Kkakdugi...Korean Side Dish

I can’t tell you for how long I’ve been obsessed with kimchi and Asian cuisine. I’m somewhere in-between wanting to make tons of kimchi to last our family for months to come and not wanting my house to smell like fermenting fish.

I made my first batch of kkadugi (cubed radish kimchi) a few days ago after being disappointed with a recent trip to a Korean restaurant. I opened the glass jar to check the taste and the smell took over the entire house! Smelly house but really delicious kimchi and happy stomach. I got the recipe for kkadugi from my Korean friend (in my head), Maangchi from YouTube. I added rice vinegar to my batch…just a splash. It came out perfect after fermenting for almost one week. Get the recipe from Maangchi here.

The smell of homemade kimchi is much more intense than what you can purchase at the grocery store, BUT it tastes way better. Not only is kimchi insanely delicious it’s versatile and very healthy for you. Fermented vegetables provide a healthy dose of “good bacteria”…our tummies love that.

Just before mixing my first batch of cubed radish kimchi! Diakon radish, garlic, ginger, green onion, fish sauce, sesame oil, korean red chili pepper.

A Lil' Kimchi History

Because I am obsessed with kimchi I watched many videos on “How To Make Kimchi” via YouTube and I came across a documentary about kimchi. Come to find out (hehe) Kimjang is a traditional event that occurs late fall in Korean homes and involves kimchi making! Many gather their friends and family members to prepare and preserve up to 300 or more (sometimes thousands!) heads of napa cabbage. They see this as a time to bond with family, friends and to boost the health of those they share the kimchi with. Amazing right?

Kimchi is rich in vitamins, minerals and is an essential source of thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), calcium and iron. Perhaps the greatest nutritional benefit is that kimchi improves digestive health. It is a source of probiotics due to the fermentation process... Gut health is the key to over all good health!

Kimchi is low in calories with only 33 calories per cup (less than 15 cal/100g). So kimchi could serve as a great weight loss aid in addition to all of the other health benefits. Kimchi is versatile, and while you can find it in grocery stores making it is super easy!

So when you get a chance check out my Korean friend Maangchi! Her videos have armed me with the knowledge I need to make my own kimchi! I will keep you updated on my kimchi making fun :) :) :)

Thank you for reading!