Chicken drumsticks
|
4 |
---|---|
Sour cream
|
200 ml |
Broccoli
|
1 |
Small leek
|
½ |
Carrot
|
1 |
Red pepper
|
1 |
Oyster sauce
|
3 tbsp |
Honey
|
2 tsp |
Sesame oil
|
1 tbsp |
Toasted sesame seeds
|
9 g |
Honey
|
2 tbsp |
---|---|
Japanese soy sauce
|
1 tbsp |
Oyster sauce
|
1 tbsp |
Garlic cloves, grated
|
2 |
White wine vinegar
|
2 tsp |
Sambal oelek
|
22½ ml |
Butter & rapeseed oil
|
3 tbsp |
Salt
|
½ tsp |
Pepper to taste
|
Sticky, sweet, smoky, and spicy, this recipe is the embodiment of umami and represents the very best of Korean street food. Served here with rice and vegetables as a dinner-time feast, it can just as easily be transformed into a finger food at a sophisticated cocktail party, served cold at the picnic table, or rested on a bed of salad as a light lunch.
Achieving umami is not easy. It requires the skilful blending of complex flavours, from sweet and salty to bitter and sour, that has you close your eyes and give a sigh of pure wonder. This recipe for spicy Korean chicken manages just that, and you will find it near impossible to stop at just one serving.
Because the flavour of this recipe is so big, keep your side dishes simple and complimentary. Traditional options include a spicy Korean cucumber salad, bowl of kimchi (available in most grocery stores), or Gamja Jorim (Korean braised potatoes). A bowl of steamed rice, cooling coleslaw salad, or homemade garlic bread are also great ideas that will go well with this recipe.
Beer with chicken is such a popular pairing in Korea that, much like a celebrity couple, it has its very own blended name: chimaek (“chi” for chicken and “maek” for maekju or beer). A crisp rosé, sparkling wine like Cava or Prosecco, or a fruity Riesling also compliment the dish’s big and bold flavours. For a non-alcoholic alternative, try Sac-Sac: a much-loved Korean drink made from either mandarin and the fruit’s pulp or grape juice and whole grapes.
On a bed of rice or noodles with vegetables, this recipe makes for a perfect dinner. Swapping the chicken drumsticks for wings will transform it into a beautifully sticky and sophisticated finger food at your next cocktail party. It can be served cold as well, making it a great option for picnics, lunch boxes, and even salads.