Dak Hanmari Recipe: Comforting Korean Whole Chicken soup
What Does Dak Hanmari Mean?
In Korean, dak hanmari literally translates to “one whole chicken.”
- dak = chicken
- han = one
- mari = a counting unit for animals
The dish gets its name because it is traditionally cooked with a whole chicken simmered in a pot of clear broth with vegetables.
Dak Hanmari vs. Samgyetang
Although both dishes use chicken, they have different purposes and flavours:
- Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup):
A traditional Korean health food made with chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, ginseng, jujube, and medicinal herbs. It’s often eaten in summer during boknal (the hottest days) to restore energy. - Dak Hanmari (Whole Chicken Hot Pot):
A simpler, more casual dish that originated in Seoul’s Dongdaemun area. The chicken is boiled with onion, garlic, green onion, and peppercorns for a clean-tasting broth. Diners dip the chicken into a spicy, tangy sauce, making it a fun, communal meal to share with family or friends.
Dak Hanmari is a traditional Korean whole chicken hot pot, perfect for sharing with family or friends. The dish features a tender whole chicken simmered in a clear, flavorful broth with aromatic vegetables like onion, garlic, and green onion. Once the chicken is cooked, hearty vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms are added, creating a comforting and nourishing meal. It’s served with a spicy, tangy dipping sauce made of chili flakes, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, and mustard or wasabi. Simple to make at home, Dak Hanmari is both satisfying and versatile—finish the meal with noodles in the remaining broth for an authentic Korean dining experience.
Dak Hanmari Recipe: Comforting Korean Whole Chicken Soup
Ingredients
Method
- Prepare the chicken by cutting it into large pieces
- And washing it thoroughly. To reduce excess fat, you can also trim some of the skin if you like.
- Place the chicken in a large pot with 1.5 liters of water.
- Add onion, green onion, garlic, and peppercorns. For the broth, it’s best to put ingredients like peppercorns, garlic, onion, and green onion in a spice or mesh bag if you have one. This makes it easier to remove them later.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low and simmer.
- Clarify the broth
- After about 25-30 minutes, remove the onion and peppercorns.
- Skim off any foam or impurities floating on top.
- Add vegetables
- Add the potatoes, carrot, and mushrooms.
- Continue simmering for another 15 minutes, until the chicken and vegetables are fully cooked.
- In a small bowl, mix chili flakes, chicken broth, sugar, vinegar, garlic, soy sauce, and mustard (or wasabi).
- Serve in individual bowls for dipping chicken pieces.
- Enjoy the tender chicken and vegetables with the dipping sauce.
Notes
Extra Tips for the Best Dak Hanmari
- Use a spice bag – Adding peppercorns, garlic, onions, and green onions in a mesh or spice bag makes it easier to remove them, keeping your broth clear.
- Trim excess skin – Removing some chicken skin reduces fat in the broth for a lighter taste.
- Simmer gently – Keep the broth at a gentle simmer to make the chicken tender and the soup clear.
- Adjust dipping sauce to taste – Feel free to tweak the vinegar, sugar, or mustard to match your preferred balance of tangy, sweet, and spicy.
- Finish with noodles – Add Korean wheat noodles (kalguksu) or udon to the leftover broth for a hearty, satisfying ending.
- Optional aromatics – A slice of ginger or a dash of sesame oil in the broth can add extra depth to the flavour.
