Tender Chicken Drumstick Noodle Soup (Dak-dag-i Kalguksu)
Tender Chicken Drumstick Noodle Soup (Dak-dag-i Kalguksu)
Spicy & Savory Chicken Drumstick Kalguksu ♧ – A Hearty Noodle Delight
We’ve simmered chicken drumsticks until incredibly tender, creating a rich, savory, and slightly spicy broth that’s perfect for slurping up with chewy kalguksu noodles. This dish is a flavor explosion – the deep chicken essence combined with the comforting noodles makes for an irresistible meal. Prepare for a delightful culinary adventure!
Main Ingredients- 700g Chicken drumsticks for braising (preferably boneless or with bone removed for ease)
- 1/4 Onion, thinly sliced
- A generous handful of chives, chopped
- 1 serving Fresh kalguksu noodles
Chicken Seasoning & Sauce- Plenty of Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, adjust to taste)
- A pinch of Salt
- 1 Tbsp Minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp Jangachi Jang (pickled vegetable soy sauce) or Gukganjang (soup soy sauce)
- 1 Tbsp Sesame oil
- Plenty of Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, adjust to taste)
- A pinch of Salt
- 1 Tbsp Minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp Jangachi Jang (pickled vegetable soy sauce) or Gukganjang (soup soy sauce)
- 1 Tbsp Sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Before cooking, it’s a good practice to parboil the chicken in boiling water for about 5 minutes. This step helps to remove any gamey odors and ensures a cleaner taste. Rinse the chicken thoroughly under cold water afterward. Also, inspect the chicken and trim any excess fat or small bones for a more pleasant eating experience.
Step 2
Heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Place the parboiled chicken in the pan and season lightly with salt. Sprinkle gochugaru evenly over the chicken pieces to give them a beautiful color and a base layer of flavor.
Step 3
Sear the chicken on both sides until nicely browned and slightly caramelized, about 2-3 minutes per side. Once seared, turn off the heat and carefully transfer the chicken along with any rendered fat and drippings into a pot. This step locks in the chicken’s juices and adds depth of flavor.
Step 4
Add enough water to the pot to generously cover the chicken. Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat, initiating the process of creating a rich chicken broth.
Step 5
Let the broth simmer vigorously for at least 30 minutes. Keep an eye on the water level; if it reduces too much, add more hot water to maintain the desired broth consistency. Simmering for an extended period is key to extracting maximum flavor from the chicken.
Step 6
Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to simmer. You’ll soon notice a wonderful, comforting aroma filling your kitchen. When the chicken meat starts to pull away from the bone or shrink visibly, it’s tender and cooked through. Add the thinly sliced onions to the pot and simmer for a few more minutes until they soften. The onions will add a natural sweetness to the broth.
Step 7
While the broth is simmering, prepare another pot for cooking the kalguksu noodles. Bring a generous amount of water to a rolling boil. Before adding the noodles, give them a quick rinse under running water to remove excess flour. This helps prevent the noodles from sticking together and keeps the broth clearer.
Step 8
Once the water is boiling, carefully add the rinsed kalguksu noodles. Use chopsticks or a fork to gently stir and separate the noodles immediately, ensuring they don’t clump together as they cook.
Step 9
Cook the noodles for about 9-10 minutes, or until they reach your desired tenderness. They should have a slightly opaque, pearly appearance when done. To check for doneness, carefully remove a strand and taste it to ensure it’s cooked through. Once ready, turn off the heat and drain the noodles.
Step 10
For an extra burst of flavor, you can prepare a simple seasoning sauce. In a small bowl, combine gochugaru, jangachi jang (or soup soy sauce), minced garlic, and sesame oil. Mix well. This sauce can be served on the side for dipping or drizzled over the noodles and chicken. Feel free to customize it to your liking!
Step 11
If the chicken meat seems a bit dry or crumbly after simmering (sometimes this happens with overcooking), don’t worry! The seasoning sauce is your secret weapon. Drizzle the prepared sauce over the chicken pieces before eating. This adds moisture and a fantastic flavor kick that complements the tender chicken beautifully.
Step 12
To serve, ladle the rich, hot chicken broth into a bowl. Add the cooked kalguksu noodles, then top generously with the tender chicken drumstick pieces and a sprinkle of fresh, chopped chives. Enjoy this incredibly flavorful and comforting bowl of chicken drumstick kalguksu!
