Kimchi
is the staple ingredient for any Korean dish. It can be made from
many different foods, from vegetables like radish and cucumbers, to
seafoods like anchovies. Most often it is made from cabbage.
What gives kimchi its unique flavor is fermenting the cabbage in
red pepper paste (think of a really spicy pickle or sauerkraut!)
Traditionally, kimchi was made by burying the cabbage in the
ground to preserve it (back before the days of refrigeration).
Nowadays, many Korean families have kimchi refrigerators to keep
their kimchi fresh and cold (and this way, the strong smell won't
overpower the regular refrigerator!)
To
make kimchi, you will need quite a few ingredients, including cabbage,
salt, garlic, fish sauce, hot pepper powder, and onions. I've
never made kimchi myself, but I've read a lot of recipes and watched
some videos online. It looks like a fun (but time-consuming)
recipe.
My favorite "how-to-make-kimchi" video can be found on Maangchi.
Maangchi has put up many great Korean recipes. After
watching the kimchi video, I highly suggest you check out some others.
She makes everything look so easy!
Because
making kimchi intimidates me, I prefer to buy it from the
store. There are many good brands available in Asian or Korean
markets. Sometimes Korean restaurants will even let you buy
kimchi from them.
As
a side note, I liked Kimchi so much that I named my dog after it.
Just don't get confused - he's cute, but he isn't edible!
