How To Make Kimchi - Mom's Famous Spicy Kimchi Recipe (2024)

Kelly from Primally Inspired 71 Comments

How To Make Kimchi - Mom's Famous Spicy Kimchi Recipe (1)

How To Make Kimchi (My Mom’s Famous Spicy Kimchi Recipe)

Have you ever had kimchi? (Sometimes spelled Kimchee, too).

Today I’m going to teach you how to make kimchi. And not just any kimchi – my mom’s famous spicy kimchi! This stuff is the bomb!

How To Make Kimchi - Mom's Famous Spicy Kimchi Recipe (2)

Kimchi is a traditional fermented food and it’s even Korea’s national dish. Koreans generally eat a small amount of kimchi with every single meal. Kimchi is made with vegetables and spices and is lacto fermented. That means it’sjam packed with beneficial probiotics that help our immune health and digestion. In other words – it’s super, super good for you! Those smart Koreans definitely know what’s up 😉

Homemade fermented foods like kimchi contain 100 times more probiotics than a supplement. In fact, just one small spoonful of kimchi will give you more probiotics than an entire bottle of probiotics! (Source)

If you’ve never tasted kimchi, it’s like a flavor explosion in your mouth. It’s a delightful combination of crispy and bold andspicy and tangy. If you like sour foods like pickles and sauerkraut, I think you’ll really love kimchi, too.

How To Make Kimchi - Mom's Famous Spicy Kimchi Recipe (3)

Kimchi is awesome on wraps, sandwiches, on hamburgers or just eaten by the spoonful. But my very favorite way to eat kimchi is mixed with eggs for breakfast. So yummy!

How To Make Kimchi - Mom's Famous Spicy Kimchi Recipe (4)

My mom makes the best kimchi. I’ve had my fair share of kimchi and no one beats my mom’s kimchi. I spent a few days visiting with her last week and she taught me exactly how to make kimchi so I could share it with you all. And today I’m showing you how to make it based on my mom’s famous spicy Korean kimchi recipe. Enjoy!

If you are a regular eater of kimchi, leave me a comment and let me know what foods you like to pair with your kimchi 🙂

How To Make Kimchi - Mom's Famous Spicy Kimchi Recipe (5)

How To Make Kimchi - Mom's Famous Spicy Kimchi Recipe (6)

How To Make Kimchi

How To Make Kimchi (My Mom's Famous Spicy Kimchi Recipe!)

How To Make Kimchi - Mom's Famous Spicy Kimchi Recipe (7)

Author:

Kelly from Primally Inspired

Save Print

How to Make Kimchi (Korean Spicy Kimchi Recipe) from Primally Inspired

Ingredients

  • 2 heads Napa cabbage (about 6 pounds total)
  • 1 cup sea salt
  • 2 cups spring or distilled water
  • 1 large diakon radish (about 1½ pounds), peeled
  • 4 large carrots (about ¾ pound total)
  • 1 apple, peeled and core removed (don't leave the apple out! The apple provides sugar for the bacteria to eat so it can ferment properly)
  • 2 bunches of scallions, chopped
  • 1 whole head of garlic, peeled
  • 4 ounces fresh ginger
  • 1½ cups hot Korean chili flakes (found in Asian markets or online. I use THESE)
  • optional: 1 teaspoon fish sauce (I use THIS)
  • optional: pinch or two (or three!) of dried red pepper flakes. The more pinches, the spicier! I typically use 2 pinches - about 1 teaspoon.
  • ⅓ cup additional distilled or spring water
  • clean mason jars (I use 8 of THESE jars)

Instructions

  1. Cut your cabbage in one inch (bite size) pieces and place it in 2 very large bowls. How To Make Kimchi - Mom's Famous Spicy Kimchi Recipe (8)
  2. Add ½ cup sea salt and 1 cup of water to each bowl and toss with your hands to coat. How To Make Kimchi - Mom's Famous Spicy Kimchi Recipe (9)
  3. Let the cabbage sit for one hour, tossing every 20 minutes. You'll start to see the cabbage releasing liquid and shrinking in size - that's exactly what we want!
  4. While the cabbage is sitting, shred your radish, carrots and apple in a food processor. If you don't have a food processor, you can chop them in small pieces. Set aside.
  5. In a food processor, process the garlic and ginger until smooth.
  6. Fold in your Korean hot chili flakes, red pepper flakes (if using) and fish sauce (if using) and ⅓ cup water. Stir until it becomes a paste. Set aside.
  7. After the cabbage has sat for 1 hour, rinse it very well with cold water and then strain the water. Rinse and strain for a total of 3 times. Rinsing and straining 3 times is important because you want to wash away most of the salt or it will be way too salty!
  8. Place your rinsed cabbage in one of your very large bowls (it should all fit in one bowl now).
  9. Add the radish, carrot, scallions and apple and your hot chili/garlic/ginger paste. How To Make Kimchi - Mom's Famous Spicy Kimchi Recipe (10)
  10. With gloves on your hands (important!), toss everything together making sure that the paste coats all the veggies well.
  11. Add the kimchi to your mason jars packing it in tightly. Make sure to leave at least 2 inches of headroom (the kimchi will expand as it ferments). Close the lids to your jars. This recipe usually makes about 8-10 pint size jars.
  12. Close the lids on your jars and let them sit for 3-5 days.
  13. You must "burp" the jars once a day during these 3-5 days. You do that by quickly opening the jar and then closing it. You'll hear gas releasing - just like what it sounds like when you open a soda. That is normal and a good sign! You should see small bubbles in your jar, too. And if you hold the opened jar to your ears, you'll also hear it fizzing. That's like music to a fermenters ears 🙂
  14. After 3 days, give your kimchi a taste. If it tastes tangy and "fizzy", that means your kimchi is finished and you can move your jars to the fridge. They will last about a year in the fridge. If you don't taste that tanginess, let your kimchi sit for a few more days.

Notes

You may want to put the jars on a tray while they are fermenting. If you didn't leave enough headroom, your kimchi liquid could spill out of the jars, leaving you with a big mess - a tray helps catch that liquid 🙂

Pin How To Make Kimchi HERE:

How To Make Kimchi - Mom's Famous Spicy Kimchi Recipe (11)

Check Also

How To Make Easy Sauerkraut

Learn how to cure your heartburn without drugs! Plus, learn how to make the easy homemade sauerkraut!

How To Make Kimchi - Mom's Famous Spicy Kimchi Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make your kimchi more spicy? ›

If all you want is More Heat, just use finely minced habanero or scotch bonnet peppers. (Use appropriate practices for handling extremely spicy peppers.) After adding the peppers, stir well and let sit for a day or two to let the flavors disperse.

What are the ingredients of traditional kimchi? ›

Its ingredients can vary, but napa cabbage and Korean radish are common bases. Kimchi also often includes green onions, ginger, and garlic.

How did kimchi become spicy? ›

The bright red color of kimchi's signature seasoning, gochugaru, leaves many asking, "Is kimchi spicy?" The spice level of the kimchi depends on how much gochugaru went into the mix, with different versions available ranging from mild to very spicy.

What to put spicy kimchi in? ›

Add a dollop to cheese toastie fillings, fold it into homemade slaw, parathas and fried rice, or stir it into hearty stews. Expand your pasta repertoire with Lara Lee's cheesy kimchi linguine, or use the pressure cooker in this easy three step pork belly and kimchi stew.

What is the spicy powder for kimchi? ›

Gochugaru. Gochugaru is a coarsely ground Korean chili powder, or red pepper flakes, that add lots of flavor and spice it up. It is best to use authentic gochugaru, not a substitute.

Is spicy kimchi good for your gut? ›

Along with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, kimchi contains natural probiotic bacteria. If you eat them regularly, the probiotics in fermented foods can be beneficial to your gut microbiome. Studies suggest that eating kimchi on a daily basis could help to improve some digestive problems.

Why does my kimchi taste so bad? ›

Fresh Kimchi starts off salty and gets more sour as it naturally ferments over time. So, the longer you keep your Kimchi, the more it ferments and the more sour it gets. Natural fermentation is what gives Kimchi its sour flavour as it ages.

Why do Koreans eat so much kimchi? ›

Tradition is one of the main reasons why Korean serve kimchi at almost every meal. History shows that Koreans were already eating kimchi as early as 37 BC. During those times, it was common for the locals to make fermented dishes because of the abundance of ingredients and lack of refrigeration.

Is kimchi just spicy sauerkraut? ›

Just as Germans made their Sauerkraut, the Koreans made their Kimchi. The two are essentially the same just with minor variations in spices.

Can I eat kimchi every day? ›

Cabbage and radish kimchi, a popular fermented vegetable dish, in particular were effective in reducing the risk of obesity and abdominal obesity in both men and women.

Can you eat kimchi straight from the jar? ›

Though it is delicious eaten right from the jar — or as part of a banchan spread — kimchi is also a versatile ingredient to include in other recipes, from savory pancakes to standout burgers.

Can kimchi go bad? ›

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.

What is the best way to heat up kimchi? ›

Directions. Heat a nonstick skillet to medium-high heat. Add kimchi. Saute until fragrant and slightly yellow, about 5 minutes.

Can you get kimchi that isn't spicy? ›

White Kimchi (Baek Kimchi) is a non-spicy kimchi variety that tastes mild and refreshing. It's particularly popular amongst kids and spicy food cautious people.

What happens if you heat kimchi? ›

The answer to “do you eat kimchi hot or cold” is really about health, not flavor. Kimchi tastes great cooked into almost anything. But heating kimchi kills the healthy, helpful bacteria that are a product of the fermentation process.

Why is my kimchi so sour? ›

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, it would go bad!

References

Top Articles
Easy Microwave Bread Pudding Recipe for One
14 Benefits of Maca Powder and 14 Maca Recipes - The Paleo Mama
Kem Minnick Playboy
13 Easy Ways to Get Level 99 in Every Skill on RuneScape (F2P)
News - Rachel Stevens at RachelStevens.com
Nordstrom Rack Glendale Photos
Emmalangevin Fanhouse Leak
Jasmine
Pbr Wisconsin Baseball
Amateur Lesbian Spanking
Globe Position Fault Litter Robot
Buying risk?
Raleigh Craigs List
How Much Are Tb Tests At Cvs
Cashtapp Atm Near Me
Hellraiser III [1996] [R] - 5.8.6 | Parents' Guide & Review | Kids-In-Mind.com
Me Cojo A Mama Borracha
Red Devil 9664D Snowblower Manual
Roof Top Snipers Unblocked
Why Should We Hire You? - Professional Answers for 2024
Shiftselect Carolinas
Xsensual Portland
Free Personals Like Craigslist Nh
Bennington County Criminal Court Calendar
European city that's best to visit from the UK by train has amazing beer
How to Make Ghee - How We Flourish
Makemv Splunk
JVID Rina sauce set1
UCLA Study Abroad | International Education Office
Delta Township Bsa
Effingham Daily News Police Report
Best Town Hall 11
Orange Park Dog Racing Results
DIY Building Plans for a Picnic Table
Loopnet Properties For Sale
Culver's Hartland Flavor Of The Day
Jay Gould co*ck
Navigating change - the workplace of tomorrow - key takeaways
Darrell Waltrip Off Road Center
Naya Padkar Newspaper Today
Zasilacz Dell G3 15 3579
Directions To Advance Auto
Orion Nebula: Facts about Earth’s nearest stellar nursery
Joey Gentile Lpsg
US-amerikanisches Fernsehen 2023 in Deutschland schauen
Saline Inmate Roster
VDJdb in 2019: database extension, new analysis infrastructure and a T-cell receptor motif compendium
Csgold Uva
Haunted Mansion Showtimes Near Millstone 14
Missed Connections Dayton Ohio
Wrentham Outlets Hours Sunday
Arre St Wv Srj
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tuan Roob DDS

Last Updated:

Views: 6479

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (42 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tuan Roob DDS

Birthday: 1999-11-20

Address: Suite 592 642 Pfannerstill Island, South Keila, LA 74970-3076

Phone: +9617721773649

Job: Marketing Producer

Hobby: Skydiving, Flag Football, Knitting, Running, Lego building, Hunting, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Tuan Roob DDS, I am a friendly, good, energetic, faithful, fantastic, gentle, enchanting person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.