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

What do Koreans eat kimchi with? ›

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 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.

Do Koreans eat kimchi straight? ›

Originally created to preserve vegetables over the winter, kimchi has been eaten in Korea for generations. 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.

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.

What makes kimchi taste better? ›

The use of bold seasonings like gochugaru and, in some regions, salted seafood, offer additional layers of complexity to the overall taste of the kimchi.

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.

How is kimchi best eaten? ›

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.

Does kimchi reduce belly fat? ›

Meanwhile, those men with a higher intake of cabbage kimchi (up to three servings a day) had 10% lower odds of obesity and excess fat round their stomach and abdomen. The risk was 8% lower in women for this type of kimchi.

Does kimchi burn belly fat? ›

Now, a study of more than 100,000 people by researchers from the Chung Ang University in South Korea has found that men who eat three portions of the dish per day are less likely to be overweight and have less belly fat - the type thought to be the riskiest for type 2 diabetes.

Can eating kimchi everyday destroy gut bacteria? ›

Along with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, kimchi contains natural probiotic bacteria. If you eat them regularly, the probiotics in fermented foods can be beneficial to your gut microbiome. Studies suggest that eating kimchi on a daily basis could help to improve some digestive problems.

How to know if kimchi went bad? ›

Kimchi spoilage and over-fermentation

It will continue to ferment at a cool temperature. If kimchi over-ferments, it will have a very vinegary odor and taste. It is not pleasant to eat raw, so it is often used for soups and stews. If any fermentation gets soft and slimy, then it is a sign of spoilage.

Should kimchi be eaten hot or cold? ›

your suppose to eat it cold and keep it in the fridge for awhile until it has the sour taste it usually taste better. my mom makes it all the time, with no fish oil. Cabbage kimchi, onion kimchi and radish kimchi are great hot or cold. I've used them in cooking and also enjoyed eating them as banchan on their own.

What is the white stuff on my kimchi? ›

A 2018 study published in the Journal of Microbiology identified them as yeast. Visible yeast -- colonies of microscopic fungi -- often appears near the surface during the later stage of kimchi production, and it's what's responsible for the formation of white growths on your kimchi.

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.

Is kimchi better hot or cold? ›

Cabbage kimchi, onion kimchi and radish kimchi are great hot or cold. I've used them in cooking and also enjoyed eating them as banchan on their own. Cucumber kimchi is only good cold. I prefer the perilla leaf kimchi cold, wrapped around a little chunk of hot rice.

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.

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.

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