SAMGYETANG (GINSENG CHICKEN SOUP)
This is a traditional Korean soup consumed on the hottest days of summer. Fancier Korean restaurants will often add extra medicinal herbs and aromatics, but the home-cooked, mom-approved samgyetang that Koreans know best has six indispensable ingredients: chicken, garlic, scallions, glutinous rice, ginseng (fresh is preferred) and dried red dates (jujubes). The last three items may be hard to find, but every Korean grocery stocks them. Many shops even sell samgyetang-stuffing kits, which come with a small packet of rice, a couple of dried jujubes and a nub of dried ginseng, with some brands offering additional, often arcanely named aromatics (like milkvetch root or acanthopanax) to fortify the broth. The soup is normally prepared for one, with a single small chicken or Cornish hen served whole in boiling broth. We doubled the recipe to feed two, but it can be easily halved.
Provided by Dave Kim
Categories for two, soups and stews, main course
Time 1h15m
Yield 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Rinse the rice, then cover it with water and soak for at least 2 hours, or overnight. At the same time, soak the ginseng (if using dried; there's no need to soak fresh) and the red dates, separately.
- When rice, dried ginseng and jujubes have finished soaking, drain and rinse them. Remove the giblets from the hens and rub about 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt all over each, inside the cavity and underneath the skin.
- Put a couple of spoonfuls of soaked rice into each cavity, then add the ginseng root, jujubes and garlic, and finish stuffing with more rice. Some cooks truss the birds, but the rice will expand during cooking and keep most of the stuffing inside the cavity.
- Place the two hens and any remaining rice in a pot just big enough to hold them both. Add the white parts of the scallions. Fill the pot with 8 cups water or more, if needed, to cover most of the chicken.
- Cover, bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer gently for 1 hour, until the meat falls easily off the bone.
- Transfer each chicken to a large soup bowl and add the broth. Sprinkle chopped green scallions on top, and salt to taste at the table.
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Beruse Joseph
[email protected]This soup is a great way to celebrate a special occasion. It's elegant and delicious. I highly recommend it.
khutso mokoto
[email protected]This soup is a must-try for any fan of Korean cuisine. It's flavorful, comforting, and healthy. I highly recommend it.
Mustafa dogar Dogar
[email protected]I'm so glad I found this recipe. It's a delicious and healthy way to warm up on a cold day. I will definitely be making this again.
Elosy Kageni
[email protected]This soup is a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables. My kids love the chicken and the broth. They don't even realize they're eating vegetables.
Blanca Sotelo
[email protected]I'm always looking for new and healthy recipes. This soup fits the bill. It's packed with healthy ingredients and it's so delicious. I'm definitely adding this recipe to my regular rotation.
Nawab Yasir
[email protected]This soup is a great way to use up leftover chicken. I always have leftover chicken after a roasted chicken dinner. This soup is a great way to use it up and make a delicious meal.
Mirjamal Shah
[email protected]I love that this recipe is so versatile. I can add or remove ingredients to suit my taste. I also love that it's a one-pot meal. Clean up is a breeze!
Rowland Candy
[email protected]This soup is perfect for a sick day. It's so nourishing and comforting. I always feel better after eating a bowl of this soup.
QueenCoraGGP
[email protected]I made this soup for a party and it was a huge hit. Everyone loved it! I will definitely be making this again for future parties.
batman 1 OOF
[email protected]This soup is a bit time-consuming to make, but it's worth it. The flavor is incredible and it's so comforting. I highly recommend this recipe.
Isrealla Doklah
[email protected]I was hesitant to try this recipe because I'm not a big fan of ginseng. But I'm so glad I did! The ginseng flavor is very subtle and it really adds a unique flavor to the soup. I will definitely be making this again.
Vero Reeds
[email protected]This soup is a great way to warm up on a cold day. It's also very healthy and packed with nutrients. I love that it's made with all-natural ingredients.
Ayuba Wakilat
[email protected]I've made this soup several times now and it's always a hit. It's so easy to make and the results are always delicious. I love that I can use any type of chicken I have on hand.
Soni Lama
[email protected]This soup is amazing! It's so flavorful and comforting. The chicken is fall-off-the-bone tender and the broth is rich and flavorful. I highly recommend this recipe.
Millie Jones
[email protected]I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out great! The soup was so flavorful and the chicken was cooked perfectly. I will definitely be making this again.
Akantorana Aaron
[email protected]This was a delicious and flavorful soup. The chicken was tender and juicy, and the broth was rich and flavorful. I would definitely make this again.