Cabbage Kimchi Recipe - Great British Chefs

Step 1

In a large bowl, stir together the warm water and 115g of the salt until the salt has dissolved. Set aside and leave to cool

Step 2

Meanwhile, partially cut the cabbage in half lengthwise, starting from the root end and cutting about halfway to the top. Using your hands, pull the cabbage apart to split in half completely. Repeat so that each half is halved in the same way, which keeps the leaves intact and whole

Step 3

Loosen the leaves of each wedge so that they are easy to spread. Sprinkle the remaining 115g of salt over and between all the leaves, salting the core area more heavily

Step 4

Place the cabbage into a large bowl (use two if they don’t fit) cut-side up. Pour the cooled salted water over the cabbage, then pour enough cold water into the bowl to cover the cabbage; don’t overfill the bowl, as some liquid will be drawn out of the cabbage

Step 5

Weigh down the cabbage with a plate so the wedges are completely immersed. Leave at room temperature for 6–8 hours, flipping the wedges halfway through

Step 6

Rinse the wedges well under cold running water and gently squeeze out any excess moisture. Place the wedges, cut-side down in a colander and leave to drain for at least 30 minutes

Step 7

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the onions, mushrooms, anchovies, spring onions, the 8 crushed garlic cloves and the seaweed and bring to the boil over a high heat. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer for 20 minutes. Strain the liquid, discarding the solids and leave the anchovy stock to cool completely

Step 8

When the stock has cooled, combine the remaining garlic cloves, chilli flakes, fish sauce, salted shrimp, sugar and ginger in a food processor and blitz until smooth

Step 9

Add enough of the stock to make a smooth paste, about 475 ml total. Discard any remaining stock. Transfer the spice paste to a large bowl and stir in the carrots, spring onions and radish

Step 10

Rub the spice paste all over the cabbage wedges and between each leaf. Pull the outermost leaf of each wedge tightly over the rest of the wedge, forming a tidy parcel. Pack the wedges into one or more glass or other nonreactive containers with a tight fitting lid

Step 11

Cling film directly on the surface of the kimchi, then cover. The kimchi can be eaten at this young stage or after it sits at room temperature and starts to get sour and ‘bubble’, about 2–3 days

Step 12

Stir the kimchi in the fridge, where it will continue to ferment at a slower pace. I like to age mine at least 2 weeks, but it really is up to your personal preference. Cut the kimchi before serving