How to Make Kimchi at Home

napa cabbage

🥗Healthier: savoy cabbage

💰Cheaper: green cabbage

Savoy cabbage is more nutritious, while green cabbage is often less expensive.

fish sauce

💰Cheaper: soy sauce

Soy sauce is a budget-friendly alternative for a vegetarian option.

Cut the napa cabbage into smaller pieces for easier handling.

Sprinkle kosher salt over the cabbage and massage it to draw out excess water.

Let the salted cabbage sit for 1 to 2 hours until it softens and liquid drains out.

Rinse the cabbage thoroughly to remove excess salt, ensuring it's not too salty for fermentation.

Drain the cabbage well and return it to a mixing bowl.

Prepare matchstick carrots and add them to the bowl with the cabbage.

Mince garlic and add it to the bowl.

Chop scallions (both green and white parts) and add them to the mixture.

Cut Korean radish into matchsticks and add it to the bowl.

Peel and grate ginger, then add it to the mixture.

Add Korean chili flakes and a little sugar to the bowl to activate fermentation.

Pour in fish sauce for depth of flavor and mix all ingredients together thoroughly.

Pack the mixture tightly into a clear jar, leaving some space at the top for fermentation.

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens