10 Delicious Ways to Eat Kimchi (includes Korean Recipes) (2024)

10 Delicious ways to eat Kimchi using my top 10 recipes using Kimchi. From stews and stir-fries to pancakes and dumplings, these recipes with Kimchi prove just how versatile kimchi is and how kimchi makes everything taste soo good!!

10 Delicious Ways to Eat Kimchi (includes Korean Recipes) (1)

Kimchi lovers, I’m sharing with you 10 ways to eat kimchi other than as a side dish. With these 10 easy recipes using kimchi, you can cook amazingly good food whether they are authentically Korean or Korean fusion.

How to use Kimchi for Cooking

It’s best to use fully fermented, ripe sour kimchi for cooking. When the kimchi is fully fermented, taste is smoother and better for cooking. A ripe kimchi is slightly sour but has a zing to it that you just cannot taste in any other dish, which is a great thing when added to your cooking.Plus, it’s a great way to eat kimchi that is sour. Trust me, it becomes delicious again with a little cooking!

When you feel Kimchi is too sour, add a bit of sugar to balance out the sourness when cooking with it. And if the Kimchi is really old (over couple months), you can also use the kimchi by rinsing everything in water first and then cooking with it.

Learn more about Kimchi

If you want to learn more about Kimchi besides these 10 ways to eat Kimchi, I have some great posts for you to check out:

  • How to Ripen Kimchi properly can be found in myNo Crazy Kimchi post.
  • Kimchi– what it is, its health benefits and more
  • 10 Kimchi recipes – a collection of different kimchi recipes using different vegetables

My top 10 ways to eat Kimchi:

#1. Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokkeumbap)

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Keep this one-pan Kimchi Fried Rice recipe handy because it’s a convenient and easy way to eat kimchi. It calls for very simple ingredients and minimum cooking time to produce something satisfyingly substantial and delicious. I’ve been making this kimchi fried rice since my college days!

#2. Army Stew (Budae Jjigae)

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Korean Army Stew is my 2nd most favorite way to eat Kimchi. This hearty kimchi stew created after the Korean war with an American contribution: SPAM! Or you can see it as adding kimchi to SPAM… because kimchi makes everything taste better, right? Yes, even cheese, which is why this stew is also served with American or medium cheddar cheese slice on top.

#3. Brussels Sprouts with Kimchi and Pancetta

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A tasty way to add some Korean flavor to your favorite vegetable dish is to cook it with some kimchi. Like this amazing brusselssprouts, kimchi, and pancetta combination I made for our Thanksgiving dinner one year. Goes to show how versatile kimchi can be as an ingredient.

#4. Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jjigae)

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It is impossible to not love Kimchi Jjigae if you’re a fan of kimchi. This classic Korean stew is actually really easy to make. Thebest part is it uses old kimchi that may have become too sour toeat fresh but magically turns irresistible when stewed. This is Korean comfort food at its best!

#5. Kimchi Pancake (Kimchi Jeon)

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This Kimchi Pancake is my No. 5 way to eat Kimchi. This takes only 20 minutes to make. Koreans love to pair it with Makgeolli as a snack, and it would work just as well as a beer snack. It’s a savory pancake with a uniquelydelectable flavor, and you will appreciate kimchi in a whole new different way.

#6. Bulgogi Kimchi Pasta

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This one-dish Korean fusion Bulgogi Kimchi Pasta is the yummy answer forsinglecooks and busy moms. The bulgogi can be made ahead and kept frozen until needed. Then all you have to do is saute with some kimchi, add cooked pasta, and toss them together with some Jalapeno peppers.

#7. Korean Dumpling with Kimchi (Mandu)

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Kimchi Mandu is a North Korean-style dumpling served during special holidays. It is filled with pork, beef, kimchi, tofu,and bean sprouts, and can be made vegan by substituting the meat with shiitake mushrooms. Make it a fun cooking project and invite your friends and even kids to make kimchi dumplings with you! You can make a big batch and keep it frozen until you need it.

#8. Cold Kimchi Rice (Kimchi Mari (김치말이)

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Here’s a lovely way to eat kimchi and jazz up white rice for kimchi lovers. All you need is 5 ingredients–cooked rice, cabbage kimchi, sesame oil, sugar, and sesame seeds–and 5 minutes to make this side dish to go with your meal. No cooking required except for making the rice. Simple and delicious!

#9. Spicy Soft Tofu Stew with Kimchi (Soondubu Jjigae with Kimchi)

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Spicy soft tofu stew is a Korean favorite that makes cold, wintry days better. Do you know what makes it better? Adding kimchi makes it explode with flavors! Serve this with some rice and you have a simple but comforting meal. Ready in 30 minutes or less. Amazing.

#10 BONUS Kimchi Recipe~

3-in-1 Kimchi Pork Freezer Recipe

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Consider this a bonus recipe because you can easily turn one simple kimchi and pork belly recipe into 3 classic Korean recipes – Kimchi Jjigae, Kimchi Tofu and Kimchi Fried Rice.Just make my base pork belly and kimchi recipe, freeze it for later and then easily turn it into any one or more of the 3 recipes!

Did you enjoy this kimchi series? You’ve learned about the basics of Kimchi, Kimchi’s health benefits andhow to make kimchi using different vegetables, and now you have 10+ recipes using kimchi to bring some Korean flavors into your cooking. Kimchi lovers unite!

XOXO ❤️
JinJoo

FOLLOW MEonFACEBOOK,PINTEREST, andINSTAGRAMto stay connected to me. I periodically share recipes throughout the year. You can also join myFACEBOOK GROUPwhere we share everything about Korean food including cooking tips with other Korean food enthusiasts just like you!!

10 Delicious Ways to Eat Kimchi (includes Korean Recipes) (2024)

FAQs

10 Delicious Ways to Eat Kimchi (includes Korean Recipes)? ›

As a traditional side dish, kimchi is usually served with other side dishes (banchan) in Korean family households and restaurants. Kimchi can be eaten alone or with rice, but it is also included in the recipes of other traditional dishes, including soup, porridge, and rice cake.

How do Koreans eat kimchi? ›

As a traditional side dish, kimchi is usually served with other side dishes (banchan) in Korean family households and restaurants. Kimchi can be eaten alone or with rice, but it is also included in the recipes of other traditional dishes, including soup, porridge, and rice cake.

What is Korean favorite food kimchi? ›

The Korean term "Kimchi" refers to fermented vegetables, and encompasses salt and seasoned vegetables. It is mainly served as a side dish with every meal, but also can be served as a main dish. Kimchi is mainly recognized as a spicy fermented cabbage dish globally.

How delicious is kimchi? ›

Warm and crunchy, spicy and pungent, tangy and garlicky—what's not to love about Korean kimchi? Aside from, of course, the amazing taste and probiotic benefits, one of the most exciting things about kimchi is that it uses different ingredients than many other fermented foods.

Can you eat kimchi with ramen? ›

This kimchi ramen combines the fermented deliciousness of kimchi with a comforting bowl of ramen. This dish is a great winter recipe, it's incredibly easy and quick to make, plus it's full of flavor. Add this kimchi ramen to your menu for this week and thank me later.

Should kimchi be eaten cold or hot? ›

Enjoy plain kimchi cold or warmed up.

You can eat kimchi straight out of the fridge, or you can throw it in a small skillet and heat it up with 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of vegetable oil. It tastes great both ways! Some people prefer the cold, spicy taste, while others find the tangy texture best when heated up.

How to eat kimchi for the first time? ›

I highly recommend your first experience with kimchi being eaten with a fatty steak such as a rib-eye and white rice. Another very important thing you should know is that every kimchi sold in every single grocery store, both Korean and Non-Korean establishments, are wildly different.

Is it OK to eat kimchi by itself? ›

Kimchi can be eaten on its own, as a side dish, or as an ingredient in other foods. Its spicy, tangy flavor is an excellent complement to savory foods, and it's often paired with rice dishes to add contrast to a meal.

Does kimchi go bad? ›

If you have store-bought kimchi that's been opened, it will be good for 3-4 days at room temperature and up to 6 months when refrigerated. Signs of your kimchi going bad include mold growth, an alcoholic smell, and an extremely sour taste.

What is the number 1 Korean kimchi? ›

ABOUT JONGGA

Jongga, Koreans' favorite Kimchi brand of all time, has been elevating the legacy and culture of Kimchi since 1987.

Why is kimchi so expensive? ›

Kimchi is a traditional food served in South Korea. The main part of the food is a preserved vegetable, often cabbage. But this year, Kimchi is more costly than usual because the cabbage crop has been small. Some farmers say climate change has made it harder to grow cabbage.

Can you eat kimchi straight? ›

Though it is delicious eaten right from the jar — or as part of a banchan spread — kimchi is also a versatile ingredient to include in other recipes, from savory pancakes to standout burgers.

Why is kimchi soggy? ›

My kimchi is mushy, not crunchy like it should be, what went wrong? It's possible your kimchi fermented in a room that was too hot. Higher temperatures can lead to the bacteria becoming a bit overactive, breaking down the structure of the vegetables.

Why does kimchi taste fishy? ›

Why Does Kimchi Taste Fishy? Traditional kimchi is often made with Korean fish sauce and salted fermented shrimp, which is why it has a fishy taste. However, there are also vegetarian and vegan versions of kimchi that do not use fish sauce, which means they don't have that fishy flavor.

Do you eat kimchi cold or warm it up? ›

You can eat kimchi straight out of the fridge, or you can throw it in a small skillet and heat it up with 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of vegetable oil. It tastes great both ways! Some people prefer the cold, spicy taste, while others find the tangy texture best when heated up.

Is it OK to eat kimchi on its own? ›

Kimchi can be eaten on its own, as a side dish, or as an ingredient in other foods. Its spicy, tangy flavor is an excellent complement to savory foods, and it's often paired with rice dishes to add contrast to a meal.

How to eat kimchi safely? ›

Kimchi can be eaten basically however you want. You can eat it cold straight from the container. You can use it as an ingredient in soups, noodles, Korean pancakes, and fried rice. You can even chop it up small, sautee it in butter and add it to things like hotdogs, quesadillas, or grilled cheese.

How much kimchi should I eat per day? ›

Now, Korean researchers say a few servings of the spicy food each day might help stave off weight gain. "Consumption of 1–3 servings/day of total kimchi was associated with a lower risk of obesity in men," and smaller amounts were linked to similar trends among women, concluded a team led by Sangah Shin.

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