North Korean Food: Braised Chicken (Easier Than Samgyetang)
Thanks to the steaming process, this North Korean–style braised chicken turns out incredibly tender and juicy. It’s a super easy recipe you can make in under 30 minutes, yet it delivers deep, rich chicken flavor you’ll love.
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken
- 3.5 L water
- 2 stalks green onion
- 10 cloves garlic
- 1 onion
- 1 tbsp salt
- 3 tbsp soju (or white wine or skip)
Garnish
- 4 stalks green onion (using chives is original recipe)
Dipping Suace
- 1/2 stalk green onion
- 2 tbsp gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
- 3 tbsp chicken broth
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp vinegar
- 1/2 tbsp sugar (you can skip)
- 1 tsp Korean mustard (yeon-gyoja) (you can use wasabi instead, but it tastes different)
Equipment
Method
- Prep the Chicken: Use kitchen scissors to trim off the tail (fatty rear) and wing tips. Remove any fat. Slice open the belly about 70% of the way (don’t cut completely).
- Lightly snip the leg joints at the top of the thighs to make the chicken easier to open up. Pat the inside clean with paper towels.
- Boil: In a deep pot, Fill the pot with water to the top (3.5L). Add 1 tbsp salt, onion, 2 green onions, and garlic cloves. Bring to a boil.
- Once the green onions start softening, raise to high heat. Add the whole chicken and 3 tbsp soju. Boil for 3 minutes uncovered, then cover and boil for another 20 minutes for a juicy, fast boil.
- Steam the Chicken: Place a steamer rack inside a pot or wok. Place the boiled chicken on top, pour a bit of the broth over it, and steam for 10 minutes over medium heat.
- Blanch the Green Onions for Garnish: In the remaining chicken broth, blanch 4 stalks of green onion for 3–4 minutes. Set aside.
- Make the Dipping Sauce: In a bowl, mix: chopped green onion, gochugaru, chicken broth, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and mustard.Adjust thickness with extra broth, depending on your preference.
North Korean Braised Chicken 이북식 찜닭
- Eat by dipping chicken into the sauce and wrapping with the blanched green onion like ssam.
- Jal meokgetseumnida! 잘 먹겠습니다!
Nutrition
Calories 933kcal | Carbohydrates 22g | Protein 77g | Fat 59g | Saturated Fat 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat 13g | Monounsaturated Fat 24g | Trans Fat 0.4g | Cholesterol 286mg | Sodium 5680mg | Potassium 1193mg | Fiber 5g | Sugar 8g | Vitamin A 3333IU | Vitamin C 22mg | Calcium 200mg | Iron 7mg
