Delicious Simmered Black Beans: The Ultimate Korean Side Dish
Easy Recipe for Making “Kong Jorim”, a Beloved Korean Staple
Whip up a healthy and quick side dish using nutritious black beans! “Kong Jorim” (simmered beans) is a classic Korean pantry staple, loved by all ages for its chewy texture and savory-sweet flavor. Let’s make this crowd-pleasing dish that will fill your refrigerator with deliciousness!
Main Ingredients- 110g Black Beans (approx. 1 paper cup)
- 1.5 paper cups Water (approx. 270ml)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare about 110g of black beans. This is roughly equivalent to 1 standard paper cup. Rinse the beans thoroughly under running water 2-3 times using a sieve. This step removes any dust or impurities, ensuring a cleaner and tastier final dish.
Step 2
The soaking time for the beans can be adjusted based on your preference. For a quicker preparation, soak the rinsed beans in cold water for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. If you prefer a softer texture or have more time, soaking them for 4-5 hours will yield excellent results. Fully soaked beans will expand to about 1.5 times their original volume.
Step 3
Transfer all the well-soaked black beans into a pot. Remember, the beans will have expanded significantly from their initial 1-cup measure to about 1.5 cups. Arrange them nicely in the pot.
Step 4
Now it’s time to cook the beans. Pour 1.5 paper cups of water (approximately 270ml) into the pot with the beans. Ensure the beans are submerged. Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook for about 15 minutes until the beans become tender. If the beans are too hard, the sauce won’t penetrate well, so make sure they are adequately cooked.
Step 5
See how the beans are cooking beautifully! Keep an eye on them periodically. Check if the water has reduced too much. As the beans cook and soften, they become perfectly ready to absorb the delicious savory-sweet sauce.
Step 6
Once the beans are sufficiently cooked, it’s time to add the seasonings and simmer. Add 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of cooking wine, 1 tablespoon of oligosaccharide, and 1 tablespoon of honey to the pot. Stir everything together well. (Measurements are based on standard Korean soup spoons.) After adding the seasonings, continue to simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens and coats the beans evenly. The key is to let the sauce cling to the beans.
Step 7
Look at these perfectly simmered beans! The flavor is crucial, but so is the moistness. Instead of drying out the sauce completely, it’s best to leave a little bit of the sauce remaining. This way, the beans won’t become dry and will remain delightfully tender. This slightly saucy finish makes them an even better accompaniment to rice.
Step 8
Your delicious “Kong Jorim” is now ready! Placing a spoonful on hot rice is pure bliss. While it’s wonderful fresh and warm, the flavors deepen beautifully after cooling and refrigerating. Enjoy this healthy and incredibly tasty black bean side dish with your family!
