Making Braised Spicy Chicken – Another Shift in the Kitchen After a Day of Parenting

Hello there~
Today I’d love to share the story of making spicy braised chicken with Costco chicken.
After a full day of parenting, I clock out—only to clock back in at the kitchen.
It’s always busy, but the joy of feeding my family makes it all worthwhile 😊

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🛒 Starting with Costco Chicken

I picked up a 1.8kg pack of prepped chicken from Costco.
It was the perfect size for dakbokkeumtang,
and the fact that it had four drumsticks made it feel extra generous.

I briefly blanched the chicken in boiling water
to remove any unpleasant smell and bacteria.
This step is essential.
After boiling, I rinsed it thoroughly under running water—ready to go!

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🧂 Making the Sauce – Freestyle with Heart

• 1T sugar
• 3T gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
• 3T soy sauce
• 1T mirin
• 1T sesame oil
• 1T allulose
• 1T light soy sauce
• 1T minced garlic
• 2T gochujang (Korean chili paste)

I always try to prioritize health when cooking,
so I adjusted the seasoning to avoid making it too strong.

Still, the flavor was more than enough!
Because the sauce wasn’t overpowering,
the natural taste of the ingredients really came through,
and both my husband and I were very happy with the result.

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🥕 Prepping Veggies – Including Baby Food Leftovers

I prepared onion, carrot, potato, and green onion.
Cutting them into large chunks gives a nice texture
and helps the broth develop a deeper flavor.

The carrots were actually leftovers
from making baby food the day before.
My husband and I both love carrots in dakbokkeumtang,
so I made sure to add plenty.
I chopped up the green onions too—ready to go!

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🍲 Simmering – Where Sauce Meets Ingredients

I added the sauce and poured in just enough water to cover the ingredients.
Since the veggies release moisture as they cook,
you don’t need to add too much.

I flipped the pieces occasionally
to make sure the sauce soaked in evenly.
After simmering for about 20 minutes,
I removed the lid and let it reduce for another 10 minutes.
The color became rich and appetizing,
and the broth thickened beautifully.

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🍽️ Plating – Opposite Tastes, Perfect Harmony

I plated the finished dish
and set the table with a few side dishes we had at home.

My husband loves drumsticks,
while I prefer chicken breast.
So when we make dakbokkeumtang,
we each get our favorite part—
which makes mealtime even more enjoyable.

He says he loves eating chicken with me
because he gets to hog all the drumsticks. Haha
Our opposite tastes created the perfect meal.

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💛 Wrapping Up

Another shift in the kitchen after a long day of parenting—
but preparing a warm meal for my family always feels rewarding.
Dakbokkeumtang is a dish that never fails,
but the care and love poured into it make each time feel special.

Cooking reminded me again today:
delicious food starts with heart, not just ingredients.

That’s it for today.
Wishing you a lovely day,
and don’t forget to eat well 🍚