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    Home » Asian foods » Homemade Kimchi

    Homemade Kimchi

    Published: Sep 21, 2020 Modified: Apr 14, 2022 by Tracy O.This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Kimchi is a Korean classic side dish that people like to eat with noodles, make kimchi soup, kimchi fried rice and much more. Also, this homemade kimchi recipe shows you how to make easy kimchi at home. 

    Love Korean food? Check out these tteokbokki, japchae, jajangmyeon, kimbap and Korean ginseng chicken soup recipes. 

    kimchi napa cabbage on a plate and some in jars

    What is kimchi (김치)? 

    Kimchi is a famous Korean cuisine. Also, it is a transitional side dish. Traditionally, kimchi is made from salted and fermented vegetables with chili pepper powder, green onion, garlic, ginger, asian pear, apple and salted seafood. 

    There are hundreds of different types of kimchi made with different vegetables, the most common is kimchi napa cabbage. In the past, kimchi was stored underground in jars to keep cool just like a refrigerator. 

    What can I eat with homemade kimchi? 

    Fermented napa cabbage is known to be a traditional Korean side dish because most Korean families make it and restaurants serve it as a side dish. 

    It can be eaten alone, with rice or noodles. Besides, you can use it to make porridges, soups, rice cakes, stew, pancakes and fried rice.

    What are the ingredients for homemade easy kimchi? 

    In this homemade easy kimchi recipe, I used napa cabbage, garlic, ginger, apple, asian pears, daikon, green onion, salty shrimps, fish sauce, chili pepper powder and brown sugar. 

    I like to use Asian pears to make homemade easy Kimchi in the Fall because we have a lot of asian pears from our backyard. The sweetness and acidity from Asian pears give more flavor to fermented napa cabbage. I love homemade kimchi and it is the best and tasty! Try out this easy kimchi recipe. 

    homemade easy kimchi ingredients

    Cooking tips for how to make homemade easy kimchi:

    • Put kosher salt in napa cabbage and let it sit for an hour. Rinse it a few times (3 times) and drain it very well. Then, squeeze the extra water. 
    • You can use less chili pepper powder if you want.  
    • Blend asian pear, apple, ginger, garlic, salty shrimp and daikon to make the paste. After that, add or mix the paste with chili powder, brown sugar and fish sauce. 
    • Remember to remove excess water from the cabbage before mixing with the sauce.

    FAQs: 

    How long does homemade kimchi last in the fridge? 


    Fresh homemade kimchi can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks or more. However, I like to consume it fresh and as soon as possible.

    What does kimchi taste like?
     

    In general, kimchi tastes spicy, sour and salty. But, in this homemade recipe, it is less sour. 

    How to store homemade kimchi? 


    Traditionally, Koreans make kimchi and store them in a clay jar called jangdokdae. Now, more people just use glass jars or containers to store kimchi. 

    Instructions for how to make homemade easy kimchi:

    cut napa cabbage

    Preparation: 

    1. First, wash and cut 4 pounds of napa cabbage into chunks.

    napa cabbage into a big sliver pot with salt on napa cabbage

    2 Put napa cabbage into a big pot, add ½ cup kosher salt and mix them. Then, let it sit for an hour. 

    peel off ½ of an apple skin

    3. Wash, cut and peel off ½ of the apple (Medium sized). 

    cut and peel off asian pears skin

    4. Then, wash, cut and peel off 2 cups of asian pears (Around 2 medium sized).

    cut and peel off daikon

    5. Next, wash, cut and peel off ¼ of the daikon (Medium sized). 

    peel off ginger skin

    6. The following, peel off a small piece of ginger. (Around 2 tablespoons)

    cut green onion into strips

    7. Cut a bunch of green onion into strips and set it aside. 

    salty shrimp daikon apple garlic ginger into a blender

    Paste mixture: 

    8. After that, put ¼ of radish, 1 whole peeled of garlic, a small piece of ginger (around 2 tablespoons),  2 cups of asian pears, ½ of the apple and 4 tablespoons of salty shrimp into a blender. 

    blended vegetable and fruit paste into a blender

    9. Blend until it's smooth.  

    chili powder brown sugar and fish sauce into a mixing bowl

    10. After, add 4 tablespoons of fish sauce, 1 tablespoons of brown sugar and ½ cup of chili pepper powder into the mixing bowl. 

    kimchi sauce in a sliver bowl

    11. Next, pour the mixed paste from the blender into the bowl from step 10. Then, mix it well.

    green onion into a kimchi sauce

    12. Put green onion into the sauce and mix them well. 

    salted and drained napa cabbage

    13. After an hour, rinse salted napa cabbage a few times (3 times) and drain excess water. Then, squeeze it and remove extra water from the cabbage. (Remember to remove excess water from the cabbage before mixing with the sauce.)

    kimchi mixed with sauce in a sliver bowl

    14. Lastly, put the napa cabbage into the mixed sauce and mix it very well. After that, put them into a glass jar. Let it sit at room temperature for at least a day and let it ferment. Then, you can eat them and refrigerate them.

    kimchi on a square white plate

    Enjoy this homemade easy kimchi recipe! Also, check out these mouth watering chicken, taro buns, mapo tofu and California rolls recipes. 

    You May Also Like These Recipes:

    • RED BEAN ICE DRINK
    • ALMOND JELLO RECIPE
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    • CHINESE BROCCOLI WITH OYSTER SAUCE

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    Kimchi on a white square plate

    Kimchi

    Kimchi is Korean classic side dish that people like to eat  with noodles, make soup and much more. This homemade kimchi recipe shows you how to make easy kimchi at home. 
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Asian, Korean
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 20
    Calories: 57kcal
    Author: Tracy O.

    Video

    Ingredients

    • 4 pounds Napa Cabbage
    • ½ cup Kosher salt
    • 1 bunch Green onion

    Paste mixture:

    • ¼ Daikon
    • 1 whole Garlic
    • 1 piece Ginger (about 2 tablespoons)
    • 2 cups Asian pear
    • 4 tablespoons Salty shrimp
    • ½ Apple
    • 4 tablespoons Fish sauce
    • ½ cup Chili pepper powder (depend if you like spicy, you can add more)
    • 1 tablespoon Brown sugar

    Instructions

    • Wash and cut 4 pounds of napa cabbage into chunks.
    • Put napa cabbage into a big pot, add ½ cup kosher salt and mix them. Then, let it sit for an hour. 
    • Wash, cut and peel off ½ of the apple (Medium sized). 
    • Then, wash, cut and peel off 2 cups of asian pears (Around 2 medium sized).
    • Next, wash, cut and peel off ¼ of the daikon (Medium size). 
    • The following, peel off a small piece of ginger. (Around 2 tablespoons)
    • Cut a bunch of green onion into strips and set it aside. 
    • After that, put ¼ of radish, 1 whole peeled of garlic, a small piece of ginger (around 2 tablespoons),  2 cups of asian pears, ½ of the apple and 4 tablespoons of salty shrimp into a blender. 
    •  Blend until it's smooth.  
    • After, add 4 tablespoons of fish sauce, 1 tablespoons of brown sugar and ½ cup of chili pepper powder into the mixing bowl.
    • Next, pour the mixed paste from the blender into the bowl from step 10. Then, mix it well.
    • Put green onion into the sauce and mix them well. 
    • After an hour, rinse salted napa cabbage a few times (3 times) and drain excess water. Then, squeeze it and remove extra water from the cabbage. (Remember to remove excess water from the cabbage before mixing with the sauce.)
    • Lastly, put the napa cabbage into the mixed sauce and mix it very well. After that, put them into a glass jar. Let it sit at room temperature for at least a day and let it ferment. Then, you can eat them and refrigerate them.

    Notes

    Cooking tips for how to make easy kimchi:

    • Put kosher salt in napa cabbage and let it sit for an hour. Rinse it a few times (3 times) and drain it very well. Then, squeeze the extra water. 
    • You can use less chili pepper powder if you want.  
    • Blend asian pear, apple, ginger, garlic, salty shrimp and daikon to make the paste. After that, add or mix the paste with chili powder, brown sugar and fish sauce. 
    • Remember to remove excess water from the cabbage before mixing with the sauce.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 57kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 3324mg | Potassium: 378mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2058IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @OhMyFoodRecipes or tag #OhMyFoodRecipes!

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