Kimchi (napa cabbage kimchi)

김치 kimchi

Flavor and role

Korea's signature preserved vegetable: napa cabbage salted, mixed with chili flakes, fermented seafood and garlic, then fermented. The riper it gets, the deeper its sourness and savoriness.

Typical dishes and uses

Kimchi jjigae (well-fermented kimchi), kimchi fried rice, kimchijeon, dubu kimchi (tofu with stir-fried kimchi).

Substitutes

Hard to replace. Similar sour, fermented flavor can be had from sauerkraut + chili flakes. Sour, aged kimchi is best for jjigae.

Storage

Refrigerate (0-4°C) pressed down so it stays submerged in its liquid. It starts turning sour after 2-3 weeks and keeps for months; once sour, use it for jjigae and stir-fries.

Main countries

Korea

Used in this book

Kimchi Jjigae (Kimchi Stew)Bindaetteok (Mung Bean Pancakes)Bossam (Korean Boiled Pork Wraps)Budae-jjigae (Korean Army Base Stew)Dak-kalguksu (Korean Chicken Knife-Cut Noodle Soup)Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokkeumbap)Kimchi Jeon (Korean Kimchi Pancake)Jeonju-Style Kongnamul Gukbap (Soybean Sprout Rice Soup)Samgyeopsal (Korean Grilled Pork Belly)Bulgogi Kimchi ArepasKimchi Butter Grilled CheeseGochujang Butter Kimchi Bai Cha with a Cheese Crust (Cambodian × Korean)Gochujang-Glazed Bangers with Kimchi Butter MashBulgogi Kimchi Bánh MìKimchi Bánh Xèo with Pork Belly and Gochujang Dipping SauceBibimbap Burritos with Gochujang-Lime MayoMarket-Style Thick Bindaetteok in Pork FatOkonomiyaki-Style BindaetteokCheesy Mung Bean Kimchi BallsKoryo-saram Kimchi BorschtBossam TacosKimchi-Cheese Bourekas with Gochujang-Honey Glaze (Israeli × Korean)Kimchi and Pork Belly Bratkartoffeln (German × Korean)Kimchi Tuna Mayo BrikBudae Jeongol with Brisket Broth and Aged Chilli PasteBudae-jjigae Rosé PenneBudae Fried Rice Cheese GratinLemongrass Pork Belly Ssam with Gochujang Nước Chấm (Vietnamese × Korean)Gochujang Chicken Curry Bunny Chow with Kimchi Slaw (Korean x South African)Kimchi Bulgogi Breakfast BurritoKimchi Bulgogi Campfire NachosKimchi Carbonara UdonKimchi Chai Tow Kway (Singaporean × Korean)Kimchi bacon char kway teowGochujang Kimchi Chicken Parma (Korean × Australian)Kimchi-Gochujang Chilaquiles with Melted MozzarellaGochujang Kimchi ChiliGochujang Chimichurri Choripán with Buttered Kimchi (Argentine × Korean)Kimchi Pork Belly Chow Mein (Korean x Chinese)Kimchi Colcannon with Gochujang Butter (Irish × Korean)Hand-Cut Dak-kalguksu in Clear Chicken BrothKhao Soi-Style Coconut Curry Dak-kalguksuKimchi Cheese Dan Bing with Gochujang Mayo (Taiwanese × Korean)Kimchi Cheddar Egg Bites with Gochujang-Honey DrizzleKimchi Pork Egg Foo Young with Gochujang Gravy (Chinese-American × Korean)Kimchi Pork and Cheese EmpanadasKimchi Feijão Tropeiro with Sesame Farofa (Brazilian × Korean)Gochujang Chicken Cheese Feteer (Egyptian × Korean)Gochujang Tuna-Mayo Fricassé (Tunisian × Korean)Kimchi Cheese Stuffed Naan with Gochujang Garlic ButterKimchi Gochujang Chicken Gumbo (Cajun × Korean)Kimchi Cheese GyozaKimchi Cheese GyudonKimchi Cheese Egg Hoppers with Gochujang MayoKimchi Jambalaya with a Jammy Fried EggCrispy-Skirt Kimchi Pork PotstickersBuckwheat Kasha Bibimbap with Gochujang Mushrooms (Russian × Korean)Kimchi Pork Khinkali with Soy-Vinegar DipFolded Kimbap Square (Four-Quadrant Seaweed Sandwich)Crispy Pork Belly and Aged Kimchi Butter Fried RiceKimchi Cheese OmuriceMozzarella Kimchi Fried Rice CroquettesCrispy Aged-Kimchi Jeon with Pork BellyKimchi Jeon Pizza with Pepperoni and Hot HoneyKimchi Jeon Street ToastAged-Kimchi Pork Belly Jjigae with Anchovy BrothKimchi Bacon Cream UdonKimchi Jjigae Cheesy Crispy Fried RiceEarthenware-Pot Kongnamul Gukbap with SquidKimchi Cheese Kottu with Pork Belly (Sri Lankan × Korean)Kimchi Bulgogi Kumpir (Turkish × Korean)Kimchi gochujang bulgogi lahmacunGochujang Lapskaus (Norwegian × Korean)Kimchi Bulgogi LasagnaKimchi Cheese Manakish with Za'atar Crust and Gochujang HoneyKimchi Butter Mofongo with Spicy Gochujang PorkMoi Moi Bindaetteok with Kimchi (Nigerian × Korean)Kimchi Nasi GorengPork Kimchi Cheese Okonomiyaki with Gochujang MayoPicanha Ssam with Kimchi Vinagrete and Honey SsamjangKimchi Cheese Potsticker PierogiGochujang Salmon Poke BowlBulgogi Poutine with Gochujang Gravy and KimchiGochujang Chicken Pozole (Korean-Mexican)Gochujang Pulled Pork Tacos with Kimchi SlawKimchi Bacon Quesadillas with Gochujang CremaKimchi Bacon QuicheKimchi Raggmunk with Gochujang-Glazed Pork Belly (Swedish × Korean)Kimchi Bacon Rakott Krumpli with Gochujang Sour Cream (Hungarian × Korean)Red-Braised Pork Belly with Aged Kimchi and Tofu (Chinese × Korean)Kimchi Rouladen in Gochujang Braise (German × Korean)Gochujang-Honey Roast Lamb with Kimchi Roast Potatoes (Australian × Korean)Kimchi Bulgogi Cheese Murtabak (Korean × Malaysian)Jeju-Style Thick-Cut Pork Belly with Anchovy DipGochujang Pork Belly Tacos with Kimchi SalsaGochujang Sesame-Peanut Bibim Guksu (Korean × Chinese)Kimchi Gochujang ShakshukaSizzling Sisig Kimchi Bibimbap with Gochujang-Calamansi Sauce (Filipino × Korean)Bulgogi Smash Burger with Butter Kimchi and Gochujang MayoSolyanka Budae-jjigae with Kimchi and Ramyeon (Russian × Korean)Gochujang Pork Souvlaki Wrap with Sesame TzatzikiKimchi Assassina Spaghetti (Korean x Apulian)Bulgogi Tacos with Kimchi SlawGochujang Kimchi Tahdig with Fried EggsBulgogi Beef and Cheese Tamales (Korean x Mexican)Kimchi Pork Belly Tartiflette (French × Korean)Kimchi-Cheese Tequeños with Gochujang Honey Mayo (Venezuelan × Korean)Bulgogi Vetkoek Sliders with Kimchi Mayo (South African × Korean)Kimchi Cheese YakisobaBulgogi Yorkshire Pudding BowlsGochujang-Honey Yuca Fries with Kimchi Curtido

Updated 2026-10-10