Homemade Korean Kimchi Recipe
This Homemade Korean Kimchi Recipe is a sour, robust condiment and side dish from Korea. It is easy to make and has so many health benefits!
While you are here, you should try these Korean Seared Pork Tacos and this Kimchi Fried Rice! Two great recipes to use your homemade kimchi.
I was first introduced to kimchi awhile back when I was attending hygiene school. It is definitely a taste that is unforgettable, and addicting! Kimchi is also something that is an acquired taste. One thing that is for certain, you will love it!
Table of contents
What is Kimchi?
Homemade Korean Kimchi is fermented cabbage and other veggies. It is a staple in Korean households. Kimchi is great for gut health and is primarily a healthy side dish.
This kimchi recipe is a bit quicker than traditional methods due to the difference in the brining method.
Ingredients needed for the Kimchi Recipe:
Most of these ingredients can be found at your local grocery store. If not, they will most certainly be at your local Asian Market. Here is what you will need:
- Napa cabbage (and a head of green cabbage) which is optional but highly recommended.
- Ginger: grated ginger is a key component in authentic kimchi.
- Onions: yellow and green onions will be shredded or very finely minced
- Shredded carrots: these add a nice sweet bite to the fermented kimchi.
- Apple, or pear: the apple and or pear help to ferment the cabbage to give the kimchi its unique sour flavor and health benefits.
- Radish: a daikon radish is optional to add to the kimchi. It adds a nice textural difference to the side dish.
- Gochujang: a key ingredient in most Korean recipes.
- Korean red pepper flakes: these can be adjusted to make the kimchi more or less spicy
- Fish sauce
- Soy sauce
Have you ever heard of, or tried Kimchi?
Moment of honesty, I had not even heard of this supremely famous Korean side dish/appetizer until a dear friend of mine introduced it to me; and that was merely 4 or so years ago.
It was definitely love at first bite! If you enjoy anything pickled, you will enjoy kimchi!
The best kimchi experience!
We get to this tiny little house, with a handicap ramp, and a gravel parking lot driveway, and I began to have doubts! She assured me that this Korean Noodle House was some of the BEST Korean food she has had in all of Houston.
So I went with it, and I most certainly agreed with her after we ate our hand-made noodles, complimentary kimchi, and amazing soup! This little gem of a house-restaurant changed my love of kimchi FOREVER!
Fast-forward a few years- the restaurant has since moved to a strip-center, and their re-opening was HIGHLY HIGHLY ANTICIPATED! If you look back at their Yelp account, you may even find me or Alison questioning their re-opening!
Fun facts about kimchi:
- Kimchi is a traditional side dish for almost all Korean meals
- Kimchi is a generic name for “pickled” in Korean
- It is a fermentation of various vegetables (hence the strong smell)
- Fermentation creates natural lactic acid bacteria (probiotics) which have amazing health benefits
- An acquired taste, but highly addictive once you learn to love it
What does the Kimchi taste like?
The flavor of kimchi is very sour, strong, robust, and can be spicy (depending on preference and making adjustments to the recipe). So you may be a bit turned-off by the smell and taste at first bite, but I can almost guarantee that you will go back for more! Having purchased many store-bought jars of kimchi, I finally decided to make it on my own.
Is it hard to make kimchi?
It seems intimidating at first, but when you make it once, you will realize how easy it really is. Homemade is also better because you can adjust your level of spiciness and how sour you want it.
If you have never had it before, I encourage you to try it ASAP! If you are already a kimchi fan, give this recipe a go. Once you realize how easy and delicious it is to make at home, you will never buy it from a store again!
Homemade Korean Kimchi Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 heads Napa cabbage, chopped
- 1 head Green cabbage, chopped
- 1 Red onion, sliced
- 1 bunch Green onions, rough chopped
- 2 carrots, shredded
- 1 tablespoon Ginger, grated
- 2 cloves Garlic, grated
- 1 Korean radish, shredded
- 1 Apple or pear, shredded
Seasoning (adjust to level of spiciness)
- 1 tablespoon Fish sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon Soy sauce, (optional)
- 2 cups Korean hot pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup Gochujang, korean chili paste
- 1/4 cup Red pepper flakes
For Brining
- 8 cups Water, to cover chopped cabbage
- 2 cups Salt
Instructions
- Add chopped napa and green cabbage to a large bowl, add water and salt to cover completely. Mix thoroughly to ensure all cabbage is coated with mixture.
- Let brining mixture sit for 2-3 hours. After a few hours cabbage will appear wilted.
- Strain and rinse cabbage VERY thoroughly to ensure most of the salt is rinsed off.
- Using gloves, mix cabbage together with all of the vegetables, spices, apple or pear, fish sauce, and soy sauce (optional). Combine all ingredients thoroughly
- Add kimchi to mason jars- leaving about an inch of room in each container. Place jars in room temperature for 2-3 days. Open lids everyday to allow gases to escape.
- Taste to ensure level of sourness is achieved, cover jar with a piece of plastic wrap, place lid on tight, and refrigerate.
Thank you for this recipe! The Korean meal, kimchi, usually contains Korean radishes, Napa cabbage, and various flavors such as ginger, garlic, pepper, and fish sauce. Drying and salting are the oldest food conservation methodology is most well-known practices. Likewise, the most common way of making kimchi includes tenderizing the vegetables to draw out the water.
This recipe definitely touches on all of these ingredients and notes listed. Thanks for your insight!
Yummy
Kimchi is so healthy for the gut…everybody needs to be making this at home. Thanks so much for sharing it, it was so easy to follow along.
I always order kimchu when i eat out, and now i know how to make it at home thanks to you!
Yes! Enjoy it!
I’ve never attempted homemade kimchi but you made it look so easy!
It’s worth making at home!
Wow! I learned a lot about Kimchi! Thank you for all this information and the amazing recipe! Love cabbage and spicy food!
You are very welcome. Thanks for visiting!
I love kimchi! Can’t wait to make this at home!
I would love to try this recipe!! Full of flavor!!
My boyfriend and I LOVEEE Kimchi! Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe. You make preparing kimchi at home so easy, especially with the great step by step photos. I like it spicy and love all the spicy additions you have listed!
Awesome! You will definitely enjoy this then!
I had a neighbor that would make Kimchi for me. It was delicious! I think that I will try my hand at it now. You make this look so good.
You should definitely try it out!
I was JUST thinking about Kimchi. This recipe is right on time!
I never knew how kimchi was made. I have many of these ingredients and will definitely have to make this soon.
You definitely should! It’s much easier than most people know.
Ahhh looks so good!!! I never thought to make kimchi at home would be so doable!! I need to give this a try!
My step-father was South Korean, so one of the first recipes I learned to make when I was a teen was kimchi. I still make and love it.
Yes! It is so good for you too!
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