Authentic Dakgalbi (Spicy Korean Chicken Stir-Fry)

Step 1

To make the dakgalbi sauce, combine all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside 1 tablespoon of sauce if you are making fried rice at the end.

Step 2

Toss the chicken pieces with 1/2 the sauce in a mixing bowl and set aside.

Step 3

Soak rice cakes in water for 10 minutes and drain.

Step 4

Drizzle oil in a cast iron skillet, spread the chicken and top with vegetables (only 1/2 the amount of perilla leaves) and rice cakes. Drizzle the remaining sauce over and bring the skillet over med-high heat.

Step 5

When it starts to make a loud sizzling sound, begin tossing everything to combine. Stir-fry until chicken is fully cooked, and the rice cakes and sweet potato are tender, about 6-7 minutes. If your food seems to be sticking too much to the skillet, add 2-3 tablespoons of water to create steam to release the sauce on the skillet and to cook evenly.

Step 6

Add the remaining perilla leaves toward the end of stir-frying. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and serve immediately when it is hot.

Step 7

After finishing dakgalbi, turn the heat back to medium and drizzle 1 tablespoon of oil into the skillet. Add the cooked rice and reserved dakgalbi sauce, then start stir-frying to coat the rice with the sauce residue remaining in the skillet. Finally, add soy sauce and mix well.

Step 8

Press the rice gently to the bottom of the skillet and let it crisp up for 1-2 minutes over low heat.

Step 9

When the rice sticks to the skillet and becomes golden and crispy, drizzle sesame oil over the top and sprinkle crumbled seaweed and toasted sesame seeds. Toss everything together until well combined. Serve the dakgalbi fried rice immediately while it's still hot and crispy.