Creamy Perilla Seed Chicken Soup (Dak Gomtang)
A Nourishing Perilla Seed Chicken Soup for Chobok (Summer Solstice) – A Hearty Twist on Samgyetang
This is our family’s go-to chicken soup recipe, perfect not just for the hot summer days, but also whenever someone feels a cold coming on, when kimchi is perfectly fermented and needs a companion, or when you simply lack ideas for soup or side dishes. Adding perilla seed powder to our usual chicken soup makes the broth milky white, rich, and wonderfully savory!
Key Ingredients- 1 whole chicken (approx. 1kg)
- 7 jujube dates
- 1 ginseng root
- 10 cloves garlic
- 2.5 liters of water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (for seasoning the broth)
- 10 tablespoons perilla seed powder
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare one whole chicken. Remove the skin and cut the chicken into manageable pieces. Rinse thoroughly under cold running water and drain. (Tip: If you prefer a chewier texture, remove the skin. Trimming excess fat from the chicken will also result in a lighter, cleaner broth.)
Step 2
Gather the aromatic jujube dates (7), invigorating ginseng root (1), and pungent garlic cloves (10). (Tip: For this recipe, use a thick, 5-6 year old ginseng root rather than the smaller ones typically used in Samgyetang for a more robust flavor.)
Step 3
Slice the thicker parts of the ginseng root diagonally into bite-sized pieces. Place the sliced ginseng, jujube dates, and whole garlic cloves at the bottom of a pot.
Step 4
Pour 2.5 liters of water into the pot, ensuring the ingredients are submerged. Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, add the prepared chicken pieces to the pot.
Step 5
As the soup cooks, skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface using a spoon or ladle. Once it returns to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes to allow the chicken’s flavor to infuse the broth.
Step 6
After the chicken has simmered, lightly season the broth with 1.5 teaspoons of salt. (You can adjust the seasoning further after adding the perilla seed powder.)
Step 7
Now for the star ingredient! Measure out 10 tablespoons of perilla seed powder. To prevent lumps, you can sift it or whisk it thoroughly into the broth until smoothly incorporated. Let it simmer gently for a short while to allow the flavors to meld.
Step 8
Ladle the finished perilla seed chicken soup into warm bowls. For an extra touch of freshness and flavor, garnish with finely chopped green onions just before serving. Enjoy this comforting and richly flavored perilla seed chicken soup, a perfect nourishing meal!
