This Weight Watchers Korean Braised Rooster Is Superb

Korean Braised Rooster, or dakjjim, is a comforting, flavorful stew that brings the magic of Korean delicacies to your kitchen. Tender rooster is simmered with healthful greens in a savory-sweet sauce with only a trace of spice. Sweetened with Splenda, this Weight Watchers-friendly dish delivers all of the daring flavors with out further factors.

Completely balanced with candy, salty, and spicy notes, dakjjim is hearty but mild, making it a satisfying 1-Level meal for any event. Prepared in below an hour, it’s straightforward to arrange and filled with taste in each chew. Discover this and different Weight Watchers dinner recipes for extra scrumptious inspiration!

Why do you have to attempt Korean Braised Rooster?

1. Easy Components, Extraordinary Taste: At first look, Korean Braised Rooster makes use of acquainted stew substances—rooster, potatoes, carrots, and onions—however the addition of mushrooms, ginger, scallions, and a contact of spice elevates it into one thing extraordinary. Mirin (a candy rice wine) provides sweet-tangy taste, however should you don’t have it available, vinegar works in its place.
2. Wholesome and Weight Watchers-Pleasant: This model skips sugar and makes use of Splenda to maintain the sweetness with out the energy. It’s an ideal technique to take pleasure in a comforting dish whereas staying conscious of your factors.
3. Excellent Stability of Candy, Savory, and Spicy: Korean delicacies is thought for combining these flavors fantastically, and dakjjim is not any exception. The spice might be adjusted based mostly in your desire—go gentle or add a fiery kick with chili peppers.

Preparation Time: quarter-hour

Cooking Time: 30-35 minutes

Complete Time: 45-50 minutes

Servings: 4

Serving Measurement: About 1.5 cups (350 g)

1 WW Level Per Serving. You may view the recipe on the WW App right here. (WW login required.)

Components

• 1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless rooster breast, reduce into giant chunks
• 3 medium carrots, reduce into giant cubes (1 1/2 cup, 200 g)
• 1 medium potatoes, reduce into giant cubes (3/4 cups, 120 g)
• 1 giant onion, reduce into chunks (1.5 cups, 200 g)
• 2 inexperienced onions (scallions), chopped (half for cooking, half for garnish)
• 1 cup (150 g) mushrooms (shiitake, cremini, or button), halved
• 1-inch piece of ginger, grated (1 tablespoon, 15 g)
• 2 Korean chili peppers (non-compulsory), sliced for spice
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) mirin (candy rice wine)
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) oil (vegetable or impartial)
• 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) salt, or to style
• 1/4 teaspoon (1 g) black pepper
• 2 packets (2 g) Splenda (sugar substitute)

Directions

1.      Put together the Components

• Start by chopping the rooster breasts into giant, even chunks. This ensures that they cook dinner evenly and stay tender through the slow-cooking course of.

• Chop the carrots and potatoes into thick cubes to forestall them from turning into too gentle. Slice the onion into giant chunks, and reduce the inexperienced onions into small items, separating half for the cooking and the opposite half for garnish.
• For those who’re including Korean chili peppers, reduce them in half to launch the warmth into the stew.

2.      Make the Sauce

• In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, mirin, grated ginger, Splenda, and sesame oil. Stir till the Splenda is absolutely dissolved. Style and modify seasoning if wanted—you’ll be able to add a pinch of salt or extra Splenda for sweetness.

3.      Assemble the Components within the Sluggish Cooker

• Place the carrots, potatoes, onions, and mushrooms on the backside of the gradual cooker. Layer on prime of the rooster chunks. Add half of the chopped inexperienced onions and the chili peppers if utilizing.

4.      Pour the Sauce

• Pour the sauce evenly over the rooster and greens within the gradual cooker. Use a spatula or spoon to softly combine the whole lot in order that the sauce coats the substances.

5.      Prepare dinner the Dish

• Cowl the gradual cooker with its lid. Prepare dinner on Low for 4 hours or on Excessive for two.5 hours, relying in your time desire.
• Keep away from stirring through the cooking course of to permit the potatoes to naturally thicken the sauce.

6.      Ultimate Touches

• As soon as the cooking time is full, test the rooster and greens for tenderness. The rooster ought to shred simply with a fork, and the potatoes and carrots ought to be gentle however not mushy.
• Stir gently to mix the sauce with the rooster and greens evenly.

7.      Serve

• Switch the Sluggish Cooker Korean Braised Rooster to a serving dish. Sprinkle the remaining chopped inexperienced onions excessive for garnish.
• Serve heat as is, or pair it with steamed rice for an entire and hearty meal.

Variations and Substitutions

Korean Braised Rooster is splendidly versatile, and there are a couple of well-known variations you’ll be able to attempt:

1. Andong Jjimdak: This model comes from the town of Andong and is thought for its clear, spicy taste. As an alternative of utilizing Korean chili paste (gochujang) or chili flakes (gochugaru), it will get its warmth from dried pink chili peppers and contemporary scorching chilies. The result’s a dish that’s candy and completely spicy with out being overly wealthy.
2. Vegetable-Packed Dakjjim: For a nutrient increase, add extra greens to the dish. Asian greens like bok choy or kale work fantastically. Bell peppers, zucchini, or daikon radish are additionally nice additions that complement the sauce.
3. Noodle-Topped Dakjjim: Some variations embody delicate glass noodles or crispy fried angel hair noodles for further texture. Whereas I’ve chosen to skip these for the sake of factors, they could be a scrumptious addition should you’re searching for one thing particular.

Suggestions and Tips for making Korean Braised Rooster

1. Sluggish Cooker Suggestions: For those who’re utilizing a gradual cooker, one of the vital widespread questions is, “How a lot liquid ought to I add?” The reply: as little as potential. The magic of gradual cookers is that they extract moisture from the substances, so extra liquids aren’t at all times needed.
2. Adjusting Spice Ranges: For those who love the stability of candy and spicy however desire a milder model, go for Anaheim or poblano chilies as a substitute of hotter varieties. This retains the flavour intact with out an excessive amount of warmth.
3. Style Your Marinade: The important thing to excellent dakjjim is balancing the flavors of the sauce. Style it earlier than including salt—the soy sauce already offers loads of saltiness, so that you would possibly want lower than you suppose.
4. Don’t Skip the Mushrooms: Shiitake mushrooms (contemporary or dried) add a wealthy taste to the stew. For those who can’t discover shiitake, use cremini or button mushrooms in its place.