What does it taste like?
Tangy, savory, garlicky, and often spicy; acidity deepens as it ferments.
Fermented foods
Kimchi
김치
Common aliases
kimchi · napa cabbage kimchi · cabbage kimchi · baechu kimchi
What is Kimchi?
Kimchi is a family of salted and fermented vegetables. Napa cabbage kimchi is the most common style used in fried rice, pancakes, and stews.
How is it used?
Eat it as a side dish or cook well-fermented kimchi in rice, pancakes, noodles, soups, and stews.
Where can you buy it?
Find refrigerated jars at Korean and many international grocers. Check the label for fish sauce if you need vegan kimchi.
How should you store it?
Keep refrigerated in a tightly closed container and use clean utensils.
Possible substitutes
There is no exact substitute. Sauerkraut plus gochugaru can provide acidity and crunch, but the flavor will be different.
Recipes using Kimchi
Soups & Stews
Budae Jjigae with Crown Daisy(쑥갓부대찌개)
A spicy stew of ham, zucchini, tofu, enoki mushrooms, kimchi, and chili pepper simmered in kelp broth and finished with fresh crown daisy.
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Side Dishes
Grilled Tofu with Seasoned Kimchi and Wild Chives(달래두부김치무침)
Golden pan-grilled tofu topped with a savory mixture of kimchi, wild chives, red bell pepper, sesame oil, garlic, and chili flakes.
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Soups & Stews
Kimchi Stew with Pork Meatballs(완자김치찌개)
A savory kimchi stew with steamed pork and tofu meatballs, bean sprouts, and a deeply flavored beef broth.
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Soups & Stews
Octopus, Aged Kimchi, and Bean Sprout Soup(낙지묵은지콩나물국)
A warming soup of octopus, rinsed aged kimchi, radish, and bean sprouts simmered in an anchovy and rice-rinsing-water broth.
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Soups & Stews
Seafood Kimchi Stew(해물김치찌개)
A savory kimchi stew with webfoot octopus, tofu, enoki mushrooms, radish, and onion, balanced with pear juice and seafood broth.
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Soups & Stews
Soybean Paste Tofu Stew(된장 두부찌개)
A hearty tofu stew with pork, rinsed kimchi, soybean paste, chili peppers, and green onion in a creamy rice-water and tofu base.
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Soups & Stews
Squid Kimchi Stew(오징어김치찌개)
A hearty kimchi stew with squid, tofu, enoki mushrooms, sweet potato, bean sprouts, crown daisy, and a savory anchovy-kelp broth.
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Side Dishes
Steamed Eggs with Rice and Kimchi(찬밥김치달걀찜)
A soft steamed egg dish made with leftover rice, finely chopped kimchi, vegetables, and a touch of salted-shrimp brine.
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Side Dishes
Stir-Fried Kimchi and Cabbage(김치양배추볶음)
Rinsed kimchi is stir-fried with cabbage and onion in perilla oil, then seasoned with ground barley shrimp, garlic, and a touch of soy sauce.
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