Photos by ChiHon Kim ()
The popularity of the Squid Game is making a traditional Korean sweet go viral online. In South Korea, some candy shops still make and sell dalgona. Stop in to challenge yourself to break away the center shape or, if you’re adventurous, give it a try at home. All you need is a soup ladle, some sugar, and a pinch of baking soda!
Are you ready to survive Squid Game?!
Ingredients and materials
Soup ladle
Chopsticks
Cookie cutter
Parchment paper
Baking sheet
2 tbsp of refined cane sugar
Pinch of baking soda
Directions
1) Over low heat, place 2 tablespoons of sugar in a ladle and stir it gently with a chopstick. (Pro tip: Stir the sugar from the edge and gradually move inward.)
2) Constantly stir it until the sugar completely turns into a clear liquid without any lumps. (Keep controlling the heat by raising or lowering the ladle.)
3) Remove the ladle from the heat for a moment. Add a pinch of baking soda and continue to stir it quickly until it turns into light brown cream color. (If the mixture does not swell, lower ladle close to the heat for a few seconds.)
4) Once you’ve combined the ingredients, pour the foamy mixture onto a non-stick baking sheet or some parchment paper or a dish wrapped with foil paper and cool it for 20-30 seconds.
5) Press it down with flat kitchenware to your desired thickness.
6) As quickly as possible, press a cookie cutter coated with baking soda or wheat flour on it as much as you want, avoiding pressing all the way to the bottom. (The harder you press, the easier you can carve the shape. Press lightly if you want to raise the level of the game.)
7) Carve out the shape from the candy without breaking it. Don't worry as there is no time limit, and you won’t fall victim to consequences for breaking the candy like the show’s participants.
8) Give it a try and bon appetite or 잘 먹겠습니다! (Pronounced: jal meok-ke-sseum-nida)!
