Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish made with cabbage or other vegetables, spices and herbs. It’s fermented, sour, and spicy. I love it!
A homemade kimchi recipe is a great way to add a little Korean flair to your cooking. It’s also an easy way to make sure you’re eating fresh, healthy foods—and if you’ve got kids, it’s a great way to get them into the kitchen! We'll walk you through how to make your own kimchi step by step.
I’ve always been a fan of kimchi. Many years ago, I was very lucky to
learn to make Kimchi with an amazing Korean chef. And today, I’d like to share with you my homemade kimchi recipe. It’s easy and delicious. Let’s get started.
Kimchi Recipe
Rest time: 3 hours and 20 minutes
Prep time: 45 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
For the Napa Cabbage:
3 pounds Napa cabbage
3 tablespoons coarse sea salt
For the Rice Paste:
3/4 cup water
3 tablespoons sweet rice flour
For the Spicy Paste:
6 garlic cloves, pureed
1/2 teaspoon ginger, peeled, pureed
1/2 apple, chopped, pureed
1/4 onion, chopped, pureed
2 tablespoons sand lance fish sauce
2 tablespoons anchovy fish sauce
1 tablespoon salted shrimp (saeu-jeot)
2 tablespoons Korean plum extract syrup (maesil chung)
2 stalks scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 1/2 cups Korean radish, cut into matchstick pieces
1 cup carrot, cut into matchstick pieces
1/2 cup Korean red pepper flakes (gochugaru)
Instructions Kimchi
To brine the Napa cabbage:
First, cut the Napa cabbage into bite-size pieces.
Rinse the cabbage in running water. Drain.
Transfer a layer of Napa cabbage to a large mixing bowl, sprinkle some coarse sea salt over the Napa cabbage, and mix with your hands. Repeat until we are finished with all the Napa cabbage and salt. Toss and turn the cabbage every 30 minutes.
The total brine time is about 3 hours until the white part of the cabbage becomes soft and flexible. (Salt will soften up the Napa cabbage and also kill germs.)
Rinse the Napa cabbage in running water until all the salt, on the surface, has been removed, about 3 times. Drain the Napa cabbage until there is no more excess water.
To Make the Rice Paste:
In a saucepan, over low heat, add the water and sweet rice flour. Constantly stir until the paste becomes sticky and pasty, about 5 minutes. Let it come to room temperature, about 20 minutes.To Make the Spice and Seasoning Paste:
In a food processor, transfer in the garlic, ginger, chopped apple, chopped onion, sand lance fish sauce, anchovy fish sauce, salted shrimp, and plum extract syrup. Blend until it becomes a paste.
To Prepare Other Vegetables:
Slice the scallions into 2 inch pieces.
Slice the Korean radish into matchstick pieces.
Slice the carrot into matchstick pieces.
To Make the Kimchi Spicy Paste:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the rice paste, spice and seasoning paste, and the Korean chili pepper flakes. Whisk. Also transfer in the scallions, Korean radish, and carrot. Mix well.To Make the Kimchi:
In another large mixing bowl, transfer a layer of Napa cabbage and spicy paste. Combine everything with your hands. Repeat until we are finished with all the cabbage and spicy paste.
Transfer the kimchi to an airtight container. Ferment in your fridge for 5 to 7 days. And for tangier kimchi, you could ferment it under room temperature for the first 2 days, and then transfer it to your fridge for the next several days.
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Kimchi Sauce
Kimchi sauce is a traditional Korean condiment made with fermented cabbage, chili peppers, and other ingredients. Kimchi sauce is often served as a dipping sauce for Korean fried chicken or as an accompaniment for cold noodles or fried rice dishes.
To make kimchi sauce at home, simply combine all of the ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well until the sugar has dissolved and then let it sit for about 15 minutes before serving.
Kimchi Fish Sauce
Kimchi fish sauce is a spicy, tangy, and salty condiment that’s made from kimchi (fermented cabbage), salted anchovies, and fish sauce. It’s often used as a dipping sauce for seafood dishes such as fried shrimp or squid, but it can also be used in stir-fry sauces or soups.
