Step 1 of 6
Kimchi
Toss the cabbage with the salt in a large bowl, getting salt into the thick white stems. Rest 90 minutes, turning once, until the stems bend without snapping. If the bowl looks dry, add a splash of water.
Tip: Taste a rinsed piece of stem. It should be seasoned, not painfully salty.
Questions about this dish
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips — not a chatbot.
How long does Kimchi take?
3 hr 55 min all in — 45 min prep, 10 min cook, 3 hr rest. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 10 servings (about 1.5 litres). Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Medium.
How spicy is it?
Hot.
What allergens should I watch?
This recipe is labelled for Fish, Shellfish. Labels are informational — check the packets in your kitchen. This is not medical advice.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Pescatarian, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Nut-free.
What does it cost to cook?
Weeknight budget — about $8–16 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
What equipment do I need?
Mixing bowl, Saucepan.
How much salt do I put in?
The recipe lists Salt at 70 g (coarse sea salt or kosher).
How much gochugaru?
70 g (coarse Korean chilli flakes) of Gochugaru.
How much fish sauce?
4 tbsp of Fish sauce.
How much sugar?
1 tbsp of Sugar.
What can I use instead?
Fish sauce → Soy sauce plus a strip of simmered dashima in the porridge. Vegetarian kimchi. Different, still a jar. Korean radish → Daikon or even a little extra cabbage. The crunch changes. The ferment still works. Glutinous-rice porridge → Skip it and add a splash more water to the paste. Thinner paste, still kimchi. The porridge just helps it cling.
Any tips from this recipe?
Day-one kimchi is a salad. Week-old kimchi is an ingredient. Label the date. Gochugaru, not cayenne and not chilli powder from a taco packet. The fruit and colour are the point. A teaspoon of salted shrimp (saeujeot) in the paste is the Seoul-supermarket upgrade if you find a jar.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.