Easy Homemade Kimchi takes a little time but once you make this delicious Korean side dish yourself, you'll be hooked!
"Are you really going to eat that?"
"Yes and I can't wait."
That's how the conversation typically goes when people see a jar of kimchi fermenting on my kitchen counter.
I made this recipe for the first time about a year ago having never tried kimchi in my life. I was anxious to try kimchi because of all the buzz lately about how fermented foods are good for your health. They're loaded with good bacteria (aka probiotics) which means they provide immune system support along with being great for digestive health. I'm not making any health claims here--I just love this stuff!
What is kimchi?
Kimchi is considered the national dish of Korea. They boast over a hundred different types and no meal there is complete without it. The vegetables have a softened texture but retain a pleasant crunchy bite. Ingredients vary greatly, however the most well-known version has Napa or Chinese cabbage, scallion, ginger, a good salty brine and Korean red pepper which can be wicked hot.
Besides cookbooks, I also love recipe apps. This easy kimchi recipe is adapted from one in the Green Kitchen app by the publishers of the wonderful vegetarian blog, Green Kitchen Stories.
How to make Easy Homemade Kimchi:
This kimchi takes about a week from start to finish.
- Start with Napa (also known as Chinese cabbage) which is available at any grocery store. I find the best price for it at an international market in my area.
- Each head generally weighs two to three pounds.
- Slice the heads of cabbage into about two-inch rounds leaving the stem and bottom core behind.
- Take each "round," and loosen it up into a large stainless steel bowl then salt generously with sea salt.
- Place a dinner plate and another heavy object on the plate and let that sit for 24 hours. The cabbage is going to wilt significantly because of the salt.
- Drain the excess water out several times in the 24 hour period.
- Rinse the wilted cabbage under cold running water.
- Squeeze out all the excess water, add the remaining ingredients and place in a non-reactive container such as a large glass jar. Close the lid and let sit on your counter for three days.
- After it has been sitting at room temperature for about three days, store in the refrigerator for four days. After that, it's ready to eat.
Now, I'm not sure why, but my kimchi has never "bubbled." I don't know if that's good or bad, but I've made this three times now. There has to be enough salt, vinegar and Korean red pepper in there to kill anything that is even considering lurking in there.
This Easy Homemade Kimchi will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks and up to a month. Enjoy!
Serve kimchi with:
- Korean Braised Chicken Thighs
- Vegan Korean Tofu Lettuce Wraps with Tahini Gochujang Sauce and Spicy Slaw
- Korean Braised Beef Short Ribs
- Tuna Kimchi Cakes with Soy – Ginger Dipping Sauce
Easy Homemade Kimchi
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds Napa cabbage
- 2-3 tablespoons coarse sea salt
- ¼ cup unseasoned rice vinegar - or as needed and to taste
- 2 tablespoons Korean red pepper
- 2 tablespoons honey - or to taste, preferably raw unpasteurized
- 2 tablespoons minced ginger
- 1 bunch scallions - white and light green part only, sliced into 1-inch pieces
Instructions
- DAY 1: Slice cabbage into 2-inch thick rounds, leaving stem end and bottom core behind. Loosen into a stainless steel bowl. Sprinkle with sea salt and toss to combine.
- Set a plate over the cabbage and another heavy object such as a cast iron skillet on top to weigh it down. Set aside for 24 hours. Drain off excess water several times as necessary.
- DAY 2: Rinse the cabbage well under cold running water. Squeeze out as much water as possible.
- Add the rice vinegar, red pepper, honey, ginger and scallion and toss well to combine. Adjust rice vinegar and honey to taste. Cabbage should be somewhat covered with liquid.
- Place in a large non-reactive container such as a glass jar. Close the lid and leave at room temperature for 3 days.
- DAY 5: Place in refrigerator for 4 days.
Notes
Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
Candice says
Making this this weekend! Ordered some gochujang off Amazon. Going to be my first time making it.. can't wait! I love kimchi and dream of it often (as my mouth currently salivates at the thought of it) thank you for the recipe!
Carol says
Hi, Candice, I'm a total kimchi fanatic, too and I totally get the mouthwatering thing! 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
Paul says
This looks great! Have you experimented with adding cucumbers or other vegetables to this? I was just wondering if they too would go through the salting process prior to fermentation...my sense is that they would.
Thanks for this!
Carol says
Hi, Paul, I have not. I have only done with the cabbage but I would definitely salt the other vegetables, too. I have a three-day weekend coming up so am planning to make a batch of this. I actually go through kimchi "withdrawal." Hope you enjoy!
Katie says
Your kimchi has never bubbled because your recipe doesn't include anything with a sugar content. The recipe I've always used includes apple, which produces the bubbles from the broken down sugars for proper fermentation.
Carol says
Hi, Katie. Thanks so much for your comment. My recipe as posted has honey which is the sugar source.
Sara C says
Some people say the antimicrobial properties of honey may be the cause of that. But if it ferments, it ferments, right?!
I add daikon, shredded carrots, and green onion to mine. Never met a kimchi I didn’t like!
Carol says
Hi, Sara, Great point about honey. I just made this again about a month ago and drank every last drop today! There are tons of variations on kimchi and this one is super easy! Thanks so much!
Brian P says
In Day 1- you state to put cabbage into a ss bowl and sprinkle with salt. Are you supposed to soak it in salted water or just sprinkle it with the salt? Other recipes call for it to be soaked, please advise.
I'm very curious about this recipe and can't wait to make it
Thank you
Carol says
Hi, Brian, Thanks for your question. I salt it very generously and then let it stand; I do not soak it. I double checked the Green Kitchen App recipe and that's exactly what they do. After letting it sit for 24 hours, then rinse. I need to get going on another batch! I'm craving it now!
Carmella says
I have actually never tried kimchi but I've been sooo curious about it for years. This looks so easy!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshines says
Such a fun project I want to try sometime! Love <3
Sharon (Nut Free Wok) says
This is terrific! Thank you for your recipe. I love the concept of kimchi but I don't like it spicy. Is it possible to cut back on the amount of the hot peppers, does that affect the fermentation or preservation?
Carol says
Hi, Sharon, I don't think cutting back on Korean red pepper affects the fermentation or preservation. The first time I made it it was so wicked hot I couldn't eat eat. I had to make a plain, unseasoned batch to combine with the first batch and it was fine. It's possible that a good international market may have different "levels" of heat in Korean red pepper such as mild, medium and get the hose!
Joan says
I love kimchi. Yours looks wonderful. I've always planned on trying to make my own but just never got around to it.
Carol says
Thank you, Joan! This is a very easy recipe. Hope you enjoy!