When I get fresh ginger, I think of making Kimchi! I prefer to make my own. The store bought Kimchi has preservatives and sugars which I don’t like. Here is my own crazy version! It has worked for our family for many years.
Easy Kimchi
Ingredients
- 2 Napa Cabbages
- 1 fresh pealed julienne ginger root
- Hot chili peppers (you can use chili paste or Korean chili powder too)
- chopped shallots (optional)
- 1/2 cup Pink Himalayan salt
Step 1
Clean and cut cabbage. Place cabbage in a big glass mixing bowl (I had to use two bowls). Mix salt in thoroughly. Cover the bowl (my bowls have lids–so thats handy). Leave the mixture the fridge over night.
Step 2
The next day, dump out the salted cabbage into a strainer. Rinse out the extra salt with water. Taste the cabbage to make sure it isn’t too bland or too salty. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the cabbage and return it to the glass mixing bowl.
Then add cut the ginger root to the size of match sticks or add 2-3 drops of Ginger essential oil instead. Add shallots too (if you like, my kids don’t like a lot of this). Mix in chili peppers. My kids can’t eat very spicy foods so we make it less spicy. If I make it only for myself, the Kimchi would be more red!
Mix everything up evenly. Taste it to see if it’s the desired tastes. Add more salt or spice as needed. Remember, the flavor will get stronger when you ferment it.
Squish the mixture into mason jars. It should fill about 3+ jars. Seal the jars tightly. And leave the jars in the fridge for 3 days at least.
Step 3
After 3 days, taste the Kimchi. If it has gone a little sour and the salt has soaked in more, then it’s ready to serve. If not, give it another day or so to cure. If it ends up too salty, don’t worry, add lemon juice to it when you serve it.
I serve Kimchi with rice dishes. You can make Kimchi soup with it by adding stock, veggies and meat (optional).
Cabbage is a great source of vitamins C, A, K, Calcium, Potassium and minerals.
Ginger is warming and boosts your immunity. You can add Ginger oil to this if you like a stronger ginger taste and smell.
Kimchi is a wonderful source of probiotics to help with your gut health. Click here for more information about gut health.
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