The TV series, Squid Game has become very popular all over the world. In addition to the popularity of this series, the Korean traditional games and food in it are also attracting many people’s attention. So today, I’m going to teach you how to make DalGoNa, a Korean sugar candy introduced in Squid Game. I had a lot of fun making this recipe and video by making DalGoNa with memories of my childhood and giving my children the opportunity to eat DalGoNa and play the DalGoNa game. I will show you how to make DalGoNa without the need for a specialty kit, using kitchen tools that are easily available in many houses. The ingredients for GalGoNa are very simple, but many people fail to make them. So, I will share tips. Please follow my instructions to make DalGoNa and play DalGoNa games with your delicious DalGoNa.
Yield: 1 Piece
Short Korean Lesson
- BaeDal (배달) = Delivery
- JeongUi (정의) = Justice
Video Instructions
Main Ingredients:
- 3 Tbsp Sugar
- 2 Pinches Baking Soda
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Peanuts (Optional)
Tools You Need:
- Parchment Paper or Wax Paper
- Hotteok Presser or Smooth-Flat Surfaced Pot, Pan, or Plate
- Silicone Spatula or Wooden Chopsticks
- Oiled Paper-towel
- Cookie Cutters
Directions
It is important to speed up the process of dissolving the sugar and baking soda so that the GalGoNa does not burn. Therefore, all ingredients must be prepared in advance. You can simply order a GalGoNa kit from Amazon and use it, but but you can also use the kitchen tools you have at home. So get an 8-inch stainless steel pan, 3 Tbsp sugar, 2 pinches of baking soda, a small silicone spatula, parchment paper, cooking oil and paper towels, a HoTteok press, and finally, cookie cutters of your choice.
Preheat the pan for a minute on medium.
After 1 minute, put 3 Tbsp of sugar into the pan and let it cook.
In about 2 minutes, the sugar starts to melt. Depending on your stove temperature, the cooking time can vary. Just keep eye on the sugar to find the point when you start to see liquid.
Now, stir the sugar gently until it all dissolves.
About 30 seconds later, you can see the sugar completely melted. It took about 2 and a half minutes to 3 minutes total from the point I put the sugar into the pan until I got syrup.
Turn off the heat and pull your pan away from the stove. Push the syrup to one side of the pan and add 2 pinches of baking soda.
Quickly stir the syrup and baking soda. You can see the brown color syrup turns into a creamy coffee color with a semi-fluffy texture. I stirred it about 50 times. It is important not burn it in this step and stir it the right amount. The key is to have a similar color throughout the mixture.
Pour the mixture onto parchment paper.
Put a little bit of oil on the HoTteok press so that the melted sugar will not stick to the tool.
I waited for about 15 seconds and then I pressed down on the DalGoNa. You should get a nice round shape.
Then place your favorite cookie cutter on top of the DalGoNa.
Push down on the cookie cutter, and you will get this cute and pretty DolGoNa. The DolGoNa becomes hard like candy very quickly, so this cookie cutter part should be done fast.
If you do not have a Hotteok press, don’t worry. You can also use any smooth surface of pot, pan, or plate like this. Just put a little bit of cooking oil on the bottom before using it.
I will use the same process to make another piece of DalGona. You can use the same dirty pan to make a new piece over and over again. Anyway, my DalGoNa mixture is ready. This time I will press it with my small pot.
It works great too. Right? Now, I will use a different cookie cutter.
DolGona is sweet and has a little bitter flavor from the baking soda. You can also add a few chopped peanuts, which helps compliment and cover up the bitter flavor.
Right before pressing the melted DalGoNa mixture, put the peanut chunks on top of it.
Press down.
Then, you will get delicious peanut DalGoNa.
When you are done making DalGoNa. You will be left with a messy pan – you can simply pour cool water into your pan and let the sugar melt by itself for few minutes.
In few minutes, you can easily clean out the pan.
For the DalGoNa game, you are supposed to break the outside of the DalGoNa away carefully to get the shape in the center out without breaking it. The person who gets it done neatly and fast wins. Of course, as soon as you break the center shape, your game is over.
Bianca says
I haven’t been to your site in a long time, but I am happy to see you have still been posting recipes! I used to visit your site every week, and I remember when there was only about 20 recipes here! I still use your recipe for the 감자 야채 볶음 (potato veggie banchan) is one of my all time favorite 반찬 dishes from childhood, and I still use your recipe to this day! Keep doing what you do!
AeriLee says
hi Bianca,
That’s so sweet to hear you still use my recipes. Thanks a lot. Please keep visit my channel and communicate with me. 🙂