The Best Recipes to Make with Kimchi

Corned Beef Kimchi Fried Rice
Photo: Chef John

Kimchi's caught fire! Yes, this Korean-style fermented cabbage is a spicy superfood. It's a probiotic, too, so it's good for you and for your gut microbes. To make kimchi, green cabbage is fermented with salt, garlic, ginger, onions, red chili powder, and fish sauce or anchovy paste. Kimchi is a great companion for Korean BBQ, of course. But it's also a terrific addition to so many foods we love. Try it on grilled sandwiches! Add a spoonful of kimchi to green salads, breakfast scrambles, or hot dogs and burgers. Here are some other favorite ways to eat kimchi!

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Kimchi Udon Noodle Stir-Fry

Fresh udon noodles are stir-fried with bacon, kimchi, and garlic in a sweet and spicy sauce. "This is a sweet, nutty, and spicy kimchi udon stir-fry your whole family will love -- and it takes mere minutes to make from start to finish!" says chpmnk42. "Top with cooked eggs and shredded nori if you like."

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Kalbi-Style Braised Beef Cheek Tacos

"Korean taco trucks seem to be all the rage these days," says hello angie. "I wanted to find a way to recreate those savory sweet tacos at home."

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Corned Beef Kimchi Fried Rice

Corned Beef Kimchi Fried Rice
Photo by Chef John.

"There's nothing quite as deeply and profoundly flavorful as caramelizing fermented foods," says Chef John, "which is why you've got to try this kimchi fried rice and top it with 2 poached or fried eggs; the runny yolk will mix into and moisten the rice, taking this to a whole other level."

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Kimchi Pancakes

Kimchi Pancakes
Photo by Chef John.

"We recently discovered these incredibly tasty, and visually thrilling, savory pancakes at a local bar," says Chef John. "I loved the taste and texture, and the dancing bonito flakes on top are mesmerizing. Along with the kimchi, feel free to toss in any leftover meat and vegetables and see what happens. These would also be great topped with spicy mayo and served with eggs or grilled meat."

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Marination's Korean Philly Cheese Steak

This Asian twist on an American classic brings together contrasting flavors and textures of sweet and salty, tender and crunchy -- with gooey cheese on top.

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Kimchi Jigae (Kimchee Soup)

Here's a comforting soup starring kimchi, pork belly, tofu, and kochujang."Delicious kimchee soup, easy to make, and very filling!" says 70ngju85. "Perfect for cold weather days."

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Spicy Kimchi Chicken Rotini

"This spaghetti has a kick of spiciness and the tang of Korean kimchi! Top with Parmesan cheese, if desired!"

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Kimchi Corned Beef

a shallow bowl of sliced corned beef with potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and kimchi
Chef John's Kimchi Corned Beef. Chef John

Spicy kimchi adds a lot of extra savoriness to corned beef and vegetables. "The potatoes especially soak up a surprising amount of flavor, and may be my favorite part of the whole dish," says Chef John. "Garnish with sliced green onions."

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Mae's Kimchi Stew

"My sister made this for husband's parents visiting from Korea. They loved it!" says orangfairy.

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Kimchi Jun (Kimchi Pancake) and Dipping Sauce

Kimchi Jun Kimchi Pancake with dipping sauce
Photo by Allrecipes.

"These Korean-style pancakes are served spicy, not sweet," says Adine Lee. "They're great for getting rid of overly-fermented kimchi!"

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Kimchi Fried Rice

"This is a very basic kimchi fried rice, a humble dish made with leftover rice, kimchi, and usually a processed meat like Spam," says Diana71. "In this recipe I used cubed ham and veggies I had in the fridge. Serve with a sunny side up egg over top if you like."

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Quick and Easy Ramen Soup

"A quick, easy, affordable, and comforting Asian soup for two," says TealSantiago. "Transfer soup to a bowl and serve with a bowl of kimchi on the side. Soup tastes great when you add kimchi according to your taste."

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Vegetarian Ramen

Here's a simple vegetarian ramen recipe with kimchi, mushrooms, sweet peppers, and bok choy.

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Fried Kimchi

"In this recipe, I fry some kimchi to completely alter the taste and texture for a smoky doppelganger! It is so great with Korean barbeque and with plain old rice. It is certainly one of my favorites and so easy to make. Enjoy hot or cold! Sprinkle sesame seeds on top as a garnish."

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More Fun with Kimchi and Korean Food

Grilled Korean-Style Beef Short Ribs
Grilled Korean-Style Beef Short Ribs. Chef John
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