Baek-kimchi 백김치

This is my first time making Baek-kimchi , literally translated as white kimchi in English . It is not made with hot pepper flakes and gochujang paste, which is why it called white kimchi . And it is a Non spicy kimchi.  It is made with ingredients like chestnuts,jujubes, pine nuts and a whole range of vegetables. I omitted using salted fermented shrimp , so you can call this kimchi a vegetarian Kimchi. It has a lot of fresh flavors , and is incredibly refreshing and colorful too.  A great side dish to serve your family. I have two friends who shared my love for kimchi . After making this white kimchi, I gave them each a tub to try out and I am sure they will love this white kimchi .  Healthy side dish and easy to make too. 

* I did not follow Maangchi style of stuffing the vegetable fillings, I cut the napa cabbage into bite size pieces and arrange them alternately one layer of napa cabbage and one layer of vegetable fillings in a pyrex dish until all the vegetables are used up.

I am a great fan of Maangchi and I love all her recipes , I want to try out each and every one of her korean dishes that she shared on her official website . She always make me drool before sleeps take over :)

the vegetables used are carrots, radish, leeks, spring onions, red chilli and jujube

to ferment the kimchi - blend together korean pear, garlic, onions and ginger 

add the blended seasoning into prepared brine water. Let it sit for 30 mins

 sieve the blended seasoning and brine mixture before adding to the layers of napa cabbage and vegetable fillings

arrange them alternately ,one layer of napa cabbage and one layer of vegetable fillings

once all the vegetables are used up, pour brine 

onto the kimchi till it is all submerged

make sure all the vegetables are submerged in the the brine 

Cover and let it sit at room temperature until it starts fermenting, which should

be 1 1/2 days to 3 days depending on how warm your room is.

Keep an eye on the kimchi  and taste it now and then,

once the brine turns sour, it is fermenting

Keep in fridge and it will slow down the fermenting process.

It can keep for about 1 month. 

Baek-kimchi - Maangchi 's recipe

Ingredients:

1 large napa cabbage
1/3 cup, 1 tbsp plus 2 tsps salt

1/2 pound korean radish ( daikon) cut into matchsticks
1/4 cup carrot, cut into matchsticks
3/4 cup buchu ( Asian chives) cut into 1 inch  * I replaced with leeks and spring onions
3 jujubes, seeded, cut into strips
2 fresh chestnuts, peeled and cut inot thin strips * I ommited
2 tbsp pine nuts * I ommited
1/2 of red bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into thin strips * I replaced with red chilli

1 medium Korean pear, peeled and cored
4 garlic cloves
1/2 cup onion
1 tsp ginger

Method:

Salt the cabbage
1. Cut the cabbage in half, then cut a slit through the core 2 inches above the stem, so the leaves are loosened but still attached.

2. Rinse the halves under running water, or soak them in a basin for a few seconds until all the leaves are wet.

3. Put the halves in a large basin and sprinkle 1/3 cup of salt evenly between the leaves. Let them sit for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, turning them over every 20 mins.

4. Rinse the cabbage under cold running water a couple of times to get rid of any dirt or salt. Split each half under the running water, to divide the cabbage into quarters.  Cut out the remainder of the core. Drain and set aside.

Make the vegetable fillings:
1. Combine radish, carrot, jujubes, chives, chestnuts and red bell pepper in a bowl. Set aside.

Make seasoning mix for brine
1. Blend pear, garlic, onion and ginger in a food processor until creamy. Set aside.

Make brine:

1. Mix 4 cups of water and 2 tbsp of salt in abowl with a wooden spoon. Stir it well until the salt is thoroughly dissolved.

2. Put the blended seasoning mix into a cotton pouch, or wrap it a couple times in cheesecloth and put it into the bowl of brine. Press it down with a spoon so the delicious blended flavors seep through. Squeeze it a bit and stir the brine for a while. Remove the pouch.

Make the kimchi
1. Spread the vegetable fillings between each leaf of the cabbage. Fold the stuffed cabbage quarters over and put them into a container, glass jar or korean earthenware pot.

2. Pour the brine over the kimchi so its submerged.

3. Cover and let sit at room temperature unti it starts fermenting, which should be between 1 1/2 to 3 days depending on how warm your room is. A warmer room will ferment faster. Just keep an eye o the kimchi and taste it now and then. When the brine turns sour, it is fermenting.

4. Move it to the fridge, which will slow down the fermentation process. It will keep for about 1 month. Serve cold.

Enjoy!

Spicy Stuffed Cucumber Kimchi ( Oisobagi kimchi 오이소박이 김치 )

One thing I love about Jaya Grocer is they have things I like which I can't get anywhere else. Imported Australia beef - grain fed..very tender and which are great for my korean dishes :p  Herbs and baking stuff like aluminium free baking powder which I can't get from my usual baking shop. Ok, sorry I have digress again...back on track on this delicious, mouth watering spicy stuffed cucumber kimchi.  I bought 2 packs of mini cucumber from Jaya Grocer ( now you know why my mind trails back to Jaya Grocer that deserved a mention in my blog )  This is not a advertisement post.

I am a great fan of Maangchi and I love most of her recipes and today I am sharing her mouth watering flavor packed side dish or banchan as it is called in Korea - Oisobagi Kimchi which means Spicy Stuffed Cucumber Kimchi. This is a keeper and I can't wait to share with you .... appetizing and easy to make.  A healthy side dish which even my meat eater at home loves it and asked me to make more.  I made a batch and kept them in air tight container, serving them as side dish at every dinner meal.  Try it to believe me :) After a week in the fridge, the cucumbers are still crunchy and the flavors deepen even more...a delightful side dish.

mini cucumbers from Jaya Grocer..fresh and cheap

the stuffings for the mini cucumbers

toasted sesame seeds, while still hot, press hard on the seeds

to release the oil to make it more aromatic

it is fun to stuff the cucumber

I can eat many at one go...so addictive !

this side dish is a keeper...healthy and delicious

Spicy Stuffed Cucumber Kimchi - Maangchi

ingredients:

4 4½ inch long mini cucumbers
2 tbsp salt
1 cup Asian chives - cut into 1/2 inch length
4 cloves garlic - minced
1 medium carrots - cut into thin matchsticks - about 1 cup
1 cup of onions- sliced thinly
1/2 cup hot chilli flakes
3 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

Method:

1.Wash the cucumbers. Make pockets out of them by slicing them twice lengthwise at right angles, ½ inch from one end so the cucumber quarters are still connected to each other at the end.

2.Put them in a big bowl, and sprinkle and rub them with salt inside and out. Let them sit for 10 minutes on the kitchen counter, and then turn them over so they’re evenly salted. Then turn them over and let them sit another 10 minutes.

3.Rinse the cucumbers in cold water a couple of times to remove excess salt. Drain and set aside.

4.Combine buchu (Asian chives), carrot, hot pepper flakes, fish sauce, sugar, and sesame seeds in a large bowl. Mix well with a wooden spoon.

5.Stuff the seasoning paste into the cucumber pockets. If you have sensitive skin, you can wear rubber gloves for this because the paste might irritate your hands.

6.Serve immediately as a side dish for rice, and keep the leftovers in the refrigerator. If you prefer it to be fermented a bit more, let the container sit at room temperature for a couple of days until it smells and tastes sour. Then put it into the fridge. Serve cold.