KIMCHI UDON

Modified, from Bon Appetit
Serves 2-3

Ingredients:

2 servings of dry udon noodles or 3/4lb fresh noodles, prepared according to instructions

2 T shallot oil
1 1/2 C finely chopped kimchi
1 T gochujang
1 C kimchi juice
1/2 t chicken better than bouillon
2 T butter

3 scallions, finely sliced on diagonal
Toasted sesame seeds
1 gently fried or poached egg per serving


Methodology:

Heat the shallot oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the kimchi and gochujang and cook, stirring, until the kimchi softens and the gochujang caramelizes a bit, about 4 minutes.  Add kimchi juice and better than bouillon and cook until reduced, about 3 minutes.

Add the drained noodles and the butter and toss until the sauce thickens and coats the noodles, about 2 minutes.

Serve, topped with scallions, sesame seeds and egg.

MAK-KIMCHI

"Easy kimchi" from Maangchi: https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/easy-kimchi

Ingredients:

Full      1/3         1/4      Recipe
10lb     3.3lb      2.5lb    Napa cabbage (baechu)
1c.       1/3c.      1/4c.    Salt

Porridge:
3c.       (1c.)      (3/4c.)  Water
1/2c.    (1/6c.)   (2T.)     Glutinous rice flour (chapssal garu)
1/4c.    (1T+1t) (1T)      Sugar

Sauce:
1c.        1/3c.     1/4c.    Fish sauce
1c.        1/3c.     1/4c.    Garlic, minced
1c.        1/3c.     1/4c.    Onion, minced
1-2T.     1-2t.      1/2-1t. Ginger root, minced

1c.        1/3c.     1/4c.    Gochugaru chili pepper flakes

Vegetables:
30         10          8        Scallions, diagonally cut into 1" pieces
2c.         2/3c.     1/2c.   Daikon radish, julienned
1c.         1/3c.     1/4c.   Carrot, julienned
4            1 1/2     1         Cucumber, cut into quarters and then 1/4" slices


Methodology:

Remove the tattered outer leaves from the cabbage(s) and cut cabbage into quarters, vertically.  Remove the wedge of core from each quarter and slice into bite-sized pieces (about 2" wide).  Soak in water, and then transfer into (a) bowl(s), layering cabbage and salt until both are exhausted.

Turn cabbage pieces every half hour 3 times, for a total of 1.5 hours salting time.  Rinse 3 times in clean water.  Drain.

Meanwhile:
Mix the water and glutinous rice flour in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Boil until bubbles form, about 5 minutes.  Add sugar and continue cooking and stirring until the porridge becomes translucent.  Remove from heat and allow to cool.  (If making less than a full recipe of kimchi, make a full recipe of porridge and save for future recipes; the ingredients don't scale down in this case).

Combine the garlic, onion, ginger and fish sauce in a food processor and process until fine and semi-smooth.  Add the gochugaru and mix to combine.  Add to the porridge, once cooled. 

Add the sliced vegetables to the porridge mixture.  Add the porridge mixture to the salted napa cabbage and mix until homogeneous.  

Pack into your storage container, (pressing down to submerge the cabbage under the brine as much as possible), and seal tightly.  Ferment on the kitchen counter, opening occasionally to relieve the pressure and tasting after the first week to check if you like the flavor.  Once it's fermented to your taste, place in the fridge.  Keeps indefinitely.