrup
- 8 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 4 Tbsp chopped green onion
- A pinch of black pepper
- 2 spicy chili peppers (optional)
- 2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 6 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 piece ginger, minced (garlic-sized)
- 1 Tbsp sugar (leveled)
- 3 Tbsp corn syrup or rice syrup
- 8 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 4 Tbsp chopped green onion
- A pinch of black pepper
- 2 spicy chili peppers (optional)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, it’s crucial to clean the chicken feet thoroughly. Place the chicken feet in a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of coarse sea salt, and rub them vigorously with your hands to remove any dirt or impurities. Then, add enough water to fully submerge the chicken feet and let them soak for about 20 minutes to draw out any remaining impurities. Rinse them thoroughly under cold running water. Place the cleaned chicken feet into a pressure cooker. Add about 1.5 times the amount of water as chicken feet. Add the prepared onion, whole garlic cloves, ginger, green onion stalk, whole peppercorns, and 1 tablespoon of coarse sea salt. Close the pressure cooker lid and bring to high heat. Once the whistle blows, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the pressure release naturally until the cooker is safe to open; this ensures the chicken feet become tender.
Step 2
While the chicken feet are cooking in the pressure cooker, let’s prepare the delicious spicy sauce! In a bowl, combine 8 tablespoons of soy sauce. If using spicy chilies, add them along with 5 minced garlic cloves and 1 minced ginger piece (garlic-sized). Blend these ingredients until smooth using a blender or a grater.
Step 3
To the smoothly blended sauce base, add 2 tablespoons of gochujang, 6 tablespoons of gochugaru, 1 leveled tablespoon of sugar, 3 tablespoons of corn syrup (or rice syrup), 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds, and a pinch of black pepper.
Step 4
Stir all the sauce ingredients together until well combined. Finally, add 4 tablespoons of finely chopped green onions and mix once more thoroughly. Making the sauce in advance and letting it rest will allow the flavors to meld beautifully, resulting in a richer, more complex taste and a more appealing color. We recommend letting it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Step 5
Drain the well-cooked chicken feet from the pressure cooker using a sieve. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the drained chicken feet and pour all the prepared sauce over them. Gently toss and coat the chicken feet evenly with the sauce.
Step 6
Now, reduce the heat to medium and stir-fry the chicken feet, allowing the sauce to deeply penetrate and coat them. Continue to stir and cook until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy, coating the chicken feet. In the final stage, increase the heat to high and stir-fry briefly to achieve a slightly crisp texture on the outside while remaining chewy inside. Taste the dakbal and adjust the seasoning if needed by adding more gochugaru for spiciness, soy sauce for saltiness, or sugar for sweetness, according to your personal preference.
Step 7
Transfer the deliciously stir-fried spicy and sweet dakbal to a serving plate. Enjoy your homemade Korean spicy chicken feet with steamed rice or a cold beer!
