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Bowl of freshly made Fresh Kimchi featuring napa cabbage in a spicy red pepper paste, with a jar of kimchi in the background on a dark surface.

Fresh Kimchi

A quick and easy fresh kimchi (geotjeori) recipe passed down from a Korean grandmother—crunchy, spicy, and ready in just 15 minutes without fermentation. Like a spicy Korean salad, this dish brings all the flavor without the funk.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Rest Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Asian, Korean
Calories: 70
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 head Napa cabbage - Chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon Salt (coarse) - For salting cabbage
  • 2 Green onions - Sliced
  • 1 cup Korean radish - Julienned
  • 1 Carrot - Julienned
  • 3 cloves Garlic - Minced
  • 1 tablespoon Ginger (fresh) - Minced
  • 3 tablespoon Gochugaru - Korean red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon Water - To mix with gochugaru
  • 2 tablespoon Fish sauce - Optional: soy sauce for veg
  • 1 tablespoon Rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Sugar
  • Optional Asian pear - Julienned
  • Optional Sesame oil - Drizzle before serving
  • Optional Sesame seeds toasted - For garnish

Equipment

  • 1 Large bowl (For mixing and tossing)
  • 1 Sharp knife (For chopping vegetables)
  • 1 Cutting board (Preferably non-slip)
  • 1 Clean towel (To squeeze out water)
  • 1 Rubber gloves (To mix safely (optional))

Method
 

  1. Chop cabbage, salt it, let it sit, then rinse and squeeze dry.
    Assorted spices and condiments for Asian-style rice dishes, including white rice, sesame seeds, soy sauce, chili flakes, pickled vegetables, curry powder, and chili oil.
  2. Mix gochugaru with water, then add garlic, ginger, vinegar, fish sauce, and sugar.
    Light green napa cabbage leaves in a ceramic bowl, visibly coated in coarse salt, soaking and wilting in preparation for kimchi.
  3. Add cabbage, radish, carrots, and green onions to a large bowl.
    Bowl of thick, deep red gochugaru chili paste with visible chili seeds, stirred with a wooden spoon, sitting on a rustic wooden surface.
  4. Pour the spice paste over the vegetables and mix everything well by hand.
    Large metal mixing bowl filled with shredded napa cabbage, carrots, chopped green onions, and a generous scoop of red kimchi paste, ready to be mixed by hand.
  5. Taste, adjust seasoning, and serve immediately or refrigerate for later.
    Bowl of freshly made Fresh Kimchi featuring napa cabbage in a spicy red pepper paste, with a jar of kimchi in the background on a dark surface.

Nutrition

Serving: 150gCalories: 70kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 2gFat: 2.5gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 700mgPotassium: 280mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1500IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 0.8mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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