Waterless Chicken Soup
A minimalist, high-protein soup made without any added water, relying solely on the natural juices from chicken, apples, onions, and napa cabbage.
📝 Editor's Notes
This 'Waterless Chicken Soup,' as its name suggests, is a minimalist recipe that extracts deep flavors solely from the natural moisture and juices of the chicken and vegetables, without a single drop of added water.
The natural sweetness from the onions, apples, and napa cabbage harmonizes with the savory richness of the chicken, creating a subtly profound and delicious umami flavor.
Since all you need to do is put the ingredients in a pot and simmer them slowly, even cooking beginners can prepare a wonderful nourishing dish without fail.
It's a warm and wholesome soup perfect for the whole family, especially when you need a boost of energy during seasonal changes or are craving a healthy meal.
🛒 Ingredient Tips
The flavor of this soup begins with good ingredients.
Choose a chicken that is fresh and firm.
A chicken specifically for baeksuk (백숙) or a free-range chicken, with firmer flesh, will yield a richer broth.
For apples, sweet and crisp seasonal apples are best.
Choosing apples that are blemish-free and shiny will add a natural sweetness to the soup.
Fresh onions should be firm, have tightly adhering skins, and a glossy appearance.
For napa cabbage, choose one that is full-bodied with fresh, green outer leaves for a cooler and sweeter flavor.
Remember that fresh ingredients are the key to a delicious natural broth! 🍎
🔄 Substitution Guide
If chicken is unavailable, duck can be a good substitute.
Duck is richer in fat than chicken, offering a deeper and more profound flavor, but it might also feel a bit greasy.
Using a Korean pear (배) instead of an apple can result in a cooler and sweeter taste.
Adding radish also offers a refreshing and clean flavor.
If napa cabbage is not available, regular cabbage can provide a similar texture and sweetness, though it may lack the unique crisp freshness of napa cabbage.
If you don't have ginger, 2-3 cloves of garlic can be used for aroma.
Consider the characteristics of each ingredient and customize to your preference.
Enjoying variations in taste is also part of the fun of cooking! 🔄
🥘 Ingredients
👨🍳 Cooking Points
There are precisely three key points for success with this recipe!
First, using a 'heavy pot' with a tight-fitting lid is crucial.
A cast-iron Dutch oven or a pressure cooker are excellent choices.
Ensuring moisture doesn't escape allows the juices from the vegetables and chicken to concentrate, creating a rich flavor.
Second, generously layering the bottom of the pot with vegetables is important.
Onions, apples, and napa cabbage act as a source of moisture, preventing the chicken from burning and adding flavor.
Third, patiently simmering over 'very low heat' for 50-60 minutes is essential.
If the heat is too high, the bottom of the pot might burn, so cooking gently with minimal heat ensures the ingredients' flavors are fully extracted.
Follow these three points, and you're guaranteed success! 🔥
👨🍳 Directions
Layer the bottom of a heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid with roughly chopped onion, diced apple, and roughly torn napa cabbage leaves.
Place the whole chicken on top and add a piece of ginger. Do not add any water.
Cover the pot and cook over very low heat for 50-60 minutes, until the chicken is tender and its natural juices have been released.
Season with salt to taste and serve.
💡 Tips
Use a heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid, such as a cast-iron Dutch oven, to trap moisture and concentrate the natural juices.
Optionally, garnish with chopped scallions and furikake.
📦 Storage & Reuse
Leftover Waterless Chicken Soup can be stored fresh for 2-3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator after it has cooled completely.
Storing the broth and solids separately can extend its shelf life further.
For freezing, it can last up to 1-2 weeks.
When freezing, portion it into single servings for convenient reheating later.
To reheat, warm it slowly over low heat or use a microwave.
The leftover broth is also delicious for making chicken porridge by adding rice, or chicken kalguksu (닭칼국수) by adding kalguksu (칼국수) noodles.
This recipe is highly versatile, so enjoy it in various ways! 🧊
🥢 Who This Is For
This 'Waterless Chicken Soup' is a healthy dish that can be deliciously enjoyed by people of all ages.
It's especially perfect for preventing colds during seasonal changes, boosting energy, or when you desire a light and comfortable meal instead of greasy food.
It's also great for those on a diet or elderly individuals with weaker digestion.
Served with warm rice, it makes a satisfying meal, and it's even more delightful when accompanied by refreshing and crunchy kimchi varieties like geotjeori (겉절이) or kkakdugi (깍두기).
It's also an excellent main dish to serve when inviting guests! 👨👩👧👦
🔥 Nutrition Info
This Waterless Chicken Soup offers excellent nutritional balance, combining high-protein, low-fat chicken with vitamin and mineral-rich vegetables.
Based on one whole chicken (approx.
3.3 lbs) divided into 4 servings, the estimated calories per serving are about 550-650 kcal.
Protein is estimated at about 80-90g, fat at about 20-25g, and carbohydrates at about 10-15g.
Specifically, chicken is rich in high-quality protein, B vitamins (good for fatigue recovery), zinc, and iron, which help strengthen immunity and restore vitality.
Apples, onions, and napa cabbage provide vitamin C, dietary fiber, and antioxidant compounds (quercetin, pectin), aiding digestion and promoting gut health.
It's a nourishing dish packed with beneficial nutrients. 🍜
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