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Garlic Quail Egg Jangjorim(메추리알 조림)

Quail Egg Jangjorim is a common Korean side dish you often see at home or in restaurants. It’s simple to make, but if you can’t find pre-peeled quail eggs, it can take a bit more effort. The dish is versatile, you can braise it with meat or add ingredients like shishito peppers or potatoes for variation.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: korean
Calories: 480
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 20 quail eggs boiled and peeled
  • 10-12 whole garlic cloves
  • 2 pieces kelp
  • 1/2 chili pepper sliced or whole
  • 4 tbsp soy sauce
  • 6 tbsp water
  • 2 tbsp cooking wine mirin
  • 1.5 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp corn syrup or oligo syrup
  • 1 tbsp cooking oil
  • A drizzle of sesame oil
  • Sesame seeds for garnish

Method
 

  1. Boil the Quail Eggs
  2. Start with cold water, boil for 8–10 minutes, then cool in cold water and peel.
  3. Make the Sauce :
    4 tbsp soy sauce
    6 tbsp water
    2 tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
    1.5 tbsp sugar
    2 piece of kelp
    1/2 sliced chilli
  4. Heat 1 tbsp of cooking oil in a pan. Add whole garlic cloves and sauté on low–medium heat until lightly golden and fragrant.
  5. and add the sauce into the cooked garlic,
  6. once the sauce is boiling, add the feeled quail Eggs.
  7. Simmer on low–medium heat for 5 minutes to extract umami. After 5 minutes, remove the kelp (leaving it in too long can make the sauce slimy).
  8. Simmer on low heat for 10–12 minutes. Stir gently from time to time so the sauce coats the eggs evenly. (Be gentle—they can crack if stirred too hard.)
  9. Add 1 tbsp corn syrup or oligo syrup at the end for shine. Turn off the heat and drizzle a little sesame oil. Sprinkle sesame seeds.
  10. Let it cool slightly, flavour deepens as it rests.

Notes

⭐ Tips for the Best Quail Egg Jangjorim

1. Stir gently for even flavour

Quail eggs are delicate—stir occasionally but gently so the soy sauce coats evenly without cracking the eggs.

2. Use kelp for deeper umami

Boiling kelp for exactly 5 minutes gives you a clean, savoury flavour.
Any longer and the broth may become slimy.

3. Pre-sauté the garlic

Lightly frying whole garlic cloves before adding the sauce boosts aroma and depth.

4. Balance the sweetness at the end

Add syrup (corn syrup or oligo syrup) at the final stage. It gives a glossy finish and prevents burning.

5. Let it rest before serving

This dish tastes even better after cooling because the eggs absorb more sauce.
Many people make it the night before for maximum flavor.

6. Adjust sweetness–saltiness to your style

  • More soy sauce → more savoury and bold
  • More sugar/syrup → sweeter & smoother
  • Add a bit of water if it gets too salty

7. Add-ins make it more fun

  • Meat → deeper, richer broth
  • Shishito peppers or green chilli → mild or spicy kick
  • Potatoes → softer, heartier side dish

8. If peeling eggs is hard

Use cold-water start + ice bath to make peeling easier.
Or buy pre-peeled quail eggs if available.

9. Don’t reduce too much

Leave some sauce at the bottom—jangjorim should be glossy, not dry.