Roasted chicken

Today I’m going to show you how I make Korean roasted chicken, called tongdak-gui (통닭구이).

Before fried chicken came to Korea in the 80s, rotisserie roasted whole chickens were very popular. No one made them at home, we went to semi-Western style restaurants called  gyeong-yangsik-jip (경양식집) which also served other modern, western-influenced dishes like beef cutlet, pork cutlet, and “hamburg steaks.” These restaurants were really different than Korean restaurants at the time. They were dimly lit and kind of romantic. Going to a gyeong-yangsik restaurant was exciting and fun, and it was a good place for young people to go on dates.

I don’t have a rotisserie at home in my house, I roast chicken in my oven, flipping it over from time to time. This way I still get the benefit of all the extra fat dripping off, leaving the chicken crispy brown on the outside and juicy on the inside. It always turns out delicious.

The dipping sauce is my own invention. It’s soft, creamy, and fresh-tasting. It goes perfectly with this chicken, and my whole family loves it!

Also, don’t forget to make this roasted chicken with radish pickles too, which is the best way to enjoy any chicken.

Ingredients

• A whole chicken (about 4 pounds)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil (or vegetable oil)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For cream cheese dipping sauce:

• 2 ounces seedless cucumber (or 1/3 of English cucumber)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature
• ⅓ cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ lemon

Directions

1. Rinse the chicken inside and out in cold running water. Drain.
2. Pat dry on the cutting board. Cut off any excess fat.
3. Combine olive oil, salt, ground black pepper, and garlic in a small bowl. Mix well and set aside.
4. Preheat your oven to 350℉.
5. Spread the vegetable oil on the rack of a roasting pan so that the chicken won’t stick to it when roasted. My roasting pan is a 17 inch by 12 inch roaster with rack.
6. Massage the garlic and oil mixture all over the outside and inside of the chicken. Gently pat it in.
7. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine and place the seasoned chicken, breast side up, on the oiled rack in the roasting pan.
8. Put it in the oven and roast for 1 hour.
9. Remove the chicken from the oven. Brush with some of the melted butter.
10. Use some tongs and a spatula to flip it over in the rack and brush the underside with butter, too.
11. Roast for 30 minutes.
12. Take it out of the oven and brush with more butter.
13. Flip it over and brush the underside again, too.
14. Roast for another 30 minutes.
15. Open the oven and brush the top of the chicken with all the leftover butter.
16. Broil 2 to 3 minutes until the chicken is golden brown on top. Be sure to keep an eye on it so as not to burn it.
17. Transfer the chicken to a large platter and serve right away with the cream cheese dipping sauce (the recipe below) and pickled radish. I like to cut the chicken into chunks, then diners take some with their forks (or chopsticks) and put it on their plates themselves. Add a scoop of dipping sauce to your plate, and dip and eat!

How to make cream cheese dipping sauce:

1. Chop the cucumber and put it in a bowl. Add the salt and mix lightly. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes until it starts to sweat.
   
2. Place the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, and honey in another bowl. Squeeze in the juice from the lemon. Whisk together.
   
3. Wrap the cucumber in folded cheesecloth a few times. Tightly squeeze out any excess water and put the cucumber into the bowl with the cream cheese mixture.
4. Stir well and cover. Refrigerate until ready to serve with the chicken.