BM # 44
International ABC Cooking
Cooking with Alphabets : K
Meal Type : National Dish
Korea
Korea, called Hanguk in South Korea and Chosŏn in North Korea, is an East Asian territory that is divided into two distinct sovereign states, North Korea and South Korea.
Day 11 and we have the alphabet K today. The country I chose is Korea.I have never made Korean Cuisine, just made one Korean dish, Bibimbap, which is a rice with veggies , I remember serving it with a hot chilly sauce, which made the dish mind blowing. For today I am making Kimchi, which is a Korea’s National Dish.
Korean cuisine is largely based upon rice, vegetables, and meats. Traditional Korean meals are noted for the number of side dishes (banchan) that accompany steam-cooked short-grain rice. Kimchi is served often, sometimes at every meal. Commonly used ingredients include sesame oil, doenjang (fermented bean paste), soy sauce, salt, garlic, ginger, pepper flakes and gochujang (fermented red chili paste).
Kimchi refers to often fermented vegetable dishes usually made with Napa cabbage, Korean radish, or sometimes cucumber, commonly fermented in a brine of ginger, garlic, scallions, and chili pepper.
There are endless varieties with regional variations, and it is served as a side dish or cooked into soups and rice dishes. Koreans traditionally make enough Kimchi to last for the entire winter season, These were stored in traditional Korean mud pots known as Jangdokdae , although now the big freezers stock these.
Kimchi is packed with vitamin A, thiamine B1, riboflavin B2, calcium, and iron. Its main benefit though is found in the bacteria lactobacilli; this is found in yogurt and fermented foods. This bacteria helps with digestion.
I made kimchi twice, the first time I used the regular cabbage, but I did not add enough chilly, the second time I made it from Napa cabbage, which my friend got from Mumbai. This time I made it spicy and while mixing the Kimchi, I used my hands, this spite of reading that the mixing should be done with gloves on.The result, my hands burnt like anything , but the Kimchi tasted real good.
My daughter tasted the Kimchi and said her hubby makes it even better, I am tempted to try my son in laws version too. As of now I am posting my version, but might add on the other version too.
Kimchi
1 small head Napa cabbage, cut into 1/2″ pieces
1/4 cup salt
1 medium radish, julienne
1 small carrot, julienne
4 spring onions
6-8 red chilies
2 tsp grated ginger, grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp rice vinegar
In a large non-reactive bowl (glass or ceramic are best), combine salt and 2½cups of water. Add the chopped cabbage. Mix well to coat all the leaves.
Set aside for 2-3 hours.
Drain the water.
Grind chilies into a paste.
Transfer the cabbage to a clean bowl, add the chilly paste,radish, green onions, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic and sugar.
Mix well to combine.make sure you wear gloves for mixing.
Transfer to a clean sterilized jar.
This would normally take 2-3 days for fermenting.
Make sure you shake the jars in between.
Enjoy !
Vaishali I love your version for now. Your next version I am awaiting eagerly. Right now I paln to make this delicious kimchi.
Kimchi looks so tempting and vibrant !
yummy recipe and clicks…
Nice! Fermented vegetables are so healthy. Love the vibrant color
Korean cuisine is one of my favorite cuisines. I tried bibimbap once at home few years ago and it was no where close to the restaurant bibimbap. Yes, those banchans are so delicious and I usually clean up all the side dishes and sometimes ask for another bowl too.
Beautiful clicks, specially the first one.
Love kimchi and yours looks red and spicy..
Am in love with your KImchi, its been for a while in my to do list, dunno when am going to make them, wish you send me a bottle of this beautiful kimchi.
omg kimichi looks mouthwatering and wud love to lick them as is 🙂 so so tempting !! love the wonderful presentation you and styling di 🙂 looks yumm !!
Wow! this sounds so flavorful.
Wow Mouthwatering….nice color you got..
Your pictures are mind blowing Vaishali..very beautiful shot!..
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drooooling pic ! esp the one with the fork ! hubby simply loves kimchi !
wow yours looks just like the store bought ones..perfect color
Love that vibrant color. I guess I need to make this for my hubby and check whether he likes it. 🙂
As i read, my mouth is watering!! Wonderful color!
Looks fantastic Vaishali! And I have been wanting to make this ever since I tasted it years back but never got it done…