Korean-Inspired 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. It’s best eaten with a bowl of hot rice and kimchi. 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
