Homemade “Zico’s Chicken” Style Stir-fry
Recreate Zico’s Famous Chicken at Home!
Craving a delicious snack or side dish, especially with a drink? I decided to make ‘Zico’s Chicken’ style stir-fry using chicken breast I had on hand! It’s surprisingly close to the original, about 90% similar in taste and texture. This spicy and sweet chicken is perfect as a meal accompaniment or a delightful accompaniment to your favorite beverages.
Main Ingredients
- 400g chicken breast
- A small handful of rice cake sticks (tteokguk tteok)
- Generous sprinkle of sesame seeds (for garnish)
- 40g olive oil (approx. 3.5 tablespoons)
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce (jin ganjang)
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 3 Tbsp corn syrup (mulyeot)
- 1 Tbsp ketchup
- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce (jin ganjang)
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 3 Tbsp corn syrup (mulyeot)
- 1 Tbsp ketchup
- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, pat the chicken breast dry with paper towels and cut it into bite-sized pieces (about 3-4 cm). Heat a generous amount of olive oil (40g) in a pan over medium heat. Add the cut chicken breast and stir-fry until the surface is lightly browned. When the chicken is about 70-80% cooked, cut it in half; this helps ensure it cooks through evenly. While the chicken cooks, let’s prepare the delicious sauce!
Step 2
Prepare the sauce. In a small bowl, add 2 tablespoons of soy sauce.
Step 3
Add 2 tablespoons of sugar for sweetness.
Step 4
Add 2 tablespoons of gochugaru (Korean chili powder) for a spicy kick.
Step 5
Add 3 tablespoons of corn syrup for shine and sweetness. If the corn syrup is thick, warming it slightly can make measuring easier.
Step 6
Add 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce for a rich, savory flavor.
Step 7
Include 1 tablespoon of ketchup for a sweet and tangy note.
Step 8
Add 1 tablespoon of gochujang (Korean chili paste) to enhance the spiciness.
Step 9
Finally, add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. Stir all the sauce ingredients thoroughly with a spoon until well combined to create the sauce.
Step 10
Pour all the prepared sauce over the cooked chicken breast in the pan. Keep the heat on medium and stir continuously with a spatula, allowing the sauce to coat and penetrate the chicken. It’s important to stir-fry until the sauce clings to the surface of the chicken.
Step 11
Once the sauce has coated the chicken, add the rice cake sticks and continue to stir-fry them together. Ensure the rice cakes are separated and coated with the sauce.
Step 12
Continue stir-frying over medium heat until the rice cakes are tender and the sauce has thickened and reduced. Be careful not to burn the sauce. Stir until you reach your desired consistency. The sauce should become glossy and coat the chicken and rice cakes beautifully.
Step 13
Turn off the heat once everything is cooked. Finally, sprinkle generously with sesame seeds for a visually appealing and nutty finish. Your delicious ‘Zico’s Chicken’ style stir-fry is ready! It tastes best served immediately while hot.
