Abalone and Young Chicken Samgyetang: A Perfect Pairing for a Revitalizing Meal
Abalone and Young Chicken Samgyetang: A Perfect Pairing for a Revitalizing Meal
Escape the Heat and Recharge with Abalone Samgyetang!
Today, we’re making Samgyetang for my daughter, a true chicken dish enthusiast! Instead of a large chicken, we’re using tender young chickens, perfect for individual servings and packed with flavor. This Abalone Samgyetang is designed to be both delicious and nourishing. Enjoy a hearty, comforting meal that will boost your energy and help you beat the lingering summer heat!
Main Ingredients- 4 cleaned young chickens
- 3 cups glutinous rice, soaked
- 3 fresh abalones
- 12 jujubes (Korean dates)
- 20 cloves garlic
- 2 roots of ginseng
- 1 pack of medicinal herbs for soup
- 1 handful of green onion leaves
Seasoning & Garnish- 0.5 Tbsp salt
- 2 Tbsp minced green onion
- Pinch of black pepper to taste
- 0.5 Tbsp salt
- 2 Tbsp minced green onion
- Pinch of black pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the glutinous rice thoroughly and let it soak in water for about 1 hour. Soaking the rice will help it cook into a wonderfully soft and delicious texture inside the chicken.
Step 2
Now, let’s prepare the ingredients that will add depth and flavor to our Samgyetang. Rinse the jujubes clean. Peel the garlic cloves. Scrub the abalones under running water to remove any grit. Gently rinse the ginseng roots to remove any soil. Using a pre-made medicinal herb pack for Samgyetang will make it even easier to achieve a rich, complex broth.
Step 3
It’s time to prepare the chickens! Start by trimming off the excess fat from the tail end of each chicken. Also, snip off the tips of the wings. It’s crucial to thoroughly clean out the cavity, removing any internal organs, as these can cause unwanted odors. If you prefer, you can remove the chicken skin at this point. However, for those who enjoy the skin, carefully trimming away excess fat while leaving the skin intact will result in a more flavorful and less greasy dish.
Step 4
And here we have 4 beautifully prepared young chickens! Although I originally planned to use only 3, they were sold in packs of two, so we ended up with a generous portion for 4 people. This is a great amount for the whole family to enjoy!
Step 5
Make a small slit in the leg of each prepared chicken. This slit will be used to tuck the other leg into, securely sealing the stuffing (glutinous rice and other ingredients) inside the chicken cavity. This prevents the filling from escaping during cooking and keeps everything neatly contained.
Step 6
Now, let’s stuff the chickens. Add about 3 tablespoons of the pre-soaked glutinous rice into the cavity of each chicken. Follow with the aromatic garlic cloves and sweet jujubes, layering them inside to create a flavorful filling.
Step 7
Take one chicken leg and tuck it firmly into the slit you made in the other leg. This technique ensures that all the delicious filling stays securely inside the chicken throughout the cooking process, resulting in a neat and attractive presentation.
Step 8
Arrange the prepared chickens in a large pot. Pour in enough water to fully cover the chickens. Add the green onion leaves, ginseng roots, jujubes, the pack of medicinal herbs, and the 0.5 tablespoon of coarse salt. Boiling these ingredients together will infuse the broth with the natural flavors of the chicken and the aromatic essence of the herbs, creating a deep and satisfying soup.
Step 9
Begin by bringing the soup to a boil over high heat. Once it starts to boil vigorously, use a ladle to skim off any foam or scum that rises to the surface; this will ensure a clear and clean broth. After skimming, reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer gently for 50 minutes, allowing the chicken to become tender and fully cooked.
Step 10
We’re almost there! Add the prepared abalones to the pot and continue to simmer for an additional 10 minutes to complete the Abalone Samgyetang. It’s best to add the abalones towards the end of the cooking time, as overcooking can make them tough. This short cooking time will keep them delightfully chewy and tender.
Step 11
After removing the Samgyetang from the pot, you can make a delicious chicken porridge (Dak Juk)! Add the remaining cooked glutinous rice and any leftover broth to the pot and simmer for another 10 minutes. This is a wonderful way to use up any leftover ingredients and enjoy a second, hearty dish without any extra effort.
Step 12
Ladle the steaming hot Abalone Samgyetang into individual bowls. Garnish with the minced green onions and a sprinkle of black pepper, according to your preference. Even though summer is officially winding down, the humid and hot weather often lingers. This revitalizing Abalone Samgyetang is the perfect way to combat the late-season heat and boost your energy. Enjoy this comforting Korean classic!
