Korean Perilla Chicken Soup
Quick answer
Deulkkae samgye-guk is a perilla-enriched Korean chicken soup that delivers the warming, restorative depth of samgyetang with a considerably simpler preparation -- no glu...
What makes this special
- Deulkkae samgye-guk provides a simplified chicken tonic enriched with the nutty body of ground perilla seeds.
- Perilla powder alone adds nutty body and depth, no ginseng or glutinous rice
- Pre-mixing perilla powder with water before adding prevents clumping in the broth
Key ingredients
Core cooking flow
- 1 Cut 0.5 whole chicken into large 5 cm pieces, then rinse away any blood or bone fragments.
- 2 Set the pot over high heat and bring it to a strong boil.
- 3 Add 2 green onion stalks and 5 garlic cloves, then lower the heat to medium and simmer for 40 minutes.
Deulkkae samgye-guk is a perilla-enriched Korean chicken soup that delivers the warming, restorative depth of samgyetang with a considerably simpler preparation -- no glutinous rice to stuff, no ginseng required, just chicken pieces and perilla seed powder. The chicken is cut into large pieces and placed in cold water from the start, then simmered for forty minutes so the collagen and flavor compounds dissolve gradually into the broth, turning it milky and full-bodied. Perilla powder must be pre-dissolved in a small cup of water before being stirred in -- adding it dry causes it to clump -- and ten more minutes of gentle simmering allows its oils to emulsify fully into the chicken stock, creating a broth with a smooth, nutty coating on every sip. Seasoning with only soup soy sauce and salt lets the natural savoriness of the chicken and the distinctive fragrance of perilla come through without distraction. Rich in the omega-3 fatty acids of perilla seed and the protein of chicken, this soup is eaten as a restorative meal during hot summers and whenever energy levels drop.
Instructions
Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.
- 1Prep
Cut 0.5 whole chicken into large 5 cm pieces, then rinse away any blood or bone fragments.
Place the chicken in a pot with 1500 ml cold water so the broth can extract gradually from the start.
- 2Finish
Set the pot over high heat and bring it to a strong boil.
As gray foam gathers on the surface, skim it off with a ladle so the finished soup tastes clean and the broth stays clear.
- 3Control
Add 2 green onion stalks and 5 garlic cloves, then lower the heat to medium and simmer for 40 minutes.
The broth should turn milky, and the chicken should begin to loosen gently from the bone.
- 4Prep
In a small bowl, mix 3 tsp perilla seed powder with a few spoonfuls of water before adding it.
Do not add the dry powder directly, because it can clump and leave a gritty texture.
- 5Control
Pour the dissolved perilla mixture slowly into the broth while stirring.
Simmer over medium low heat for 10 more minutes, letting the nutty oils blend into the chicken stock and lightly thicken it.
- 6Finish
Season with 1 tsp soup soy sauce and 1 tsp salt, then let the soup return to a brief boil.
Remove the green onion stalks, taste the broth, and serve it hot while the texture is smooth.
After the steps
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