Nutritious Kongjaban (Braised Black Beans) – Baek Jong-won Style
Easy Baek Jong-won’s Kongjaban Recipe: Delicious Soy-Braised Black Beans for Lunch Boxes & Side Dishes
Let’s make nutritious Kongjaban with a chewy yet tender texture and a wonderfully sweet and savory sauce that will awaken your taste buds. This recipe is perfect for your husband’s and children’s lunch boxes, and also makes a fantastic side dish for any meal!
Main Ingredients- Black beans (Seoritae) 1/2 cup
- Water 2 cups
- Rice wine (Mirin) 1/3 cup
- Sugar 3 tsp
- Oligosaccharide (corn syrup) 1 Tbsp
- Soy sauce 1/3 cup
- Oligosaccharide (corn syrup) 1 Tbsp (for final gloss)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start making delicious Kongjaban now. It’s a great side dish for kids and lunch boxes, so follow along step by step!
Step 2
The first crucial step is to soak the beans thoroughly. Depending on the type and condition of your beans, black beans (Seoritae) should be soaked in water for at least 1 hour, or preferably overnight, until they are soft. This ensures the beans cook evenly and achieve a tender texture.
Step 3
Once the beans are well-soaked, place them in a pot or deep pan. Add 2 cups of water, 1/3 cup of rice wine (mirin), 3 tsp of sugar, 1 Tbsp of oligosaccharide, and 1/3 cup of soy sauce. You can also add the remaining 1 Tbsp of oligosaccharide for extra gloss and a pinch of sesame seeds for aroma at this stage before bringing it to a boil.
Step 4
Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Skim off any foam that forms on the surface; this helps achieve a cleaner flavor. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and cook until the beans are tender. As the sauce begins to thicken, lower the heat to low. Stir continuously to prevent sticking and continue simmering until the liquid has mostly evaporated and the sauce has thickened. This process allows the beans to absorb the flavorful marinade.
Step 5
And there you have it – delicious Kongjaban is ready in a flash! The glossy, flavorful braised black beans are perfect for packing into lunch boxes, looking as good as they taste alongside rice. Enjoy your Kongjaban, which is delicious even when cold!
