Homestyle KIMCHI

Do you kimchi? I kimchi. Everyone seems to be into fermented foods these days as it’s touted as the new health food, and kimchi is right up there with the rest of them.

I’m not the biggest fan of Korean food, but there are some dishes that have caught my fancy. It didn’t used to appeal to me in the past but as I get older, kimchi has become another essential in my fridge.

Followed the recipe from www.maangchi.com and it turned out much easier than I imagined. Her instructions were clear and straightforward, easy to follow.

Seemed pretty daunting at first but it’s sink or swim, so bought 5kg of cabbage, rolled up my sleeves and did the deed.

First surprise – there’s no vinegar in kimchi! The sourness comes from the natural fermentation process. While the actual making process was easy, the devil was in the preparations as it took time for everything to be cut and sliced finely.

On TV, you always see Korean women donning gloves when cooking and it’s such a hassle. But I learnt that gloves made a lot of sense in kimchi-making if you don’t want your hands to burn for hours after that!

Achievement unlocked, and I’m well on my way to being a bona fide ajumma, so says No. 1 son. So, over the next few weeks, there’s going to be kimchi jiggae, kimchi pancake (pajeon), kimchi fried rice… Don’t know what to cook for dinner tonight? Let’s have some more kimchi! LOL!

Also learnt something new – kimchi that’s just a day old tastes amazingly fresh and appetising, and is less tart. No wonder in K-dramas, you see the mothers offering freshly made kimchi to close relatives or guests at meals.