Kimchi

[otuatail]

Never had it. Don't know what it tastes like, but there is a large craze for this. Can someone tell me somtning about it, what it tastes like and maybe some recipies with it? Thanks.

 

[Steve Kroll]

I would say that if you like fermented foods in general, there is a good chance you will like kimchi. It's similar to sauerkraut but spicier and crunchier.

It has a lot of uses. One of my favorites is in stir fry noodles with shrimp. I also like to eat it straight out of the jar. It's a great probiotic.

 

[dragnlaw]

I once bought a small jar at the grocers. There had been a lot of "talk" aoubt it here on how to make it. Never having had it, needed to try and see if it would be worth my while to make. Had one mouthful and immediately took it upstairs and gave to them. Not appealing, to me, at all.
I like sauerkraut, matter of fact I just finished a large jar of it. Sometimes having it with a meal but usually I just eat it straight out of the jar as a snack.

 

[Steve Kroll]

There's no accounting for pickiness.

But to dragnlaw's point, it's probably better to try a small jar before you make any plans to invest in a kimchi company.

 

[Kathleen]

I like the hotter taste of Kimchi. I'm no expert, but the ones I have had are slightly less crunchy than sauerkraut. Perhaps it is because the cabbage leaves are left larger in kimchi or perhaps it is the variety of cabbage used. Buy a small jar and give it a try. Or go to a Korean BBQ and try it there! (It's where I was introduced to it.)

 

[dragnlaw]

hmmm, I don't remember it tasting a bit spicy.

 

[Sir_Loin_of_Beef]

There are over 180, yes that's one hundred and eighty, different types of kimchi, which is a spicy pickled vegetable, or a combination of two or more vegetables, not just nappa cabbage. You can't really enjoy Korean food unless you have at least one type of kimchi as a side dish. One of my favorites is bean sprout kimchi. A good Korean restaurant will serve you a selection of kimchi with your meal.

You can make kimchi at home, but in order to make it authentic you need to put it in an earthenware jar and bury it in the back yard for a few months to ferment.

 

[pictonguy]

I make my own kimchi and it's good on fries.

 

[larry_stewart]

Kimchi is one of those foods/ tastes I never got. First time ever tried , was when I heard all the fuss about it, so I found a recipe , and made it myself . I was excited to taste it, but when I did, I wasn't thrilled. I figured I must have screwed something up, so I went to the local market, picked up some, and did a side by side comparison taste test. Both tasted very similar, so I came to the conclusion that It's just not for me. I dont mind picking on it, just done see what the craze is. I had a Korean employer who made me some too, and said I'd lover hers. Well, you guessed it, tasted all the same to me ( although lied and told her it was delightful).
***Discalimer, the kimchi I've tried and tasted were vegan ( no fish sauce or anything like that).***

 

[larry_stewart]

I like sauerkraut, matter of fact I just finished a large jar of it. Sometimes having it with a meal but usually I just eat it straight out of the jar as a snack.

Im with you on the sauerkraut. I can eat it by itself as a snack. I've even made 'salad' with sauerkraut and various kins of pickles cut up. I musth ave a stomach made of iron.

 

[blissful]

Since I can make kimchi as spicy or not spicy as I like, and I like the korean chili flakes they are not too hot for me. I like having some on hand, to mix with rice or throw into a soup, or just have some on the side as a salad. Usually my middle son and I make some in bigger batches but he hasn't come over for that lately. Maybe he will soon.

 

[Steve Kroll]

Im with you on the sauerkraut. I can eat it by itself as a snack. I've even made 'salad' with sauerkraut and various kins of pickles cut up. I musth ave a stomach made of iron.

My grandma used to drink sauerkraut juice and swore by it for certain ailments. I like sauerkraut but the juice was always salty and nasty to me.

 

[Kathleen]

I make my own kimchi and it's good on fries.

I think I would enjoy this combo!

I also like sauerkraut!

 

[taxlady]

I like kimchi in small amounts. I have tried using it as an ingredient in fried rice. I liked it, but my late husband didn't like it at all. He also didn't much care for sauerkraut. I'm not a huge fan of sauerkraut, but it's really good on a hotdog. First time I tasted sauerkraut I had it in a Polish resto. I ordered "Polish sausage" and it came with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. It was good that way. Even late DH said it was good that way.

 

[jennyema]

hmmm, I don't remember it tasting a bit spicy.

Kimchi basically means “pickle” and there are infinite varieties of it. Some hot, some mild, some crunchy some soft, etc etc

I love kimchi and could eat it at every meal. When I lived with my Korean friend’s family for a few months, I did get to eat it at every meal.

Our hotel in Seoul had a substantial kimchi bar at the breakfast buffet and I was like a pig in $hit.

I’ve made it a few times but it’s never as good as my friend’s family’s. So now they make some for me a few times a year.

 

[dragnlaw]

Thanks taxy - completely forgot that sauerkraut and Brats or similar really go together.