Andong jjimdak facts for kids
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| Type | Jjim |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Korea |
| Main ingredients | Chicken |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
안동찜닭
|
|---|---|
| Hanja |
安東蒸雞
|
| Revised Romanization | Andong-jjimdak |
| McCune–Reischauer | Andongtchimdak |
| IPA | [an.doŋ.t͈ɕim.dak̚] |
Andong-jjimdak (Hangul: 안동찜닭) is a super yummy Korean dish! It's a type of jjim, which means it's a steamed or boiled meal. This special chicken dish comes from a city called Andong in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Korea. It's made with tender chicken and lots of different vegetables. Everything is cooked in a delicious sauce that uses ganjang (which is Korean soy sauce). The name "Andong-jjimdak" actually means "steamed chicken from Andong."
Contents
Where Did Andong-jjimdak Come From?
People have a few ideas about how this tasty dish started.
A Special Dish for Rich Families
One idea is that Andong-jjimdak was a fancy meal. Rich families in Andong during the Joseon period (a long time ago in Korean history) would make it. They only ate it for very special parties or important events.
Born in Chicken Alley
Another idea comes from the 1980s. In Andong, there was a place called "Dak golmok" (닭골목). This means "chicken alley." It was full of restaurants that sold chicken dishes. Some say that restaurant owners there started making Andong-jjimdak. They added different ingredients that their regular customers asked for. This new dish became the Andong-jjimdak we know today.
Competing with Fried Chicken
The most likely story is about competition! In the 1980s, Western-style fried chicken shops were becoming very popular in Korea. The chicken restaurants in "Dak golmok" needed a new idea to keep their customers. So, they created Andong-jjimdak. It was a unique and delicious dish that helped them stay popular.
How Is Andong-jjimdak Made?
Andong-jjimdak is cooked over high heat. This helps to make it less fatty. You can also change the taste by adding different ingredients. It's a favorite meal for students and people who work hard. This is because you get a lot of food for a good price (usually around 20,000 won, which is about $15-$20 US dollars).
A Healthy and Filling Meal
This dish is also considered very healthy. Chicken gives you lots of protein. The many vegetables in the dish provide important vitamins. It's a great way to get a balanced meal!
The Cooking Steps
To make Andong-jjimdak, you first prepare the broth.
- You boil clean, chopped chicken in a pot.
- You also add whole garlic cloves, onions, ginger, and a special green chili pepper. This pepper is called "Cheongyang gochu" (청양고추). It's known for being super spicy and gives the dish a great kick!
- While that cooks, you soak Cellophane noodles in water.
- Next, the cooked chicken simmers in a special sauce. This sauce is made from ganjang (Korean soy sauce), mullyeot (a sweet syrup), sugar, and pepper.
- Then, slices of shiitake mushrooms and diced carrots and potatoes are added. These vegetables boil for about ten minutes.
- When the carrots and potatoes are almost soft, a little bit of wheat flour is added.
- Finally, spinach, sliced cucumber, scallions, and the soaked noodles go into the pot.
- After cooking, the dish is placed on a plate. A sprinkle of sesame seeds on top makes it look and taste even better!
See also
In Spanish: Andong jjimdak para niños
