Green Cabbage Kimchi Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can regular cabbage be used for kimchi? ›

Kimchi is traditionally made with napa cabbage, but there's nothing to stop you from using another cabbage! Napa cabbage, Chinese cabbage, green cabbage, savoy cabbage, white cabbage, red cabbage, and bok choy (we could go on and on) are all part of the very large cruciferous family (Brassicaceae).

The vegetables need to soak in saltwater for at least 6 hours and preferably overnight. The kimchi can sit at room temperature for up to 2 days and is ready to eat after 2 to 3 days. For longer fermentation, refrigerate.

Both work well in salads and slaws, but it's not a good idea to substitute one for the other in cooked dishes. For example, napa's texture and flavor make it an ideal choice for quick stir-fries. Regular cabbage isn't as delicate as napa, so it's a better choice for slow-cooked recipes.

How Is Kimchi Made? Cabbage kimchi is made by lacto-fermentation: Stage one: Nappa cabbage is soaked in a salty brine that kills harmful bacteria. Stage two: the remaining good bacteria (Lactobacillus) convert sugars into lactic acid, preserving the vegetables and giving them their tangy flavor.

The process of making kimchi involves brining (salting) the vegetables to draw out the water, which helps in preservation and allows the seasonings to penetrate the food over time; the final salt concentration ranges from 2-5%.

As a way of preserving the harvest just before winter, Koreans would first salt then tightly pack their cabbages into large clay urns, burying them underground to avoid the frost. The resulting fermented product took on a delicious flavour, and Kimchi began bubbling up across the whole country.

Maintenance: This will keep for months on end in the fridge (as long as it is submerged in the brine) and will continue to ferment very slowly, getting more and more flavorful. Feel free to remove the cabbage leaf and just press kimchi down under the brine, after each use.

It continues to ferment as it ages, becoming sourer and softer — which may render it unappealing.

I want to take a moment here to emphasize that selecting the right type of salt for kimchi is incredibly important. Natural sea salt is the salt of choice for most Koreans making kimchi, but I've found that kosher salt is a very good substitute.

The salt will draw out excess water from cabbage while helping preserve the crispiness. After letting it sit for an hour or two, rinse it with water to remove the salt. Drain and dry the cabbage with paper towels, gently pressing to release excess water. Repeat with more paper towels as the water is absorbed.

Do green cabbage and napa cabbage taste the same? ›

Napa Cabbage

Its flavor is a little sweeter than green and red cabbage, and the leaves are far more tender, so it's a great choice if you're looking for something more mild. It's a classic addition when filling dumplings or making stir-fries, and it's also great raw in salads and slaws.

Regular cabbage grows into a round sphere, its leaves curling inward until they form a tight ball. Chinese cabbage, on the other hand, grows into an oblong shape, its leaves frilling out towards the edges. It's light green with yellow tints, and has a sweeter flavor than its round cousins.

The nutritional value of sauerkraut, kimchi, and pickles

Sauerkraut, for example, is a rich source of vitamin C and K, as well as fiber. Kimchi, a Korean staple, contains vitamins A, B, and C, and is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Homemade kimchi must be kept refrigerated and will last for up to 1 month. Store-bought kimchi that remains unopened can be kept at room temperature for 1-3 months. If you have store-bought kimchi that's been opened, it will be good for 3-4 days at room temperature and up to 6 months when refrigerated.

The cause of black dots, known as “pepper spot” or “black spec”, is likely to be low light levels, high soil pH, fertilizers high in nitrogen and phosphorus, and harvesting & storage conditions. Regardless of the cause, our scientists confirmed that the cabbage leaves with “Black Specs” are perfectly safe to eat.

Good news: any cabbage can be fermented and made into sauerkraut!

Green, firm and dense cabbage is best for this recipe. It is possible to make this recipe with red cabbage too, try my Red Cabbage Sauerkraut. Salt: When fermenting, it is important to use pickling salt, kosher salt, or sea salt. Avoid using table salt as it has iodine added which can possibly affect fermentation.

Using a large kitchen knife, cut lengthwise through the head of cabbage about half way, then use your hand to tear the two halves of cabbage apart. (Tearing the cabbage instead of slicing all the way through keeps the smaller leaves whole.) Using the same method as above, cut and tear the two halves into quarters.