Fermented Vegetables Kimchi Food

KIMCHI (KOREAN FERMENTED SPICY CABBAGE)

Steps:

• Remove discolored, bruised outer leaves of cabbage and rinse cabbage under cold water. Cut cabbage head into 2-inch pieces.
• Divide 3 cups water among 3 bowls. Stir 1 cup sea salt into each bowl of water. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup sea salt over cabbage.
• Place salted cabbage in the 3 bowls salted water until partially submerged; let sit 6 to 12 hours.
• Rinse cabbage thoroughly under cold water several times. Squeeze cabbage to remove excess water. Cabbage should have a rubbery texture. Transfer cabbage to a colander or basket to thoroughly drain the cabbage, at least 2 hours.
• Combine 3 cups water and rice flour in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Whisk mixture until a glue-like consistency, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and cool rice mixture to room temperature.
• Combine onion, garlic, ginger, and 1 tablespoon water in a food processor; pulse until smooth, adding more water if needed.
• Pour chile flakes into a large bowl; stir in onion-garlic mixture, cooled rice flour mixture, fish sauce, shrimp, brown sugar, and sesame seeds until well mixed. Add radish and green onions and mix well.
• Coat each cabbage piece with chile mixture by using your hands. (Rubber gloves are highly recommended.) Pack coated cabbage leaves inside air-tight glass jars or containers; cover each tightly with a lid. Keep jars at room temperature for fermentation to occur, about 2 days. Refrigerate kimchi after the 2 days.

FERMENTED VEGETABLES (KIMCHI)

Steps:

• 1. Prepare your veges. Shred or cut into chunks the cabbage and carrots. Dont cut your cucumbers yet. You will need 24 hours for the cabbage and carrots to release their juices. Keep in mind, do not use any metal bowls in this recipe.
• 2. After shredding your cabbage and carrots, place them in a colander and sprinkle with sea salt as you layer in more veges. Taste it after 4 hours and adjust until it is salty enough for your taste.
• 3. Now, let the veges in the colander drain over a large glass bowl. I let mine sit on the counter for 24 hours. Squeeze and play with it to release more of their juices. (it is fun!)
• 4. The next day,Make the sweet pepper sauce: Chunk up the pepper and put all the paste ingredients in a food processor or blender. You want it to be a paste,without any chunks remaining. A few small pieces of red pepper are ok, but no chunks.
• 5. Place the draining veges from the colander into the large glass bowl of their own juices and add the sweet pepper paste you made. Cut up your cucumbers and add them now if using. You can then put this in a crock (if you have one) or a large glass jar. Or even keep them in the large glass bowl. You will also need something to weigh down the vegetables like a smaller jar inside the bigger jar or a dish. To weigh it down, you can use a rock or a jar filled with water. The idea here, is the submerge the veges in the liquid. This will then sit out on the counter for 2-3 days until it bubbles and fizzes.
• 6. In a few days, it will start to bubble and fizz. This is what you want! Go ahead and taste it! :) I then put the Kimchi on glass jars with rubber stoppers. You can use a jar with a lid too. This will keep in the fridge for a few months (if it lasts that long) Also, be aware that if you do use the cucumber, they say it doesnt last as long. I dont know because it disappears quickly.
• 7. This recipe can easily be adapted to suit your taste. The amounts of the veges are up to you! The red pepper paste really makes this recipe stand out from the others!