How to Make Kimchi, Small Batch Easy Kimchi Recipe

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

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, and 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 of 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 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 in 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.