Chicken Collagen Meal

Drink your collagen the ✨Chinese way✨ nourishing the skin, gut, and repair systems

9 ingredients•Prep: 20 mins•Cook: 45 mins

Alice Sun

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February 16, 2026

Seeing the rise of collagen powders was always confusing to me since in Chinese food, collagen was never something you bought. It was always infused into our cooking, and day to day foods, often without even realizing, and it always came from humble ingredients, like chicken feet or fish bones. Because at the end of the day, slow simmering was always the best way to extract the flavor and nutrients, and makes it easier to eat your hydration — one of the best ways to cook for the skin, and gut, because it’s an easier and gentler way to digest!

So when I was looking in an almost empty fridge for a meal, finding a few chicken thighs and daikon were all I needed to get maximum nourishment, with just a few ingredients ☯️

Here’s how to make your own drinkable collagen and have it as a meal —

PS: If you’re ever looking for the cooking tools I use in my videos, I’ve linked them here.

Instructions

Start by seasoning the chicken (3) with 1 tsp of five spice powder, salt, and pepper each on all sides.
Leave to marinate for about 20 minutes.
To a pot, add a bit of oil and heat on the stove. Brown the chicken (3), starting by placing it skin side down.
Remove the chicken from the pot, then add in the ginger (3 slices), onion (½), garlic cloves (4 cloves), then daikon (¼ large) last.
Sauté until the onion starts to turn a bit translucent.
Add chicken back on top of everything and pour in the water (6 cups).
Cover and bring to a simmer for 40 minutes, making sure to skim off the scum during the process.
Season to taste with the fish sauce (2 tsp) or just use salt and pepperpepper.
Serve with a side of kimchi and purple rice.