I generally have it by itself, and I sometimes put it in a tiny bowl (the kind used to hold soy sauce and wasabi for sushi) and have it as a side dish, sort of in the way it is done in Korean restaurants, with a lot of other tiny side dishes.

As for using it in recipes, I frequently chop it up and add it to soba or udon noodle soup. It's especially good for use in instant soups, but I more frequently add wakame to those. You can use kimchi in almost any dish that would normally have both cabbage and hot chili. I use kimchi a lot more than I use cabbage, and I put it in spring rolls as well. It's also good in pot stickers and gyoza. I think it would be good in beef stew, but I never make that.

Lars

Thanks Lars! Hubby is not a big cabbage fan. I was surprised when he said he wanted to give kimchi a try. The kimchi in pot stickers sounds interesting. We do like pot stickers and I even have a recipe somewhere. So, do you wrap both kimchi and the meat inside pot stickers before cooking them? Al

It might help to think of kimchi as Korean sauerkraut. The curing process is the same for both. It is lactobacillus fermentation, which is also the same process as for brine cured dill pickles. So you could also think of kimchi as a pickle. Kimchi is not difficult to make at home, BTW. It is most often made from Napa cabbage, but there are many other vegetables, such as daikon, which can be used.

I treat it most often as a pickle or condiment. I also use it as an ingredient in simple cooked dishes such as the soups Lars mentioned.

A Korean restaurant we visit frequently serves it as one of the items on an appetizer plate at the start of every meal, along with little portions of other savory items.

So, I pretty much echo Lars comments.

Jim

A-ha! Found something on Youtube... Kimchi fried rice! Looked interesting enough. Think I am going to give it a try. Al

I have chopped up Kimchi and put it on hambergers.

dcarch

Interesting idea, dcarch. Maybe subbing for the sauerkraut in a Rueben would be good.

Jim

I fell in love with kimchi when I was at my parents' last time. My SIL is Korean and always leaves homemade kimchi at my parents' house when she visits. Only problem is they both can't tolerate it very well. I used it mainly as a pickle type condiment like Jim and Lars said. I ate it along with most of meals, as a matter of fact, but it tasted really good when we had navy beans, collard greens and cornbread.
I really want to try and make some myself.
Lisa

I have a large bag of powdered chile waiting for me to get around to making kimchi. Apparently there is a type of chile which is normally used. I asked the man at a Korean market and he showed me which one to get. I don't remember what I used previously.

Jim

I also have the powdered chili waiting for me to make kimchi. I've been storing it in the freezer, but I took it out last week. You also need a certain type of fish sauce, the kind that comes in an opaque bottle and looks like mud. Your Korean grocer should be able to help you with that as well.

Lars

I love kimchi. Potstickers, with maybe ground chicken or pork and kimchi, sound good.

Here's something Little Man might even like...my boys...never in a million years would touch it...LOL but...your guy...

Here is a link that might be useful: Kimchi Egg Salad Sand..

Wow Terri! I am not that brave yet. Little man has never tried kimchi. I want to make sure the introduction not too traumatizing! :-)

I checked out this guy's blog. Not only he did kimchi egg salad, he also had kimchi pizzas, kimchi pancakes, and kimchi quesadillas!

Maybe one day... LOL

Al

ooh LOL I just saw the sandwich didn't look any further. LOL

Don't blame ya. I was just curious! LOL Al

I think it sounds good. I mix mayo and gochujang, and it's a great, if fiery combo. Rather like Hungarian paprika paste in a tube, mixed with mayonnaise.

Kimchi and mayo? Very interesting combination indeed! Al

You can use kimchi in korean pancakes, soups, stir fries etc. Here is a website to get you started. She has videos on youtube, and she has written recipes.

Here is a link that might be useful: Manngchi _korean home cooking

Thanks Millsg! That's quite a site. Was surprised to see Korean style sushi, kimchi buns, and even broccoli pickles! Interesting. I let the two boys try some kimchi last night and it didn't go very well. Oh well, will give them a break and may try again in a few months. :-) Al

It will make the best hot dog you've ever eaten. I thought I invented it until I googled kimchi hot dog.

Interesting! I am in the kitchen now and have just said "kimchi hotdog" to the two boys and they looked at me like I was crazy! LOL Al

jimtex,

Thanks for the great suggestion. That has to be a classic.

Jim