Korean Sweet and Spicy Chicken – Your next favourite dish!

I remember the first time I tried this, a few years back when I was working in Victoria, London. One of the stalls at lunchtime was from a Korean kitchen and they were serving Korean sweet and spicy chicken or known in Korean as dakgangjeong. I was curious. I hadn’t really eaten much Korean food up until this point and the dish looked delicious so I bought it. It was so yummy! I loved the sweet and spicy flavours coated over a thick sauce that enriched the crispy fried chicken. It was that dish that got me eating more Korean dishes from then on.

And so I have took it upon myself to learn the dish so that I can make it at my disposal and eat it whenever I like. Note that this is a slight variation of the popular dish, in that the chicken is not deep fried and so the final texture is more succulent and juicy rather than crispy and chewy. I have also added onions to heighten the flavours, but the flavour in my opinion is just the same!

Equipment

I have to say but since getting this rice cooker, I barely make rice on the stove anymore. It is so easy to use and I can be sure that my rice is going to come out perfectly without any sticking to the bottom of the pan or overcooking. What’s more is that it comes with a handy steaming tray which I used to steam dumplings before it got irretrievably stuck in another pot and I had to throw both away! D:

Ingredients

Chicken Marinade:
450 grams boneless chicken thighs
1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cornstarch

Korean Sweet and Spicy Sauce:
1 tbsp gochujang chili paste
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tsp ground chili powder
2 tbsp brown sugar

For cooking:
3 tbsp sesame oil
1 red onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped

Cooking instructions

1. Prepare the Chicken Marinade
Start by cutting the boneless chicken thighs into small, bite-sized pieces. Place the chicken pieces in a mixing bowl and add the marinating ingredients: Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, oyster sauce, black pepper, and cornstarch. Thoroughly mix the ingredients, ensuring the chicken is evenly coated. Let it marinate for at least 10 minutes.

2. Prepare the Korean Sweet and Spicy Sauce
In a small bowl, combine the ingredients for the Korean sweet and spicy sauce: gochujang chili paste, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, ground chili powder, and brown sugar. Stir the mixture until well blended.

3. Let’s cook
Heat up 3 tablespoons of sesame oil in a frying pan or wok over medium heat. Add the chopped red onion and garlic to the pan and sauté until they become fragrant and slightly caramelized. Next, add in the marinated chicken pieces to the pan and stir-fry until thoroughly cooked. This should take about 10 minutes, and the chicken should be tender and slightly browned.

5. Serve and enjoy!
Serve with a fluffy bowl of rice (I recommend jasmine rice). I also love to add fried egg to my asian dishes, and with this dish I also added a side of kelp and boiled cabbage. So delicious!

Storage for Korean Sweet and Spicy Chicken

For any leftovers, you can simply store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Or alternatively you can freeze the chicken for up to 2 months.

FAQs when making Korean Sweet and Spicy Chicken

1. Can I adjust the spiciness level of the dish to suit my preference? Yes, instead of 1 tbsp gochujang sauce you can use 1/2 tbsp instead. Omit the dried chilli flakes altogether. On the flip side, add more gochujang to make the dish even spicier.
2. What can I substitute for boneless chicken thighs if I don’t have them on hand? You can certainly use chicken breast, however note that the texture won’t be as succulent and juicy. Nonetheless it will still be delicious so go ahead!
3. Is Shaoxing wine necessary for the marinade, and can I use a substitute if I don’t have it? Shaoxing wine is a staple when it comes to Asian cooking (particularly in China). However, if you don’t have it then you can substitute with apple cider vinegar or rice wine. In my opinion, omitting altogether won’t ruin the dish either.
4. Can I serve this korean sweet and spicy chicken dish with something other than rice or noodles? Though this dish is scrumptious with rice or noodles, you can certainly make a wrap out of it! Or alternatively skip the carbs and eat alongside a bowl of steam vegetables suchs as tenderstem brocolli or bok choy. Get creative!

Korean Sweet and Spicy Chicken – Oh so scrumptious!

Ever tried Korean sweet and spicy chicken? Well if not you have to try this dish because it is absolutely yummy! The spices won't leave you gasping for water but the flavours will leave you wanting so much more!

2.78 from 9 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Asian, Chinese

Servings 4 people

Calories 380 kcal

Ingredients

  

Chicken marinade

• 450 grams boneless chicken thighs
• 1 tbsp shaoxing wine
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp corn starch

Korean Sweet and Spicy Sauce

• 1 tbsp gochujang chilli paste
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tsp ground chilli powder
• 2 tbsp brown sugar

Cooking

• 3 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 red onion chopped
• 3 garlic cloves chopped

Instructions

 

• Prepare the chicken marinade by cutting the boneless chicken thighs into small bites. Add to a bowl and add all the marinating ingredients (shaoxing wine, soy sauce, oyster sauce, black pepper, corn starch). Mix and set aside for at least 10 minutes.
• In a small bowl, add in the ingredients for the sweet and spicy korean sauce and mix well.
• In a pan, heat up 3 tablespoons of sesame oil and then fry the onions and garlic until fragrant.
• Add in the marinated chicken and fry until thoroughly cooked. This should take about 10 minutes.
• Then add in the sauce and mix together. Add about 3 tablespoons of water, mix and simmer for 10 minutes. After this time the sauce should have thickened and darkened and now you're ready to serve your korean sweet and spicy chicken!

Keyword Stovetop

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