This is my first try at making my own Kimchi. I purchased the Book " Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Pickles and Relish" By Stanley Marianski and His brother Adam.
Started out with 2 heads of napa Cabbage.
(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af75/Keymaster_2010/002-118.jpg)
Then I made a brine of three cups of salt to 4 quarts of water and soaked the cabbage for three hours.
(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af75/Keymaster_2010/006-68.jpg)
Then triple rinsed it in the salad spinner
(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af75/Keymaster_2010/007-68.jpg)
Chopped up the cabbage in 2" slices and then cut the Scallions, Finely diced the ginger root, Red pepper powder, Crushed 3 cloves of garlic and got the salt and sugar ready for mixing.
(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af75/Keymaster_2010/005-83.jpg)
(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af75/Keymaster_2010/008-52.jpg)
Mixed in all the spices and goodness...
(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af75/Keymaster_2010/009-39.jpg)
Put it in the homemade fermintation jar for a three day ride, or maybe more....
(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af75/Keymaster_2010/012-29.jpg)
Key I absolutely love Kimchi!
I thought that you would bury it in the ground in a clay pot ;)
Looking forward to your results and I may need to try this.
What's the thingamagigy on top of the jar do?
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Quote from: mikecorn.1 on April 21, 2012, 06:45:42 PM
What's the thingamagigy on top of the jar do?
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During the fermentation process gas is created. That allows the gas to escape the jar and keep air from getting in. The color in the water is so you can tell when the water is low.
Although I could be completely wrong Mike.... not the first time ;)
Quote from: muebe on April 21, 2012, 06:49:32 PM
Quote from: mikecorn.1 on April 21, 2012, 06:45:42 PM
What's the thingamagigy on top of the jar do?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
During the fermentation process gas is created. That allows the gas to escape the jar and keep air from getting in. The color in the water is so you can tell when the water is low.
Although I could be completely wrong Mike.... not the first time ;)
Perfect explanation Muebe :)
Got it.
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Looks interesting never heard of it though. It sounds like a pickle type deal .am i right? You can also use a poor mans air lock. I use to make wine and all i do is put a hole in the lid and screw on. Push a small lenght of aquairium air tubing into the hose a short distance but not touching the juice or any thing. put the other end into a container of water. I used a canning jar. then seal around hose and hole in jar lid of container with the food. Thus prevents air leaks. And the end of the hose under the water keeps bacteria from entering.
Will be watching for final results as this sounds like a very good mix.
It is delicious stuff. Got a finished batch sitting in the downstairs refer. Wife complains about the garlic odor. Used 5 scotch bonnets in this batch and it'll light you up. The stuff is addictive.
Kimchi is good stuff. I'm down to my last jar from the last batch I made. The last batch I was finally able to get hold of some Korean chili powder, and that made a big difference in flavor, but it was not as hot as the previous batches I use to make with Serrano pepper. I'll continue to use the Korean chili powder, but kick it up with some Serrano (scotch bonnets would light me up :) ).
Viper
I use to ferment mine in a 1 gallon wide mouth jar or you can use a bowl and layer plastic film across the top. You just need to make sure that none of the vegetables are exposed to oxygen or mold will grow. I have a kimchi recipe posted some where on this forum that explains how to ferment that way. But for the last batch I used a fermenting crock pot I purchased from Sausage Makers; and that works very well.
Habs kimchi recipe
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=25457.msg306405#msg306405 (http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=25457.msg306405#msg306405)
My wife hates the smell of Kimchi but I love the stuff too. I usually by it from a local Korean BBQ place and their's is very good.
I am very intrigued about making my own ;)
I purchased the Jar at Wallyworld for 5 bucks and the Air lock was a buck fifty at the beer supply store. It is really cheap to get started, basically cabbage and salt and your ready to make sauerkraut. I usually pay 4 bucks for a pint of Kimchi at safeway. My wifes not to thrilled about the smell either Muebe :)
It is just Korean sauerkraut. Just had a big bowl of it with steamed rice and grilled pork belly. Wife wouldn't come in the dining room until I had cleared out ;D ;D ;D
Well bet you could make it the way my wife makes her sauerkraut She packs it in quart jars and puts lid on and ring. But don't tighten the ring just loose. Let's the gas out that way. And She makes great sauerkraut.
I like the setup Key.
It looks like a mad scientist project ;)
QuoteWell bet you could make it the way my wife makes her sauerkraut She packs it in quart jars and puts lid on and ring. But don't tighten the ring just loose.
I have a ceramic crock for our sauerkraut. I usually make 25 lbs. at a time and then take out what we haven't used after two months and freeze it. It freezes beautifully. Frische blut und leberwurst mit sauerkraut und dampfkartoffeln - ah, nectar of the Gods. Then afterwards a shot of the local moonshine.
I let the kimchi ferment one day longer than the suggested 3 days. This was a very good experiment. I opened the jar and it smelled just like store bought. I removed the Foodsaver bag filled with water I used as a weight. I pealed back the top layer of cabbage leaves and found the Kimchi I chopped up and scooped some out and put it in a bowl. then the taste test..... SUCCESS, I made some quality kimchi !!! its a little hotter than what i am used to but after the initial burn its free wheelin :) The wife gave it a rating of "Delicous" but hot. I will definately do this again
Heres a picture showing how much liquid was pulled from the Kimchi
(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af75/Keymaster_2010/006-69.jpg)
And the Bowl of kimchi
(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af75/Keymaster_2010/013-21.jpg)
Quote from: Keymaster on April 25, 2012, 05:30:35 PM
And the Bowl of kimchi
(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af75/Keymaster_2010/013-21.jpg)
Niiiiiiice job Aaron!!
Looks fantastic Key!
Finished product looks good.
That looks real good Aaron.
Thanks guys!! This was a fun project.
Very nice and will add it to my to do list!
I love Kimchi! And that looks perfect!
Gotta try this one forsure.Looks GREAT,Key
Nice. I made some kimchi over the holidays and it is awesome. I have been on cloud nine making breakfast tacos with homemade soft corn tortillas, scrambled eggs, bacon, and cheese, topped with a bunch of kimchi. So, so good.
I used napa, carrot, ginger, garlic, green onion, salt, fish sauce, sriracha, and chilli flakes. I ended up adding more carrots and some normal cabbage because it was too salty and spicy, and left it out a couple extra days before refrigerating. The final result scares my family because of the smell but I think it smells and tastes awesome, especially in breakfast tacos. Kimchi (and natural sauerkraut) is great because of that nice bready, nutty flavor you get from the lactic acid.
I cheated a bit when making mine - I added a little juice and a small leaf from some commercial kimchi, as well as some juice and a couple strands from a commercial natural sauerkraut to ensure fermentation because I was concerned the sriracha's preservatives might inhibit the lactobacilli. Worked like a charm. Anyway - it was easy to make, delicious, and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes spicy food.