Quick & Easy Boneless Braised Chicken with Cola
Quick & Easy Boneless Braised Chicken with Cola
[Recipe/Home Cooking] Simple Boneless Braised Chicken Ready in 20 Minutes
While cooking is always enjoyable and putting your heart into every step is important, sometimes efficiently preparing many dishes in a short time is a great strategy! Today, I’m sharing a super simple boneless braised chicken recipe that uses a little trick – cola! This recipe is a double win, helping you use up both frozen chicken in your freezer and those never-ending bottles of cola in your pantry!
Main Ingredients- 1kg boneless chicken thigh or breast
- 1/2 large leek
- 2 king oyster mushrooms
- 1 onion
- 2 sweet potatoes
- Red chili peppers, to taste
- Green chili peppers, to taste
- 3 dried chili peppers (peperoncino)
- Soaked glass noodles, as needed
Sauce Ingredients- 1 Tbsp ginger syrup
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 100ml soy sauce
- 500ml cola
For Removing Gamey Odor- A splash of cooking wine, sake, or soju
- 1 Tbsp ginger syrup
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 100ml soy sauce
- 500ml cola
For Removing Gamey Odor- A splash of cooking wine, sake, or soju
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start by preparing our ingredients to save time. First, soak the glass noodles in water until softened; this will significantly reduce cooking time later. If your chicken is frozen, make sure to thaw it thoroughly before proceeding.
Step 2
I used a mix of frozen chicken breast and thigh, about 1kg in total. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. While bone-in braised chicken is delicious, boneless chicken makes it so much easier to mix with rice!
Step 3
Next, prepare the vegetables by chopping them into pleasing and easy-to-eat sizes. Sweet potatoes aren’t strictly necessary, but their natural sweetness complements the sauce beautifully. King oyster mushrooms add a wonderful chewy texture, and red and green chili peppers add a lovely pop of color as a garnish, though they are optional.
Step 4
Here are all the prepped ingredients! Comparing the ‘before’ and ‘after’ shots might give you a clearer idea of how to prepare them.
Step 5
Now, let’s tackle that gamey odor! Pour some cooking wine, sake, or soju over the thawed chicken. Gently massage the chicken to ensure it’s well-coated, and let it marinate for about 5 minutes. This step not only removes odor but also tenderizes the chicken.
Step 6
Since we marinated the chicken briefly, we’ll now give it a quick blanch. Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the chicken. Cook just until the pink color disappears. This blanching step further helps to eliminate any remaining unpleasant smells.
Step 7
Rinse the blanched chicken under cold running water. Then, place it back into a wok (or pot) and pour in the cola and soy sauce. Let it simmer for a short while to allow the flavors to meld.
Step 8
Sweet potatoes take a bit longer to cook, so add them next, right after the chicken. If you have the green parts of the leek chopped, you can add them now too! Their mild oniony flavor will infuse beautifully.
Step 9
Now, it’s time to add the minced garlic and ginger syrup. Stir well to distribute these flavor enhancers evenly throughout the sauce.
Step 10
Next, toss in the sliced mushrooms and onion. No need to wait; keep the mixture simmering. If you like a bit of heat, add some halved chili peppers at this stage.
Step 11
The larger pieces of leek and chili peppers are best added towards the end as a colorful garnish. They add visual appeal just before serving.
Step 12
It’s only been about 10 minutes since we started simmering the chicken! Now, add the remaining chili peppers and the soaked glass noodles. Let everything simmer on high heat for another 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to deepen. I found the seasoning perfect at this point, but feel free to adjust soy sauce or sugar to your taste. For an extra kick of heat, crumble in a few dried chili peppers. Don’t hesitate to customize it to your preference!
Step 13
Presentation matters! Transfer the delicious braised chicken to a nice serving dish. Garnish with the reserved leeks and chili peppers, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. It’s a perfect meal for those times when you’re craving something delicious but don’t want to order takeout. Give it a try – you won’t regret it!
