Easy Cola Braised Chicken (Jjimdak) Recipe
Easy Cola Braised Chicken (Jjimdak) Recipe
The Ultimate Homemade Chicken Dish: Cola Jjimdak
Beat the summer heat with this incredibly easy Cola Jjimdak! Made with simple ingredients like chicken and cola, this dish is a guaranteed family favorite.
Main Ingredients- 1 whole chicken, cut for braising (dakbokkeum-tang style)
- 2 onions
- 2 potatoes
- 1.5 liters cola
- 1 handful glass noodles (dangmyeon)
Seasoning Ingredients- 1 Tbsp instant coffee powder (to remove chicken odor)
- 2/3 cup soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp instant coffee powder (to remove chicken odor)
- 2/3 cup soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, gather all the ingredients needed for the Jjimdak. You’ll need one whole chicken cut for braising, two onions, two potatoes, and 1.5 liters of cola.
Step 2
Begin by preparing the chicken. Trim any excess skin or fatty bits from the chicken pieces using scissors or a knife. This step ensures a cleaner flavor in your finished dish.
Step 3
Make a few shallow cuts into the chicken breast meat with a knife. This helps the marinade penetrate better, resulting in more tender and flavorful chicken.
Step 4
Rinse the prepared chicken pieces under cold running water two to three times. Washing until the water runs clear helps remove any remaining impurities.
Step 5
Now, let’s do a pre-boil to remove any gamey odor from the chicken. Place the chicken in a pot, add enough water to cover it, and stir in 1 tablespoon of instant coffee powder. Boiling the chicken with coffee helps neutralize its odor effectively.
Step 6
While the chicken is pre-boiling, prepare the vegetables. I’m skipping carrots as I don’t prefer them cooked, but feel free to add them if you like! Cut the onions and potatoes into bite-sized cubes. If the potato cubes are too large, they might take longer to cook, so aim for a moderate size.
Step 7
Prepare the glass noodles. Soak about a handful of dried glass noodles in cold water for a short while. They will be added later to cook in the Jjimdak sauce. Soaking them beforehand prevents them from clumping together.
Step 8
Once the coffee-water mixture starts boiling, skim off any white foam that rises to the surface. When the chicken appears somewhat cooked, turn off the heat.
Step 9
Drain the pre-boiled chicken using a sieve and rinse it briefly under cold water to cool it down – this is like a ‘cold shower’ for the chicken! This step helps firm up the meat and further reduces any lingering odors.
Step 10
Now, let’s get the cola ready for the sauce. Pour about half of the 1.5-liter bottle (around 750ml) into the pot. This amount is suitable for one chicken when including glass noodles and aiming for a saucy Jjimdak. If you’re using a 500ml bottle of cola, one whole bottle would suffice.
Step 11
Transfer the pre-boiled and rinsed chicken back into a large pot. Pour in the prepared cola. Cola is the secret ingredient that tenderizes the chicken and adds a wonderful sweetness.
Step 12
Add about 2/3 cup of soy sauce (using a standard paper cup for measurement). You can adjust the amount of soy sauce to your preference; add more if you like it saltier.
Step 13
Stir in 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. Now, cover the pot and bring it to a boil over high heat. Cooking on high heat helps tenderize the chicken and allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
Step 14
As the Jjimdak begins to boil, periodically skim off any foam that appears. This will result in a clearer and cleaner-tasting sauce.
Step 15
Once the chicken is partially cooked and the sauce has reduced slightly, add the prepared onions and potatoes. Continue to simmer until the vegetables are tender. Adding vegetables enhances the overall flavor profile of the Jjimdak.
Step 16
You’ll start to see the classic Jjimdak appearance taking shape! The colors of the chicken and vegetables will blend, creating an appetizing look that will make your mouth water.
Step 17
Taste the chicken and sauce. If it’s not salty or sweet enough, gradually add a little water to adjust the seasoning to your liking. The cola provides sufficient sweetness, so focus on adjusting the saltiness with soy sauce or salt.
Step 18
Jjimdak can become too sweet and monotonous if only sweetness is present. To add a pleasant spicy kick, finely chop and add 3 Korean green chili peppers (cheongyang peppers). Their subtle heat will elevate the complexity of the dish.
Step 19
Finally, add the soaked glass noodles to the pot. Simmer for another short while until the noodles are cooked through and have absorbed the delicious sauce. Make sure the noodles are evenly coated.
Step 20
Sprinkle some sesame seeds over the finished Jjimdak for a final touch. Your delicious Cola Jjimdak is ready to be enjoyed!
