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

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.

How did Koreans make kimchi? ›

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.

Can fermenting kimchi go wrong? ›

As your JIN Kimchi ferments like any other Kimchi, it starts smelling slightly sour and vinegary, this aroma gets stronger over time and is perfectly normal! However, if your Kimchi starts to smell rotten, it has most likely gone bad.

Why is my homemade kimchi not bubbling? ›

It is perfectly normal for some jars of kimchi to bubble and pop profusely and for others to not. No pop or overflow when opening a jar does not mean that the kimchi does not contain legions of gut-health-boosting bacteria - trust us it does!

How do you pick a good kimchi? ›

The key to a good kimchi is the balance of salt, heat, and the lactic tang that results from fermentation, similar to the acidic bite in sauerkraut or pickles.

What is the longest fermentation of kimchi? ›

Q: How long do you ferment your kimchi? A: Depending on the vegetables, it takes anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks. Then they are put in fridge to slow down fermentation, even though they don't stop fermenting.

Why is kimchi so expensive? ›

In 2010, the price of kimchi rose greatly due to heavy rainfall shortening the harvesting time for cabbage and other main ingredients for kimchi. Korean and international media described such a phenomenon as a national crisis. Kimchi became scarce to find, expensive and unavailable in many Korean restaurants.

What is the ratio of salt to cabbage in kimchi? ›

How to Brine a Whole Napa Cabbage for Kimchi
  1. 1 whole Napa cabbage 5 lbs.
  2. 6 cup filtered water.
  3. ¾ cup coarse sea salt brining.
  4. ½ cup coarse sea salt sprinkle.
  5. ½ lb Korean radish (peeled and chopped into big chunks) optional.
Mar 25, 2020

How long to leave kimchi to ferment? ›

The fermentation time for kimchi can vary from a few days to several weeks. Either way, it will be safe to eat and delicious. After 5 days of fermentation, the kimchi will be slightly acidic 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.

How long to brine cabbage for kimchi? ›

White cabbage, shredded x 300g (save an outer cabbage leaf as you'll need this for packaging!) A few hours before you're going to make the kimchi (we usually do this 5-6 hours before but a couple of hours to overnight is also fine) pour the water into a large mixing bowl, add the salt and stir to dissolve.

Why is Korea obsessed with kimchi? ›

Kimchi is the most important traditional fermented food in Korea. Historically, the tradition of making kimchi among Koreans started as a necessity of storing and preserving vegetables during the long harsh cold winters when many people died of starvation.

What is Korea's national dish? ›

Kimchi is often hailed as the national dish of Korea and is an integral part of Korean meals. This fermented vegetable dish, most commonly made with napa cabbage and Korean radishes, is seasoned with a mixture of spices, including chili pepper, garlic, ginger, and more.

How long should kimchi ferment? ›

Allow 1 hour to prepare the kimchi and get it in the fermentation jar. Plus 4 hours waiting while the vegetables salt. It takes 5-10 days to ferment depending on room temperature.

Can kimchi be too fermented? ›

Kimchi spoilage and over-fermentation

It will continue to ferment at a cool temperature. If kimchi over-ferments, it will have a very vinegary odor and taste. It is not pleasant to eat raw, so it is often used for soups and stews. If any fermentation gets soft and slimy, then it is a sign of spoilage.

Does kimchi get softer as it ferments? ›

At room temperature, opened kimchi lasts 1 week. When properly refrigerated, it can last 3–6 months. It continues to ferment as it ages, becoming sourer and softer — which may render it unappealing.

Does kimchi need to be submerged when fermenting? ›

It's essential that the veggies be completely submerge and the water is only at the top as you need to create an oxygen-free environment. Keep pushing down and packing until the water covers the veggies. Leave a 2 inch space at the top of the jar (more if you're using a big jar).

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