Healthy Dakdoritang Stir Fry Noodles Recipe

A new spin on a Dakdoritang, which is traditionally a stewed Chicken dish, Dakdoritang Chicken Noodles captures the same flavor from the classic favorite in dry noodle form with a calorie conscious, protein forward twist.

To modify this into Dakdoritang Chicken Noodles, I used the same marinade ingredients one would use for dakdoritang to marinade the chicken and vegetables. Then instead of stewing, I grilled it in a cast iron. I topped the chicken over half a portion of green tea noodles -- the flavor was such a delicious pairing! I also added a poached egg on top -- because we all know poached eggs and extra protein makes everything better.

🍏 How to Make It Healthy – The Fitsian Method

Dakdoritang is may be super flavorful -- but the ingredients that go into it are actually surprisingly low calorie. Still, by portioning each ingredient thoughtfully, I was able to make this about only 400 calories with ample protein. Here's how I portioned this recipe:

• Weighed out 4oz of Chicken thigh -- I used boneless and skinless for maximum calorie and protein optimization (lower calorie, higher protein content)
• Used ½ pack of green tea noodles at 140 calories
• Added an egg to amp up the protein and the dish
• Portioned sauce ingredients to be only 60 calories (see recipe below for exact portioning)

💡Tips and Tricks

What is Dakdoritang?

Dakdoritang is flavorful Korean chicken stew -- with a mix of gochujang and doenjang and stewed with vegetables, the dish is sweet, savory, and umami. In this recipe, I utilized the flavors of dakdoritang by using the same spices to marinate the chicken to create a cast iron grilled version of the dish to top on a bed of noodles. I wanted to retain the powerful flavor of dakdoritang and add a smoky touch to it, hence the cast iron grilling method.

Is dakdoritang healthy?

Yes -- the total calories in the sauce, portioned according to the amounts below, add up to only 60 calories. The recipe is also high in protein content, with 32g of protein coming from the juicy, marinated chicken thighs topped with the creamy texture of a poached egg.

What else can I pair Dakdoritang with (besides green tea noodles)?

In this recipe, I used green tea noodles, but I understand that it's not everyone's cup of tea (pun intended). Some other delicious alternatives include glass noodles, rice noodles, egg noodles, or your choice of rice. Shiritaki noodles are also a great low calorie option.

A Note On Making the Poached Egg

This recipe calls for a sous vide poached egg, which is my favorite way of making one given how foolproof it is. However, not everyone has a sous vide -- and that's okay because there are other ways of making this work. For those of you who have a sous vide, this article on how to make the Perfect Sous Vide Eggs will guide you in the right direction. And for those of you don't who don't have a sous vide, this article will give step by step instructions on How to Poach Eggs Perfectly.

To see more meals amped with protein, check out my Protein Squared collection. And for more Korean cuisine inspired recipes, check out my K-town at Home Recipe collection.

📋 Ingredient Notes

• ½ Serving green tea noodles (Or noodles of choice)
• 4 oz Chicken thigh (Boneless, skinless)
• 1-2 types of mushrooms sliced
• 1 Carrot sliced
• 1 tablespoon Doenjang
• 1 tablespoon Gochujang
• 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Mirin
• 2 cloves garlic
• ¼ Onion chopped
• Scallions and furikake(for garnish)

🔪 Step by Step Instructions

1. Cut the chicken into bit size pieces and mix with all the ingredients (except for the green tea noodles). Marinate for at least 30 minutes to overnight.
2. Prepare poached egg. I did this via the sous vide method — check out this article to see How to Make the Perfect Sous Vide Poached Eggs.
3. Cook noodles according to instructions on package and set aside.
4. Using a cast iron grill, cook the chicken mixture until done, about 3-4 minutes each side.
5. Top noodles with chicken and poached egg and enjoy!