Korean Cabbage Recipes

KOREAN CABBAGE

Steps:

• Make a salt water mixture, soak the cabbage in it and drain it.
• Mix the cabbage with sat, green onions, garlic, red chilli and ginger root.
• Mix this mixture well, cover and refrigerate for 1-2 days.
• Put this salad in a jar as it can remain for many days.

KIMCHI (KOREAN FERMENTED SPICY CABBAGE)

Steps:

• Remove discolored, bruised outer leaves of cabbage and rinse cabbage under cold water. Cut cabbage head into 2-inch pieces.
• Divide 3 cups water among 3 bowls. Stir 1 cup sea salt into each bowl of water. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup sea salt over cabbage.
• Place salted cabbage in the 3 bowls salted water until partially submerged; let sit 6 to 12 hours.
• Rinse cabbage thoroughly under cold water several times. Squeeze cabbage to remove excess water. Cabbage should have a rubbery texture. Transfer cabbage to a colander or basket to thoroughly drain the cabbage, at least 2 hours.
• Combine 3 cups water and rice flour in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Whisk mixture until a glue-like consistency, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and cool rice mixture to room temperature.
• Combine onion, garlic, ginger, and 1 tablespoon water in a food processor; pulse until smooth, adding more water if needed.
• Pour chile flakes into a large bowl; stir in onion-garlic mixture, cooled rice flour mixture, fish sauce, shrimp, brown sugar, and sesame seeds until well mixed. Add radish and green onions and mix well.
• Coat each cabbage piece with chile mixture by using your hands. (Rubber gloves are highly recommended.) Pack coated cabbage leaves inside air-tight glass jars or containers; cover each tightly with a lid. Keep jars at room temperature for fermentation to occur, about 2 days. Refrigerate kimchi after the 2 days.

GILGEORI TOAST (KOREAN STREET TOAST WITH CABBAGE AND EGG)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine cabbage, carrot, scallions, salt and pepper. Massage the vegetable mixture for 30 seconds, squeezing to tenderize. Crack in the egg and mix well.
• In a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Place both slices of the bread on the pan, moving them around to soak up all the melted butter on one side, and toast until golden-brown underneath, about 2 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet, and flip the bread to soak up the butter and to toast on the other side until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and sprinkle the top of each toast with 1/2 teaspoon sugar or slather the top of each with 1 teaspoon jam.
• In the same skillet, melt the remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Add the cabbage mixture, and use one spatula in each hand to shape and hold it as it cooks to match the size of your bread. Cook the cabbage mixture just until it turns slightly golden underneath, 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully flip the mixture, top with ham and cheese, if using, and cook until the other side is golden underneath, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer the cabbage mixture to one piece of sweetened toast. Top with ketchup and mayonnaise to taste, and add the remaining slice of bread, sweetened side down. Serve immediately, sliced in half if desired.

KOREAN CABBAGE KIMCHI

Steps:

• Dissolve the 3 tablespoons salt in the water.
• Cut the cabbage into cut into 2-inch squares.
• Put the cabbage into a large bowl, a crock, or a nonreactive pot, and pour the brine over it.
• Weight the cabbage down with a plate.
• Let the cabbage stand for 12 hours.
• Drain the cabbage, reserving the brine.
• Mix the cabbage with the remaining ingredients, including the 1 teaspoon salt.
• Pack the mixture into a 2-quart jar.
• Pour enough of the reserved brine over the cabbage to cover it.
• Push a freezer bag into the mouth of the jar, and pour the remaining brine into the bag. Seal the bag.
• Let the kimchi ferment in a cool place, at a temperature no higher than 68° F, for 3 to 6 days, until the kimchi is as sour as you like.
• Remove the brine bag, and cap the jar tightly.
• Store the kimchi in the refrigerator, where it will keep for months.