Maangchi’s Cheese Buldak

About this Recipe

This super-spicy chicken is called buldak in Korea. The Korean word ‘bul’ means fire, and ‘dak’ means chicken, so together you can call this “fire chicken.” This adaption is from an original recipe sold by street vendors in Korea.

Servings

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time:

20-30 mins

Pot:

Cast Iron & lid

Good For:

Lunch/Dinner

Diffculity

Calories:

420

Best For:

Korean Food Lovers

Introduction

Cheese buldak 치즈불닭

By Terry

I lived and worked in Seoul, ROK for six years and grew fond of the thick, spicy paste (gochujung) often used in many Korean dishes. Sometimes the food was so spicy hot that it would bring even a local practitioner of daily consumption to tears.

Maangchi Buldak

Ingredients

2 lbs chicken breast, cut into 3/4 or 1 inch cubes
1/2 cup hot pepper flakes
3 tbl vegetable or corn oil
1 tbl soy sauce
1/2 tps ground black pepper
2-3 tbl hot pepper paste
1/3 cup rice syrup (or corn syrup, sugar, honey)
6 lrg garlic cloves, minced
2 tps ginger, minced
1 lb mozzarella cheese (optional), cut into small pieces
1 cup sliced rice cake (optional)
1 green onion, chopped
1/4 cup water

Prepration

1. Combine hot pepper flakes, hot pepper paste, soy sauce, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, ground black pepper, rice syrup, garlic, and ginger in a bowl. Mix it well into a sweet and spicy paste.
2. Add the chicken and mix well by hand.
3. Heat up a skillet with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Add the sliced rice cakes and fry them for a few minutes. Turn them over with a spatula once or twice until both sides are crispy and light golden brown.
4. Place the marinated chicken into a heavy pan, preferably cast iron. Use the water to rinse the bowl and get the last of the sauce into the pan. Cover and cook over medium high heat for 10 minutes. If you use a normal frying pan, it will take 7 to 8 minutes. Be sure not to burn the chicken.
5. Uncover, stir and turn over the chicken with a wooden spoon. Add the rice cakes to the top of the chicken.
6. Turn down the heat very low. Cover and let cook another 10 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked. If you’re using cheese, pre-heat the oven broiler.
7. When the chicken is cooked, put the cheese over the top. Slip it into the oven for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
8. Remove and sprinkle with the chopped green onion. Serve hot.

Step by Step Instructions

Watch the video.
This recipe was originally posted on March 19, 2015 by Maangchi.
It was last updated on June 17, 2018.

NUTRITION

Food provides the energy and nutrients you need to be healthy. Nutrients include proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, among others. The percentages place here are only a guide.