08/05/2019
All You Need to Know About Kimchi, the Traditional Korean Side Dish!!
You may have heard someone mention kimchi lately, or come across a few dozen Facebook videos describing its health benefits. But what’s the fascination with this trending food? And what even is it? From its origins to uses, we’ve broken it all down. Here’s everything there is to know about the traditional Korean food taking the world by storm.
WHAT IS IT ??
Kimchi is a spicy Korean side dish created from salted, fermented vegetables, usually cabbage and radishes. It gets its unique kick from a paste made of chili powder, garlic, ginger, red pepper and sugar and its recognizable tang from fish sauce. While you’re probably familiar with the most common version, paechu kimchi, made with napa cabbage, there are actually over 100 different varieties of this classic dish, ranging from kkakdugi (cubed radish), to oi sobagi (cucumber) and g*t (mustard leaf).
What’s the history?
According to records, kimchi dates back as far as the Three Kingdoms of Korea (37 BCE–7 CE). However, kimchi didn’t get its signature red color until around the 16th century.
Why is it so popular?
It’s healthy as heck. The superfood is linked with weight loss, healthy skin and strong digestive health. Chock-full of good probiotics, vitamin A, B and C, and antioxidants, it’s been named one of the world’s healthiest foods. Supposedly it can even help cure SARS and bird flu, and prevents heart disease and diabetes. But beyond that, it’s tasty. Ask Jessica Alba, Jimmy Fallon or Leonardo DiCaprio, all stars who’ve expressed their love for the deliciousness that is kimchi.
What does in mean in Korea?
Kimchi’s a way of life in Korea—the figures prove it—1.5 billion tons of kimchi are consumed in this Asian country each year. Kimchi recipes are passed down through generations, and most Korean families have a separate, temperature-controlled refrigerator just for their kimchi. The staple is not only eaten solo, but found in countless Korean dishes including kimchi buchimgae (scallion pancake), ramen, kimbap (seaweed, rice roll), mackerel pike stew, dumplings and fried rice.
Come November, the entire country begins pickling season, preparing the brine for kimchi fermentation. It’s a tradition that landed them on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List and one that’s celebrated with countless festivals, such as the Seoul Kimchi Making & Sharing Festival. If that’s not evidence enough, instead of saying “cheese” when taking a picture, Koreans say “kimchi.” The word’s got the same mouth-widening effect, but offers a healthy dose of Korean tradition.