Clear and Savory Chicken Soup for Your Baby
Baby’s Chicken Soup (Dakgomtang) with Bean Sprouts: A Nourishing Dish for Colds
A gentle chicken soup, perfect for baby food. This recipe is like a mild Dakgaejang, with added bean sprouts for a refreshing taste, making it an excellent choice for colds and a comforting meal. It’s designed to be nutritious and easy for little ones to enjoy.
Ingredients- 6 chicken drumsticks
- 1 onion
- 1 piece of radish (about 5cm thick)
- 20 cloves of garlic
- 1 handful of bean sprouts
- 1 stalk of green onion
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s gather the ingredients for our delicious chicken soup: 6 chicken drumsticks for a rich broth, 1 fresh onion, a piece of radish about 5cm thick, 20 whole garlic cloves, a handful of crisp bean sprouts, and 1 stalk of green onion for added flavor.
Step 2
Now, let’s prepare the ingredients so they’re perfect for your baby. Cut the radish into bite-sized pieces that are easy for a baby spoon to scoop. Use only half of the onion, and finely chop the green onion.
Step 3
To make a clean broth that’s easy to strain later, place the garlic cloves in a soup bag. We’re also adding the root of the green onion, after washing it thoroughly, to enhance the soup’s savory depth.
Step 4
The green onion root is a secret ingredient that adds a wonderful savory aroma and richness to your cooking. Don’t throw it away – use it to boost the flavor!
Step 5
Place the thoroughly washed chicken drumsticks in a pot. Add the garlic in the soup bag, half the onion, and simmer for 30-40 minutes until tender. If you have mirin or cooking wine, adding about 2 tablespoons can help remove any gamey odors. However, today, the generous amount of garlic was enough to neutralize any smells. Remember, using the freshest ingredients is the most crucial step for a clear, odor-free broth!
Step 6
Since we’re using chicken drumsticks, which are relatively low in fat, not much scum will rise to the surface. However, to ensure a perfectly clear broth, skim off any foam that appears during simmering.
Step 7
Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove the onion and garlic that were used for the broth. These ingredients have now done their job of infusing the soup with flavor. Goodbye!
Step 8
Add the sliced radish and the remaining half of the onion to the clear chicken broth. Cook until the radish becomes translucent. This step will add a natural sweetness and refreshing quality to the soup.
Step 9
Take the cooked chicken drumsticks and rinse them under cold running water. This helps to firm up the meat and makes it easier to shred.
Step 10
Once the chicken has cooled slightly, shred it along the grain into pieces that are easy for your baby to eat. Tearing them into small, manageable pieces will help prevent spills during mealtime.
Step 11
When the vegetables are tender, add the shredded chicken and the handful of bean sprouts to the pot. Bring it to a boil again for a short while. The bean sprouts will add a delightful crispness and refreshing taste.
Step 12
As the soup simmers, it will gradually turn into a rich, milky white broth. The bean sprouts give it a slight pale yellow hue. Finally, season with salt according to your baby’s age and preference. Your delicious chicken soup is ready!
Step 13
This baby chicken soup, simmered for over an hour, boasts a wonderfully rich and savory broth. Using only chicken drumsticks with less fat meant less effort skimming off oil during cooking. My 35-month-old twins absolutely loved it, drinking the broth right up with their meals thanks to the tender chicken and deep, comforting flavor. They recently had a bad cold, and I feel like this homemade soup helped them recover so much faster! (Maybe it’s just my hopeful thinking?)
Step 14
Today, I shared a baby food recipe for chicken soup with bean sprouts, perfect for fighting off colds. When you don’t have many side dishes, this one soup can be a star dish all on its own. While it takes time to cook, the process is straightforward, making it easy for anyone to try. Gift your little ones the nourishing goodness they need during this changing season. 🙂
