What Does Kimchi Taste Like?

Curious about kimchi?We’re going to tell you everything about it, from the taste, to the texture, to the vegan versions and beyond.Then we’ll wrap up with some recipes and cooking tips you won’t want to miss.

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What Does Kimchi Taste Like? 

Kimchi is a Korean condiment or side dish mostly made of fermented cabbage, radish and spices.As it’s primarily fermented cabbage, it has the same sort of base flavor as sauerkraut (tart and pleasantly funky), but its spices give it a much different taste.

Typical ingredients that turn up the spice level in kimchi are garlic, chili pepper and ginger.Do be careful, however, when buying kimchi as it’s not usually vegan unless it explicitly says so.If not, it will likely have some kind of seafood product in it.

But if you are interested a vegan kimchi,we have a list of brands here.

Kimchi Texture 

Kimchi is partially soft and partially crunchy.The cabbage will be firmer if it’s cut thicker, but it shouldn’t be hard.It won’t be super soft, either—it’ll be right in the middle.

You may get bits of ginger root and garlic in the mix as well as sliced carrots and other crunchy vegetables.Kimchi will be crisper if it has carrots in it, but in general, you’ll get some variation of texture from the variety of chunky-style ingredients.

Related Article: What Does Jackfruit Taste Like?

Do You Eat Kimchi by Itself? 

If you find yourself hankering for a scoop of vegan kimchi from the jar, rest assured that there’s no problem there.You can safely eat it all by itself.

It’s customary, however, to eat kimchi more like a condiment on top of a meal, mixed into a recipe or even in a sandwich.The most important thing is to enjoy it, so have it any way that makes your taste buds happy.

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Do You Eat Kimchi Cold or Hot? 

You can eat kimchi both ways, cold or hot.Because it’s a fermented food, it may lose some of its probiotic qualities with heating, but you can absolutely cook with it.

Kimchi stir-fries are popular ways of eating kimchi hot.This can be as straightforward as adding it to any stir-fry near the end of cooking, though you may want a little sweetener like maple syrup to lessen the tartness.It goes nicely with tamari, sesame oil, garlic and ginger.

Read Also: What Does Jasmine Rice Taste Like?

Does Kimchi Expire? 

Yes, kimchi will eventually go bad.But first, it will probably over-ferment, which means that it will get super sour and super funky.You’ll find an expiration date on a jar that you bought from the store.

Always keep kimchi in the fridge, even if you haven’t opened the jar yet.It can last anywhere from one to three months.When it starts smelling and tasting particularly sharp, you may consider tossing it.

Recommended Article: What Does Kelp Taste Like?

Vegan Kimchi Recipe Tips 

Vegan kimchi is a delightful addition to the plant-based diet if you like fermented foods.These videos are going to show you all the basics of preparing vegan kimchi like a seasoned chef.

Making vegan kimchi takes a little time, but it’s so worth the investment.This recipe includes Asian pears for a dash of sweetness.

Here’s what you’ll be needing:

• Napa cabbage
• Kosher salt
• Water
• Sweet rice flour or glutinous rice flour
• Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
• Red pepper flakes
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Scallions
• Asian pears
• Soy sauce
• Porcini mushrooms powder (optional)
• Carrots
• Daikon radish

Now for the kimchi noodles.This is such a quick and delish recipe for lazy dinner nights.

Here’s what you need:

• Cooking oil
• Firm tofu
• Salt
• Onions
• Vegan kimchi
• Spring onions
• Water
• Korean chili powder
• Soy sauce
• Sugar
• Black pepper
• Udon noodles
• Bean sprouts
• Sesame oil
• Chili peppers (if you want it extra spicy)

Wrap Up 

Though traditional Korean kimchi is not vegan, plenty of these tart and spicy fermented condiments exist in vegan versions.The most satisfying will probably be your own homemade kimchi, which is easier to make than you may realize.An udon noodle stir-fry with vegan kimchi is going to change the way you look at fast, no-frills dinner nights.

READ ALSO: Check out this list of options for the best container for kimchi if you’re looking for sealed containers that will prevent your fridge of smelling like kimchi.

Related Article: What Does Kiwi Taste Like?

Joey Bruno

Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!