Spicy & Sweet Homemade Chicken
Spicy & Sweet Homemade Chicken
Homemade Spicy and Sweet ‘Gcobza-style’ Chicken Recipe
I bought chicken tenderloins to make a side dish for the kids, and I made this ‘Gcobza-style’ chicken with the leftovers. It turned out to be much more delicious than I expected! It’s a great option for a kid’s meal or a special treat.
Main Ingredients- 500g chicken tenderloins
- 1 handful of gara tteok (rice cakes)
- 1 cup milk
- 1 stalk green onion
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of pepper
- Pinch of ginger powder
- A little cooking oil
Seasoning Ingredients- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp oligodang (corn syrup)
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 1.5 Tbsp ketchup
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 0.5 Tbsp chicken stock
- 2~3 minced Cheongyang chili peppers (optional)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp oligodang (corn syrup)
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 1.5 Tbsp ketchup
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 0.5 Tbsp chicken stock
- 2~3 minced Cheongyang chili peppers (optional)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Rinse the chicken tenderloins thoroughly under running water. To remove any gamey smell and tenderize the meat, soak them in 1 cup of milk for about 20-30 minutes.
Step 2
While the chicken is soaking, let’s prepare the delicious sauce. In a bowl, combine the gochugaru, gochujang, soy sauce, oligodang, sugar, oyster sauce, ketchup, minced garlic, cooking wine, chicken stock, and minced Cheongyang chili peppers. Mix well until the sugar dissolves. Letting the sauce rest allows the flavors to meld, so if possible, refrigerate it for about an hour for an even richer taste.
Step 3
Prepare the gara tteok (rice cakes) to be served alongside. If the rice cakes are hard, soak them in cold water for about 10 minutes until they soften, making them perfect for stir-frying or grilling.
Step 4
For a cleaner taste, we’ll briefly blanch the chicken tenderloins. Fill a pot with plenty of water, add a splash of cooking wine (or soju) and a pinch of ginger powder, and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, add the chicken tenderloins that have been soaked in milk and blanch them for just 1-2 minutes to remove impurities. If you’re short on time or prefer a softer texture, you can skip this step.
Step 5
Since we’ll be pan-frying the chicken, thoroughly pat the blanched tenderloins dry with paper towels. Any remaining moisture can cause oil splattering and prevent the chicken from browning nicely.
Step 6
Heat a pan with a little cooking oil over medium-low heat. Add the sliced garlic and sauté until fragrant. The garlic will infuse the oil with its aroma, enhancing the chicken’s flavor.
Step 7
Once the garlic is lightly golden, add the dried chicken tenderloins and pan-fry them over medium heat until they are golden brown on all sides. Cooking the exterior helps to seal in the juices, resulting in tender and flavorful chicken.
Step 8
When the chicken tenderloins are partially cooked, cut them into bite-sized pieces. Cutting them into smaller pieces allows the sauce to penetrate evenly and makes them easier to eat.
Step 9
Add the cut chicken tenderloins and the prepared rice cakes to the pan. Pour all of the prepared and rested sauce over them. Stir-fry over medium-low heat, making sure not to burn the sauce, until the chicken and rice cakes are well-coated and the sauce has thickened slightly.
Step 10
Once the sauce has reduced and the rice cakes are tender, add the roughly chopped green onion and stir-fry quickly. For an extra layer of flavor, use a kitchen torch to char the surface of the chicken, giving it a smoky aroma reminiscent of restaurant-style dishes. If you don’t have a torch, you can briefly stir-fry over high heat to achieve a similar smoky effect.
Step 11
Transfer the well-cooked chicken to a serving plate. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds for a final touch. Your homemade ‘Gcobza-style’ spicy and sweet chicken is now ready! It’s perfect as a snack for kids or as a delicious appetizer.
