How to Eat Kimchi

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24 Recipe Ratings

Reviewed by Ashley Crawford

Last Updated: March 10, 2025 References

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Eating Kimchi Plain

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Serving Kimchi with Breakfast

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Having Kimchi with Dinner

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Q&A

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Tips

Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish consisting of primarily fermented cabbage. Other ingredients include vinegar, garlic, chili pepper, scallions, and/or radishes. It has a spicy, tangy flavor great for nearly any meal. Eating kimchi helps maintain gut health, as fermented foods are loaded with beneficial microbes.^{[1]
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Research source} You can eat kimchi on its own, or you can use it to make rice, noodles, and soup, for instance. Grab chopsticks or a fork and dig in!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Eating Kimchi Plain

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1
Eat kimchi out of the jar for an effortless snack. Kimchi is ready to eat fresh out of the jar! Grab a fork, twist off the lid, and take a bite.^{[2]
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- Kimchi by itself pairs great with Korean BBQ.
2
Serve individual pieces of kimchi with toothpicks to easily share it. Scoop the cabbage out of the jar, and pierce each piece with a single toothpick. Then, arrange each piece on a plate, and serve them as bite-sized snacks.^{[3]
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- This is a great idea for a dinner party.
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Enjoy plain kimchi cold or warmed up. You can eat kimchi straight out of the fridge, or you can throw it in a small skillet and heat it up with 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of vegetable oil. It tastes great both ways!^{[4]
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- Some people prefer the cold, spicy taste, while others find the tangy texture best when heated up.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Serving Kimchi with Breakfast

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1
Scramble your eggs with kimchi to take them up a notch. Before you make your eggs, slice your kimchi into bite-sized pieces with a sharp, serrated knife. Then, prepare your eggs on medium heat, and mix your kimchi into your egg batter. Cook your eggs for about 2-4 minutes, or until the liquid is completely solid.^{[5]
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- Use about 1/4-1 cup (59.2-236.6 grams) of kimchi for 2-3 large eggs, based on personal taste preference.
- If you'd like, throw your kimchi egg scramble into a tortilla with some sliced avocado to easily make a breakfast taco.
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Stuff your omelet with kimchi for a spicy addition. Heat up a 2-3 egg omelet in a medium skillet, and add 1/4-1 cup (59.2-236.6 grams) of kimchi when you mix in your favorite toppings. Then, fold over your omelet and serve it on a plate. This is a great idea to add spice to your omelet rather than topping it with hot sauce or sriracha.^{[6]
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- Other yummy toppings you can pair with kimchi include arugula, bacon, or ham.
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Try kimchi pancakes for a crunchy, savory dish. Mix together 1/2 cup (118.3 grams) of flour, 1/2 cup (118.3 grams) of potato starch, and 1/4 tsp (1.2 g) of salt in a large bowl. Then, add 1/2 cup (118.3 grams) of kimchi, 1/2 cup (120 mL) of kimchi juice, 3 tablespoons (44 mL) of water, and 1 chopped scallion. Mix it all together, and add the batter to a warmed pan. Fry 1 side until it is brown, and flip it over to fry the other side.^{[7]
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- To make a dipping sauce, add together 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of water, 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of rice vinegar, and ¹⁄₂ teaspoon (2.5 mL) of sesame oil.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Having Kimchi with Dinner

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1
Mix kimchi and butter to make your own spicy pasta sauce. To make a yummy, savory sauce, finely chop up 1 cup (236.6 grams) of kimchi using a sharp, serrated knife. Then, warm up 1 stick of butter on medium heat. As the butter heats up, mix your chopped kimchi into the butter. Then, add 2 tbsp (30 grams) of gochujang, ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of broth, and ¹⁄₃ cup (79 mL) of kimchi juice. Simmer this for about 3-5 minutes to finish your sauce.^{[8]
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- Then, you can serve your sauce over udon, rice, or spaghetti noodles.
- To make the sauce in advance, pour the sauce into a glass jar and refrigerate it for no more than 1 week. You can freeze the sauce for up to 1 month.
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Add kimchi to your mac and cheese for a spicy twist. Pour half of your mac and cheese across the bottom of a baking dish, and top the mac and cheese with an even layer of kimchi (about 1/4 cup or 3312.2 grams). Add the rest of your mac and cheese over top, and then pour another 1/4 cup (3312.2 grams) of kimchi over top. Sprinkle on some shredded cheese if you'd like, and make the dish at 400 °F (204 °C) for 25 minutes.^{[9]
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- If you'd like, you can garnish the dish with chopped jalepeño, basil, and cilantro.
- You can either make boxed macaroni and cheese, homemade mac and cheese, or purchase store-made mac and cheese.
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Serve kimchi over lettuce to make Korean lettuce wraps. Rip off leaves from a head of lettuce, and wash them in cool water. Then, mix together ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of honey. Grab a bowl, pour in your cooked protein, and add in your kimchi. Pour the mixture over top and mix it thoroughly. Finally, scoop your mixture equally over 8-12 leaves of lettuce.^{[10]
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- You can choose from protein options including cooked tofu, chicken, pork, or beef along with your kimchi.
- To eat, wrap the contents up in the lettuce and take a bite!
4
Make kimchi fried rice for a tangy dish. First, make 1 cup (236.6 grams) of white rice. Then, add diced onion, garlic, and scallion to the pan and heat for about 1 minute. Mix in your kimchi and rice, and fry the mixture for 5-10 minutes. Garnish the dish with your fried egg, silver nori, and sesame seeds.^{[11]
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- If you'd like, you can add soy sauce or sriracha sauce to give your dish extra flavor.
- Silver nori is a form of dried seaweed.
- You can customize your fried rice by adding or subtracting any ingredient.
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Top your stir fry with kimchi to add spice to your meal. You can either make a vegetable stir fry or chicken stir fry, for example. Chop up your desired vegetables with a large serrated knife so they are in about 1 in (2.5 cm) chunks. Serve your stir fry over prepared white rice, and add about 1/4 cup (59.2 grams) of cold kimchi on top.^{[12]
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- Alternatively, you can cook your kimchi into your stir fry for extra spice. To do this, add about 1 cup (236.6 grams) of kimchi to your vegetables when you start to warm them up. This cooks the vegetables in the kimchi flavor, giving the dish a bold, tangy taste.
- You can stir fry vegetables including broccoli, carrots, snap peas, edamame, and corn.
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Add kimchi to stew for a spicy touch. For an easy, quick option, make your soup base, and add 4 cups (946.4 grams) of kimchi after your soup begins to boil. After about 5 minutes, add 1 cup (240 mL) of kimchi juice for extra flavoring. Bring your mixture to a boil, and simmer for 35 minutes.^{[13]
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- If you'd like, you can season with salt and pepper, and top each bowl with a fried egg yolk and sesame seeds.
- There are countless Korean stew recipes you can try. Add your favorite ingredients to this recipe, or search online for other Korean stew recipes.

Community Q&A

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Question

Is it true that kimchi should be consumed cold or slightly warm, rather than hot, to maximize its benefits?

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Community Answer

Yes, heating kimchi can kill the beneficial bacteria it contains. To preserve these benefits, it is generally recommended to consume kimchi cold.

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Tips

Kimchi means “salting vegetables.”^{[14]
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You an buy kimchi at the grocery store, or you can easily make your own kimchi.

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When you finish your kimchi, save the liquid! Mix it with mayo or sour cream to make a spicy dip. You can also use it as a base for salad dressing.

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