Trying a wide array of foods from different cultures is a great way of learning more about this wonderful world. Not only that, but you can find some scrumptious dishes that you end up loving.
If you are interested in Korean food, kimchi is a popular side dish that you should consider trying. As a side dish, kimchi can be served with a variety of dishes, such as rice or soup.
What are the finest ways of eating kimchi? Continue reading to find out!
What Is Kimchi?
Kimchi is a dish that originates from Korea. It is commonly served in Korea alongside various main dishes. If you venture to Korea, you will likely be served this dish.
This authentic dish is made by fermenting vegetables, giving them a salted flavor. Korean radish is one of the most widely fermented vegetables in this recipe.
The vegetables used may also alter depending on the time of year, allowing cooks to use whatever vegetables are in season.
A selection of seasonings is added to the dish, such as ginger and spring onions. This gives kimchi a complex taste.
One of the reasons that we love kimchi is that it can have different flavors depending on how it is made. It normally has a sour or spicy taste, though this can vary. This means that you can customize the side dish to suit your flavor preferences.
For instance, if you are not the biggest lover of spicy food, you can make a milder version. This can simply be done by limiting the amount of chili powder and spices that are added to the kimchi.
How Do You Eat Kimchi?
The advantage of kimchi is that there is not just one way of eating it. There are a ton of phenomenal possibilities. You can consume kimchi cold, or if you want you can warm it up when adding it to a dish. For instance, it pairs wonderfully with fried rice.
The best way of eating kimchi is to slice it and have it alongside the main dish. As lovely as kimchi is, it works better as a side rather than the centerpiece of a meal.
However, if you love kimchi, nothing stops you from having this scrumptious snack all on its own. You can serve it as a snack or appetizer at your next dinner party. Many people love eating kimchi directly from the jar!
How Should You Serve Kimchi?
As a side dish, kimchi is incredibly versatile. It can accompany an impressive variety of dishes. Here are some of our top picks:
Kimchi Fried Rice
If you’ve become bored of the same old fried rice recipes, why not try this scrumptious kimchi fried rice recipe? The use of kimchi adds tons of unique flavors to this dish.
What’s more, it is ready in just 20 minutes. Saving you time and effort in the kitchen, this kimchi fried rice recipe is ideal for weeknights when you can’t be bothered to cook. Plus, it gives you an excuse to use up your leftover rice.
We love the addition of the egg to this fried rice, giving it even more of a terrific taste.
Moreover, we appreciate that the spiciness level of this dosh can be adjusted. Ultimately, this is a sensational way of serving kimchi.
Kimchi Dumplings
Another way of serving kimchi is to put it inside dumplings.
These dough pockets taste great when they are wrapped around kimchi. You can either dip them into the sauce of your choice or you can serve them alongside other dishes.
These kimchi dumplings are loaded with flavors. This is due to the wide selection of seasonings that have been used, such as soy sauce, garlic, and ginger.
This fabulous recipe makes king-sized dumplings, ensuring that there is plenty of filling in every dumpling.
Kimchi Stew
Kimchi stew is a fantastic comfort dish that is particularly well-suited to cold weather. If you’ve had a difficult day, this wholesome and hearty dish is sure to re-energize you.
The spiciness of the kimchi combines amazingly with the pork. This is particularly true when mixed in with the red chili flakes.
You can customize the number of chili flakes that you add to this dish depending on whether or not you enjoy spicy food.
Kimchi Stir Fry
Our final serving suggestion is to make a traditional stir fry with a spicy kimchi kick.
This Korean dish can be prepared in only 10 minutes. Yet, it has bold flavors that give off the impression that it is much more complicated to make.
The chicken blends nicely with the spicy flavors of this dish. The soy sauce and sesame seeds give this stir fry a distinctive flavor that you are unlikely to find elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Should You Store Kimchi?
Kimchi can either be kept in the fridge or at room temperature. Just bear in mind that it will have a longer expiration date when stored in the refrigerator.
Once you have opened your kimchi jar, it will only remain fresh for a few days and a week at most.
Meanwhile, when your jar of kimchi is placed in the fridge, it should stay fresh for 3 months. It has a long shelf life due to the fermentation process (You might want to check out this article about Kombucha here).
Is Kimchi Healthy?
Yes, kimchi is quite a nutritional dish. This is because of the fermented vegetables, which are extremely healthy. It tends to be an excellent source of vitamin A and it can contain other vitamins, such as vitamin B6.
Consequently, kimchi can improve your immune system and decrease the risk of serious health conditions.
Final Thoughts
Korea is a country with a rich culture and history. Its cuisine is diverse and delicious. Kimchi, one of the most popular Korean dishes, is a great example of this.
If you wish to try kimchi, it can be eaten in a wide variety of ways. Hopefully, this guide has given you some inspiration so that you can make the most of your kimchi.
My love of food extends challenges into cooking, trying new restaurants, and much more. That is why I’ve created The Gannet, as a place to teach people all my tips and tricks surrounding food and cooking. Don’t forget the food challenges!
So, stay a while and learn from someone that has been interested in food their whole life. Who knows, maybe I’ll meet you on a wall of fame somewhere.
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