Dak-Guk Inspired Korean Homestyle Chicken Soup
By Tiffy Cooks
On chilly nights or sick days when I’m craving something cozy but not greasy, this Korean-Inspired Homestyle Chicken Soup is what I make. It’s inspired by Korean dak-guk, with a light, comforting clear broth and tender shredded chicken. Best eaten with a bowl of hot rice and kimchi, this soup is the perfect soup season meal. Simple, familiar, and perfect when you just want something warm and satisfying ready in under an hour.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- Water enough to fully submerge chicken
- 1 splash soju optional
For the broth
- 1 whole onion halved
- 6-10 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp whole black peppercorns
- 4 green onions
- 1 Piece ginger thumb-size, sliced
- 6 cups water start here — you can add more later
Finishing Seasoning
- 2½-3 Tbsp fish sauce or tuna seasoning
- ½–¾ tsp white pepper
- ¾-1 Tsp salt to taste
Instructions
- Parboil the chicken (optional but recommended): Add the chicken thighs to a pot and cover with water. Add a splash of soju if using. Bring to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes. Remove the chicken, rinse under cold water, and pat dry. This step helps remove impurities for a cleaner broth.
- Build the broth: In a large pot, add the cleaned chicken thighs, onion, garlic, black peppercorns, green onions, ginger, and enough water to fully cover everything ~ 6-8 cups of water. Bring to a gentle simmer, skim off any oil or foam from the surface, then cover and simmer on medium-low heat for 40 minutes.
- Shred the chicken: After 40 minutes, remove the chicken from the pot and shred the meat. Set aside.
- Strain & season: Strain the broth into a clean pot. Season with fish sauce or tuna seasoning, white pepper, and salt to taste.If you like a deeper, more savory flavor, you can add chives to the broth and simmer for a few extra minutes.
- Assemble & serve: Add shredded chicken into a bowl, ladle hot broth over top, and bring everything to a gentle simmer if needed. Finish with green onions and freshly ground black pepper.
Nutrition
Calories: 507kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 37gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 212mgSodium: 1124mgPotassium: 585mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 296IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 2mg
