Sam Gye Tang (Korean Chicken and Ginseng Soup

삼계탕

Samgyetang is a variety of guk or Korean soup made with whole young chicken, Korean ginseng, and several other ingredients.

Samgyetang is considered to be a very healthy food and is most often consumed in the summer as a restorative to replace stamina and nutrients which are lost through heat and sweat.

Servings: 4

Ingredients

Soup

1

each

young chicken (2 to 3 pounds)*

1

teaspoon

sesame oil

4

each

red dates (Chinese or Korean jujubes)

ginseng rootlets

1

ounce

fresh ginger

6

each

cloves fresh garlic

salt

pepper

10

cups

water

* substitute 2 cornish game hens

Stuffing

1/2

cup

sweet rice

6

ounces

fresh ginseng

1/2

each

small white or yellow onion

8

each

cloves fresh garlic

8

each

red dates (Chinese or Korean jujubes)

Garnish

2

each

scallions, spring, or green onion

Procedure

Preparation

Put rice in a bowl and rinse until water runs clear. Cover with water and soak for 1/2 hour. Drain.

Clean poultry inside and out (use or discard gizzards and liver as you wish).

Lightly salt (rub) both the inside and outside, and let stand for fifteen minutes.

Wash ginseng root then trim the rootlets (do not discard, save for soup). Cut into bite size pieces.

Slice onion, then cut slices in half

Wash and thin slice the ginger.

Put all stuffing ingredients into the cavity (Divide stuffing evenly if using 2 game hens), and close flaps over the cavity (sew with thread or use a skewer).

Cooking

Place poultry in a heavy pot and cover with water.

Bring to a full boil over high heat, skimming oil and foam as needed.

Reduce heat to medium, add ginger slices, cover and cook for one hour.

Remove and discard ginger, then add garlic, jujubes, and ginseng rootlets.

Cook for an additional thirty minutes, adding water as needed to maintain 1/2 the original volume.

Add sesame oil five minutes before end of cooking.

Fine chop the scallions/green onions and garnish each serving.

Serve hot, adding salt and pepper to taste.

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