Korean Kimchi Recipe (2024)

Author: Peter Kolesnichenko · Published: · Modified:

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It's really easy to follow this Fermented Korean Kimchi Recipe, and your health will thank you. Naturally fermented, full of probiotics and vitamins. Made with spicy Gochujang Red Chili Paste.

Korean Kimchi Recipe (1)
Korean Kimchi Recipe (2)
Korean Kimchi Recipe (3)

It's really easy to follow this Fermented Korean Kimchi Recipe, and your health will thank you. When I wasyoung I feltinvincible, eatingwhatever I liked, usually. As Igrew older and maybe wiser and couldn't keep up with the twenty-somethings anymore, myinterest in health miraculously came alive. So how can I combine my love of cooking with the added benefits of probiotics and natural health?

A Korean Kimchi recipe. I love spicy foods and Asian foods, so this isa marriage made in heaven for me!Koreans have eaten Kimchee for over a thousandyears, and annually eat over 40 pounds per person! Lucky for me, it's not hard to make, lasts a long time, and I believe will improve my health and boost my immune system. The best part is because I made it, I know exactly what went into it. And it makes a delicious Kimchi Fried Rice recipe.

Kimchi Recipe with Gochujang Paste

Traditionally Kimchi is made by covering the whole pieces of napa cabbage with the spicy Gochujang paste, or Gochugaru (red pepper flakes). Either spice will work, I use the paste.I prefer to chop the cabbage into small manageable pieces. This doesn't impact the fermentation in any way, it's just easier to use as a condiment. You can find Gochujang at any Asian grocer. More and more supermarkets are carrying it in stock now.

In my pantry I had a 1kg bag of Himalayan Salt, and that is perfectly acceptable to use instead of regular salt. As I always say, use what you've got! If sodium levels are a concern in your diet, use kosher salt, as it has a lower milligram amount of sodium vs regular salt. I think there's no escaping the salt required in this recipe.

Korean Kimchi Recipe (4)

Kimchi Recipe with Apple

I love this recipe because it doesn't add sugar or honey like some recipes, but naturally adds sweetness with a grated apple. (You could substitute grated pear or nashi pear instead). That's the secret to an authentic Kimchee. I used a lot of carrots in this recipe, asthe carrots I bought were somegiant carrots, so I used them all as I don't like wastage. The photos are very carrot heavy, in hindsight, I should have used less carrot due to the physical size of the carrots.

So what do I do with all this Kimchi? I love adding my Korean Kimchi recipe to my chicken burgers, or you can just eat it as a side with your meal. Plus it makes a killer Kimchi Fried Rice which tastes amazing.

Check Out My Other Fermented Foods

  • Kombucha - Russian Mushroom Tea
  • Real Beet Kvass
  • Fermented Tomatoes
  • Bread Kvass

When you eat this Homemade Korean Kimchi Recipe, your healthwill thank you. Don't be scared to make this, and definitely don't pay supermarket prices for Kimchi. Homemade Kimchi is tastier anyways.Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!

Korean Kimchi Recipe (5)
Korean Kimchi Recipe (6)

Korean Kimchi Recipe (7)

Korean Kimchi Recipe + Video

Homemade Kimchi will boost your immune system! Koreans have eaten Kimchee for over a thousand years. Raw and naturally fermented Napa Cabbage, full of natural probiotics and vitamins. An authentic, fermented Korean Kimchi Recipe made with Gochujang Red Chili Paste

4.36 from 37 votes

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Prep Time: 1 hour hour

Fermenting time: 2 days days

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: Korean

Keyword: kimchi recipe, Korean Kimchi recipe

Author: Peter Kolesnichenko

Ingredients

  • 1 large Napa Cabbage or 2 smaller Napa cabbages
  • 4 carrots grated
  • 6 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 knob of ginger, grated approx 75 grams (2.5oz)
  • 1 cup garlic chives (optional) chopped
  • 4 spring onions chopped
  • 1 small daikon cut in 2 inch match sticks
  • ¼ - ⅓ cup Gochujang paste or Korean red pepper powder*
  • 1 apple peeled, cored, and grated
  • 2 tablespoons of fish sauce or soy sauce
  • ¼ cup sea salt

Instructions

  • Remove the cabbage leaves individually, and cut the cabbage leaves into 2 inch pieces, and put into a large bowl.

  • Put ¼ cup of salt into a small bowl of warm water and stir until dissolved.Add the salt water to the bowl of cabbage leaves and mix it up using your hands, ensuring each piece gets a good covering of salty water.

  • Leave the cabbage in the bowl at room temperature for 3-4 hours. The salt will start to draw out the water from the cabbage. You will see a brine in the bottom of the bowl.

  • Strain the cabbage through a colander. Some people quickly rinse it once or twice with water, but not necessary. Put your cabbage back into the bowl.

  • Add the grated carrot, match stick daikon, crushed garlic, grated ginger, garlic chives, grated apple and mix together.

  • Measure ⅓ cup of Gochujang and 2 tablespoons of fish sauce OR soy sauce, and vigorously mix thoroughly until completely covered. I suggest wearing disposable gloves, so the peppers don't burn.

  • Pack Kimchi tightly into glass jars, leaving a few inches from the top. Close lid and allow to sit in a cool dark place for at least 48 hours (longer to increase sourness).Periodically open up the jars to release the pressure that builds up. Bubbles will likely appear, this is normal.When its ready, place in the fridge, where it should last 2 months or more.

Video

Notes

Optional - to give kimchi a redder look with a spicier taste, add 2 tablespoons of the Korean red pepper powder.

The warmer your room is, the quicker the Kimchi will start to ferment. Keep and eye on it and taste it as per your preference. It will keep slowly fermenting in the fridge but at a slower rate. I prefer a fresher and less sour Kimchee, so tend to put it in the fridge after about 48 hours on the counter.

Tried this recipe?Mention @petersfoodadventures or tag #petersfoodadventures!

©PetersFoodAdventures.com

Korean Kimchi Recipe (8)
Korean Kimchi Recipe (9)
Korean Kimchi Recipe (10)

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Korean Kimchi Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How is traditional Korean kimchi made? ›

The process of making kimchi involves brining (salting) the vegetables to draw out the water, which helps in preservation and allows the seasonings to penetrate the food over time; the final salt concentration ranges from 2-5%. Kimchi is typically fermented by 'wild cultures' naturally present on the vegetables.

What is the number 1 Korean kimchi? ›

ABOUT JONGGA

Jongga, Koreans' favorite Kimchi brand of all time, has been elevating the legacy and culture of Kimchi since 1987.

Is kimchi difficult to make? ›

Kimchi may seem complex to make, but it's no more difficult than making a salad. Summary: Kimchi is typically made with cabbage, radish, garlic, onion, ginger, carrot, fish sauce, and chili flakes.

What are the two types of kimchi? ›

There are over 180 recognized varieties of kimchi. The most common kimchi variations are: Baechu-kimchi (배추김치) spicy napa cabbage kimchi, made from whole cabbage leaves. Baechu-geotjeori (배추겉절이) unfermented napa cabbage kimchi.

How long do Koreans ferment kimchi? ›

Kimchi fermentation time can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. In any case, it will be safe to eat and delicious. After 5 days of fermentation, kimchi will be slightly tangy and firm. After several weeks, it will be more acidic and tender.

How long does homemade kimchi last? ›

Homemade kimchi must be kept refrigerated and will last for up to 1 month. Store-bought kimchi that remains unopened can be kept at room temperature for 1-3 months. If you have store-bought kimchi that's been opened, it will be good for 3-4 days at room temperature and up to 6 months when refrigerated.

Do Koreans really eat kimchi everyday? ›

Traditional Korean meals comprise a large variety of side dishes known as banchan, and kimchi is the most ubiquitous side dish consumed in two meals on a daily basis by a large proportion of Koreans [18].

Why is kimchi so expensive? ›

Kimchi is a traditional food served in South Korea. The main part of the food is a preserved vegetable, often cabbage. But this year, Kimchi is more costly than usual because the cabbage crop has been small. Some farmers say climate change has made it harder to grow cabbage.

Is store bought kimchi still healthy? ›

Conclusion - if you want to enjoy the health benefits of live bacteria in kimchi only buy if the label says : “live bacteria” and “unpasteurised”. There are lots of small brands in health food shops with these terms on them - but they still don't seem to have hit the big retailers yet.

What is the mistake in making kimchi? ›

Let us guide you through making your crunchiest, funkiest, spiciest, and most delicious batch yet.
  1. Using store-bought kimchi paste. ...
  2. Buying low-quality ingredients for your kimchi paste. ...
  3. Forgetting to taste your kimchi paste. ...
  4. Settling for low-quality produce. ...
  5. Not brining your produce. ...
  6. Over-salting your produce.
Jan 27, 2024

What are the disadvantages of kimchi? ›

Kimchi is high in sodium, with about 500 milligrams per cup. That's more than 20% of all the sodium that you're supposed to get in a day. Too much sodium can raise your risk of high blood pressure. If kimchi isn't prepared or stored properly, it can cause food poisoning, especially in people who are immune compromised.

Why is my homemade kimchi so sour? ›

Why is the kimchi so sour tasting? Kimchi will always have a high level of acidity. This is caused by gut-healthy bacteria in the kimchi, which create acid during their lifetime, lowering the pH of the kimchi and preserving it naturally. If the kimchi was not acidic (read: sour) it would go bad!

Do they sell kimchi at Costco? ›

Jongga Kimchi, Sliced Napa Cabbage, 88.1 oz | Costco.

What are the bubbles in kimchi? ›

One of the most obvious sign of fermentation is the presence of bubbles. During fermentation, the good bacteria produces carbon dioxide as a by product. So if you see bubbles in your Kimchi jar, it means that fermentation has begun.

Is Kim Chi the same as sauerkraut? ›

The process, called lactic acid fermentation, is what gives kimchi and sauerkraut their nutritional superpowers. This is the crucial difference between kimchi and sauerkraut; fermentation time. They both undergo lactic acid fermentation, but sauerkraut tends to ferment for a significantly longer period of time.

What is original kimchi made of? ›

The main ingredient in kimchi is most often cabbage. Traditional Korean kimchi uses baechu, which is also known as napa cabbage. The cabbage is cut into quarters lengthwise, then salted or brined. This draws out the excess water, which helps to preserve the cabbage.

What actually ferments the kimchi? ›

Fermentation of Kimchi is carried out by various microorganisms present in the raw materials. Among lactic acid bacteria, the genera Leuconostoc, Weissella, and Lactobacillus are believed to be the key players in Kimchi fermentation.

Is kimchi is traditional Korean food made by fermenting cabbage? ›

Kimchi is a fermented cabbage dish and staple in the Korean diet. Its most common preparation involves fermenting cabbage, radishes and sometimes cucumbers and then adding spices.

What is kimchi made of in South Korea? ›

Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish made with salted and fermented vegetables. Baechu kimchi is the most iconic and is made with napa cabbage, salt, garlic, ginger, scallions, fish sauce and gochugaru (Korean chili flake), which gives it its trademark spiciness and red color.

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