Sweet Potato Dakbokkeumtang (Spicy Braised Chicken with Sweet Potato)
Delicious Dakbokkeumtang Recipe Enhanced with Sweet Pumpkin!
Store-bought Dakbokkeumtang can easily cost over $20 per chicken, but buying chicken to cook at home is incredibly affordable! Since this is a recipe for a single household, I’m sharing a Dakbokkeumtang recipe that is both budget-friendly and easy for anyone to make. Let’s get started!
Main Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken for Dakbokkeumtang
- 1/4 small pumpkin (or kabocha squash)
- 1/2 onion
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the chicken prepared for Dakbokkeumtang. It’s highly recommended to parboil the chicken before braising. Boil it for about 5-10 minutes. This step helps remove excess fat and impurities, resulting in a cleaner taste, and also allows the sauce to penetrate the chicken more effectively.
Step 2
Prepare the vegetables. Chop the onion into large pieces. For the pumpkin, remove the skin and seeds, then cut it into bite-sized pieces. The natural sweetness of the pumpkin will beautifully complement the spicy flavors of the dish, adding a wonderful depth.
Step 3
In a mixing bowl, combine the seasoning ingredients: 2 tablespoons of gochujang, 2.5 tablespoons of gochugaru, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1.5 tablespoons of sugar, a pinch of black pepper, and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. Whisk them together until well combined to create the Dakbokkeumtang sauce.
Step 4
Drain the parboiled chicken and discard the water. Place the chicken in a clean pot. Add enough fresh water to cover about half of the chicken. Once the water starts to boil, add all the prepared Dakbokkeumtang sauce. Gently stir to ensure the ingredients don’t stick together.
Step 5
Stir well to distribute the sauce evenly over the chicken. Cover the pot with a lid and simmer over medium heat for about 20 minutes, allowing the chicken to cook through.
Step 6
When the chicken is almost cooked and the sauce has thickened slightly, add the prepped pumpkin and onion. Continue to simmer for another 5-10 minutes, or until the pumpkin and onion are tender. Be gentle when stirring to avoid breaking down the pumpkin too much.
Step 7
Finally, add chopped scallions and red chili peppers according to your preference for extra flavor and aroma. Simmer for a final minute. Your delicious Dakbokkeumtang with sweet pumpkin is now ready to be enjoyed with a warm bowl of rice!
