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 the national dish of South Korea, kimchi is a staple in kitchens around the world. This fermented cabbage dish can be served as a side dish, over a bed of rice, folded into scrambled eggs, whirred into tomato sauce, or even just eaten as is.

What do Koreans eat kimchi with? ›

As the national dish of South Korea, kimchi is a staple in kitchens around the world. This fermented cabbage dish can be served as a side dish, over a bed of rice, folded into scrambled eggs, whirred into tomato sauce, or even just eaten as is.

Can you 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.

How do you make kimchi taste better? ›

You can enhance kimchi with a bunch of seasonings and add-ins, traditional or otherwise. These give a distinct flavor to the final product. Love lots of deep, umami, flavor? Try adding salted shrimp, oysters, or mushrooms.

Is kimchi good in ramen? ›

Kimchi ramen is one of the most loved dishes in Korean cuisine, combining the prized and very moreish kimchi, with rich, Japanese umami-flavoured ramen.

Do you eat kimchi cold or warm? ›

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.

What do Asians eat kimchi with? ›

Korean cuisine offers a whole range of dishes that incorporate kimchi and its brining liquid (sometimes referred to as its "juice"), including soups, stews, noodles, and savory pancakes. But don't feel boxed in by its origins, because kimchi's tangy, spicy, and savory notes can go with almost anything.

What is kimchi most commonly eaten with? ›

As a traditional side dish, Kimchi is almost always served along with other side dishes in most Korean family households and restaurants. Kimchi can be eaten alone or with white or brown rice, but it is also included in recipes of other traditional dishes, including porridges, soups, and rice cakes.

Do Koreans really eat kimchi everyday? ›

Traditional Korean meals comprise a large variety of side dishes known as banchan, and kimchi is the most ubiquitous side dish consumed in two meals on a daily basis by a large proportion of Koreans [18].

Is it OK to eat kimchi everyday? ›

Cabbage and radish kimchi, a popular fermented vegetable dish, in particular were effective in reducing the risk of obesity and abdominal obesity in both men and women.

Is it OK to eat kimchi out of the jar? ›

Kimchi is a super versatile dish that can be eaten on its own - seriously, straight out of the jar - as a condiment, or worked into almost any recipe. It compliments many flavors in sometimes surprising ways and has enough flavor to stand out on its own.

Is it OK to warm up kimchi? ›

Kimchi is a versatile dish that people can add to many meals. People can eat it as a side dish, use it as an ingredient in other meals, or eat it on its own. Although individuals can cook kimchi, keep in mind that heating any fermented foods can start to kill off the healthy probiotics.

Why is my kimchi so 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.

How long does kimchi last in the fridge? ›

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.

Why is my kimchi not good? ›

Kimchi spoilage and over-fermentation

Kimchi should only be fermented for a few days at room temperature and then put into the refrigerator. It will continue to ferment at a cool temperature. If kimchi over-ferments, it will have a very vinegary odor and taste.

What tastes best with kimchi? ›

The best side dishes to eat with kimchi are steamed white rice, steamed dumplings, fried shrimp, potstickers, beef and broccoli, egg roll in a bowl grilled meat, Korean pancakes, crispy tofu, japchae, Korean fried chicken, bibimbap, and pickled vegetables.

Does kimchi go with anything? ›

I love to keep it in my kitchen to top bowls of grains and noodles, stir into soups and stews, and toss with stir fries. But its big, bold flavor can go into just about anything. If you're looking for ways to put kimchi to good use, these recipes from our database are a good place to get started.

How much kimchi should I eat per day? ›

Eating up to three servings of kimchi each day is linked to a reduced rate of obesity among men, according to a new study. This study is observational so it's difficult to measure kimchi's direct effect on weight loss.

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