What is Dakdoritang
Also called dakbokkeumtang (닭볶음탕) or dakmaeuntang (닭매운탕), dakdoritang (닭도리탕) is a classic chicken dish that’s cooked in a spicy red sauce along with vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions. The result is succulent pieces of chicken packed with spicy and savory flavors! It’s a highly popular chicken dish both at home and restaurants.
The name of this dish has been a controversy in Korea. Dakdoritang is the name I grew up with. Dak means chicken and tang means stew. However, in the 1980’s, the middle part “dori” became controversial. Some people had an opinion that “dori” originated from a Japanese word, so the Korean government came up with the other names mentioned above. In recent years, language scholars have showed a different view, saying that “dori” originated from a pure Korean word dorichida, meaning “cut up.”
The chicken
Dakdoritang is made with small, bone-in chicken pieces. In Korea, it’s usually made by cutting up a whole chicken into small pieces. Since this dish is commonly made at home, a whole chicken is sold pre-cut at markets in Korea.
If you’re buying chicken parts at your local groceries, bone-in and skin-on thighs and drum sticks will be the best for this recipe because they lend much more juice and flavors to the sauce. I sometimes use only chicken wings.
The vegetables
For this dish, potatoes, carrot, onion, mushrooms, and scallions are classic vegetables. You can use Korean radish or sweet potatoes instead of potatoes. Mushrooms are also nice, and a red chili pepper or two give the dish an extra spicy kick and a pop of color. I also like to throw in whole garlic cloves instead of minced garlic. The mellowed and seasoned garlic is delicious! The more the better!
You can also add some starch noodles or tteokbokki rice cakes, if desired. You may need more water if using any of these.
How to make dakdoritang
Here, I’ve included two ways to make this dish — stove top and slow cooker. For my Instant Pot adaptation of this dish, see Pressure cooker dakbokkeumtang.
To cook this on the stovetop, add about 1.5 cups of water to a pot along with the chicken and the sauce ingredients. Boil the chicken for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. And then stir in the vegetables, and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Continue to cook, uncovered this time, until the chicken is tender and the sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
Slow cooker method
Unlike stove top cooking, the liquid doesn’t evaporate quickly in the slow cooker. The amount of sauce and other ingredients in this recipe yields sufficient liquid for slow cooking, leaving just enough sauce at the end. Simply place the chicken pieces and vegetables in the pot, and cook on high heat for about 4 hours (6 hours on low heat).
More braised chicken recipes:
Pressure Cooker Dakbokkeumtang
Jjimdak (Braised chicken)
Slow cooker Dakjjim
For more Korean cooking inspirations, follow along on YouTube, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Ingredients
- 2.5 to 3 pounds bone-in chicken parts cut into small pieces (excess fat removed)
- 10 ounces potatoes cut into big chunks
- 1 medium size carrot (can be omitted) cut into big chunks
- 1/2 large onion cut into big chunks
- 7 to 8 plump garlic cloves
- 2 - 3 thinly sliced ginger pieces (about 1-inch round)
- 2 scallions cut into 2-inch lengths
- 1 red chili pepper - optional
Sauce
- 2 to 3 tablespoons gochugaru (Korean red chili pepper flakes) adjust to taste
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice wine (or mirin)
- 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean red chili pepper paste)
- pinch pepper
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables by cutting up in big chunks.
Stovetop method
- Add 1.5 cups water to a large pot along with the chicken and the sauce (except the sesame oil and sesame seeds). Stir well. Bring it to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, covered, for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the vegetables (except the scallions). Cover, and cook for an additional 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Continue to cook, uncovered this time, until the chicken is tender and the sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the scallions, optional chili pepper, sesame oil and sesame seeds right before turning off the heat.
Slow cooker method
- Place the prepared chicken and vegetables (except the scallions) in the slow cooker. Add all the sauce ingredients (except the sesame oil and seeds). Stir well to coat the chicken and vegetables evenly.
- Turn the slow cooker on high heat. Cover, and cook for about 4 hours. (You can cook on low heat if you’ll be out longer, about 6 hours). Stir in the scallions, sesame oil and sesame seeds. Skim off excess fat before serving, if desired.
