Chef Kim Dae-seok's Braised Chicken Drumsticks
This recipe for braised chicken drumsticks is not greasy and is incredibly fun to eat, sucking the meat off the bone. It's about 10 times more delicious than regular fried chicken.
📝 Editor's Notes
Chef Kim Dae-seok's Braised Chicken Drumsticks is a special recipe, true to its name, offering the delightful experience of savoring every bit of meat off the bone.
Unique ingredients like cola, curry, and jocheong (조청) come together to reduce any greasiness and provide a deep, rich umami flavor.
The harmonious blend of sweet, savory, and subtly spicy tastes is captivating, and its glossy appearance makes it a perfect dish for the whole family.
While it might seem complex, the cooking process is clear, making it an intermediate-level recipe.
It's an excellent choice for a hearty meal any time of year or for entertaining guests.
🛒 Ingredient Tips
The key to these braised chicken drumsticks begins with choosing fresh, high-quality drumsticks.
Select drumsticks that are plump, have glossy skin, and are clean with no off-odor.
The more meat attached to the bone, the more substantial and tender the dish will be after braising.
Also, for the green onion and chili peppers that will enhance the dish's flavor, choose fresh ones with vibrant colors.
In particular, cheongyang chili pepper (청양고추) plays an important role in adding spiciness and balancing richness, so select fresh ones to ensure it performs its role effectively.
Don't forget that good ingredients make for good taste!
🔄 Substitution Guide
If chicken drumsticks are unavailable or you prefer other cuts, you can substitute with chicken pieces for dakbokkeumtang (닭볶음탕 - Korean spicy braised chicken), chicken wings, or chicken breasts.
Chicken breasts are leaner and can become dry after cooking, so it's advisable to extend the marinating time slightly or reduce the cooking time.
Instead of cola, you can use sparkling water with sugar, or apple juice, but please note that cola's unique umami and tenderizing effects may be reduced.
If jocheong (조청) is not available, you can substitute it with corn syrup or honey, though the deep sweetness and glossy finish provided by jocheong might differ slightly.
Curry powder plays an important role in balancing the richness of this dish, so we recommend using it if possible; however, it can be omitted if you don't have any.
🥘 Ingredients
👨🍳 Cooking Points
There are three key points that determine the deliciousness of these braised chicken drumsticks.
First, marinating the chicken drumsticks.
A full 30-minute marination is essential to thoroughly remove any gamey odor and allow the seasoning to penetrate the meat, resulting in a flavorful dish.
Second, heat control is very important.
Initially, sear the chicken over high heat for 3 minutes to crisp the skin, then reduce to medium heat to cook through evenly.
This method ensures the drumsticks are golden brown on the outside and juicy on the inside.
Third, always add jocheong (조청) at the final stage.
Adding jocheong too early can cause the sauce to burn easily and prevent it from developing a proper glaze.
Adding it at the end provides an appetizing sheen and a refined sweetness.
Keep these points in mind, and you'll be able to create delicious braised chicken drumsticks without fail.
👨🍳 Directions
Wash and prepare 12 chicken drumsticks thoroughly.
In a bowl, combine the cleaned chicken drumsticks with 2 tbsp mirin, 2 pinches salt, 2 tbsp soy sauce, and 2 pinches black pepper. Mix well and marinate for 30 minutes.
Slice 1/2 stalk of green onion into 2 cm pieces. Diagonally slice 1 cheongyang chili pepper (청양고추) and 1 red chili pepper.
In a separate bowl, prepare the sauce by mixing 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 heaping tbsp ketchup, 1 heaping tbsp oyster sauce, 1/2 tbsp curry powder, 1 tbsp minced garlic, and 1/2 cup (100 mL) cola. Do not add the 2 tbsp of jocheong (조청) yet.
Heat 2 tbsp cooking oil in a pan over high heat. Add the marinated chicken drumsticks and sear while cooking down for 3 minutes.
After 3 minutes, reduce the heat to medium. Continue to cook, turning the drumsticks occasionally, until they are evenly cooked.
After about 5 more minutes of cooking, pour in the prepared sauce. Add all the sliced green onion, red chili pepper, and cheongyang chili pepper (청양고추).
Continue to cook on medium heat for another 10 minutes, turning the chicken frequently.
After about 10 minutes of cooking in the sauce, finally add 2 heaping tbsp jocheong (조청) and mix well. Cook for another 3 minutes.
Spoon the sauce over the chicken drumsticks as they cook to glaze them. The braised chicken drumsticks are now complete.
💡 Tips
Marinating is crucial for removing any gamey odor from the chicken drumsticks and allowing the flavors to penetrate, so ensure a full 30-minute marinade.
Adding curry powder to the sauce helps eliminate gamey odors and reduces richness/greasiness.
Jocheong (조청) can burn if added too early in the cooking process. Add it in the final stage of braising to add a beautiful glaze and a sophisticated sweetness.
📦 Storage & Reuse
Store leftover braised chicken drumsticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
For longer storage, you can portion and freeze them, but be aware that the chicken's texture might become slightly tougher after thawing.
It's best to consume frozen chicken within one month.
To reheat, use a microwave or gently warm in a pan with a splash of water over low heat to maintain moisture.
You can also shred the remaining chicken and serve it over rice as a donburi (rice bowl), or use it as a topping for sandwiches or salads – it's delicious!
🥢 Who This Is For
These braised chicken drumsticks are an absolutely wonderful dish for the whole family to enjoy.
For children who love chicken drumsticks, it will be the ultimate side dish for rice.
By adjusting the spiciness, it can also be a fantastic accompaniment to drinks for adults.
Served with warm, freshly cooked rice, you won't need any other side dishes.
It also pairs well with a cold beer or makgeolli (막걸리 - Korean rice wine), and adding a crisp salad or simple pickles will complete a more abundant dining experience.
It's also an excellent dish for housewarming parties or special occasions to entertain guests!
🔥 Nutrition Info
Chef Kim Dae-seok's Braised Chicken Drumsticks can be a hearty and nutritious meal.
Considering the entire recipe (12 drumsticks) as 4 servings, the estimated calories per serving (approximately 3 drumsticks) are about 670 kcal.
Protein is estimated at around 54g, fat at about 43g, and carbohydrates at around 20g.
Chicken drumsticks, the main ingredient, are a good source of high-quality protein, aiding muscle health, and are rich in B vitamins, which help alleviate fatigue.
However, due to the chicken skin, cooking oil, cola, and jocheong (조청), the calorie, sugar, and sodium content may be somewhat high.
If you are mindful of your health, removing some of the chicken skin or adjusting the amount of sauce are good ways to enjoy this dish.
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