Beginners Basic Thermomix Kimchi

I’ve been really getting into eating fermented foods for their probiotic health benefits. As part of this new diet I’ve been eating a lot of Kimchi and drinking Kombucha every day. It didn’t take me very long to realise this was going to be an expensive habit! I knew I would need to learn how to make my own probiotic foods if I was to continue eating them as regularly as I liked.  That’s how my beginners Thermomix Kimchi was born.

Thermomix Basic Kimchi

I made my first batch of Kimchi 3 months ago and I loved it.  As with everything you prepare yourself, homemade Kimchi is so much better than the store-bought varieties. Not that I have anything against the store bought products, but I love being able to add my favourite vegetables and allow it to ferment to the level of funkiness I prefer.

5 from 5 votes

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Basic Thermomix Kimchi

Prep Time

30 mins

Total Time

30 mins

 

This is the most popular Kimchi variation. Kimchi Baechu, made with nappa cabbage and chili.

Course: Condiment, Side Dish

Cuisine: Korean

Servings: 2 litres

Author: Julie Carlyle

Ingredients

• 900 gm nappa cabbage or wombok (approx 1/2 cabbage)
• 500 gm diakon raddish peeled
• 500 gm carrot (peeled and cut in quarters)
• 4 green shallots

Kimchi Paste

• 200 gm onion cut in half
• 15 gm garlic
• 10 gm fresh ginger
• 40 gm Korean Chilli
• 1/2 cup fish sauce (natural only - no preservatives) OR 1/2 cup salting brine for a vegetarian version

Brine

• 4 cups natural pure water bottled (not tap)
• 4 TBS Himalayan salt (or another non-iodised salt)

Instructions

1. Coarsely chop the cabbage and reserve.

2. Cut the shallot into 2 cm pieces and add to the reserved cabbage.

3. Shred the daikon radish by hand or chop in the TM. 

4. Add 150gm daikon in the TM bowl. Chop 4sec /Speed 5.

5. Transfer the daikon to TM bowl of cabbage. Repeat the process until all the daikon is chopped.

6. Add 150gm carrot in the TM bowl. Chop 4sec /Speed 5.

7. Transfer the carrot the bowl with the cabbage. Repeat the process until all the carrot is chopped.

BRINING

1. Mix the water and salt in a large non-reactive bowl until dissolved.
   

   
   

2. Add the vegetables to the brine and submerge them fully for 3-4 hours or overnight.

3. Drain the brine off the vegetables. Make sure to reserve the brine.

KIMCHI PASTE

1. Place the ginger, garlic and onion to the TM Bowl. Mince 5 sec/Speed 9.

2. Scrape down the bowl.

3. Add the Korean chilli and fish sauce (or 1/2 cup of brine if vegetarian) to the garlic mixture. Combine 15 sec/Speed 6.5.

4. Add the Kimchi paste to the drained mixed vegetables.

5. Mix the paste through the vegetables thoroughly, until they’re completely covered.

6. Lightly press the kimchi into a 2 litre fermenting crock.

7. The brine will rise to the top of the vegetables as you press. If necessary add a little more of the reserved brine to completely submerge the vegetables.

8. Place a crockery weight on top of the vegetable to keep them submerged as they ferment.

9. Cover the jar with cheesecloth or the crock lid to keep out and unwanted insects or particles.

10. The fermenting crock can sit on the kitchen bench until it's ready. 

Recipe Notes

The fermentation will take between 4-8 days depending on the outside temperature and your desired level of funkiness.

Basic Kimchi Notes

• The brine will rise to the top of the vegetables as you press them into the fermenting crock. If necessary add a little more of the reserved brine to completely submerge the vegetables.
• You can add as much of the brine as you like depending on whether you want more or less “juice” in the kimchi. (Excess brine will bubble out of the crock as it ferments.)
• Place a crockery weight on top of the vegetable to keep them submerged as they ferment. (The weight is provided in the Montier Pilon Crock.
• Ensure the crock lid always has water in the chamber to keep an airlock.
• The fermenting crock can sit on the kitchen bench until it’s ready.

Easy Thermomix Kimchi

Kimchi can be eaten fresh on the day it’s made or at any stage of fermentation. Once the taste is to your liking transfer the Kimchi into smaller jars and store in the refrigerator to slow the fermentation process.

Kimchi Ingredients ready for chopping & brining

I have to admit that I was kind of freaked out about making my first batch of Kimchi. I was scared I would poison myself or just grow a smelly, mouldy mess. Even once the fermentation was complete it took me a day or two to become brave enough to open the fermenting crock.  When the crock was open I was surprised to find a delicious looking kimchi. I very gingerly nibbled on a tiny strand of daikon radish and to my surprise, it tasted perfect, just like the real deal!

Basic Kimchi Recipe

Thermomix Kimchi Watchpoints

Use a proper fermentation crock!

Mortier Pilon Fermentor 2 litre

The key to cultivating probiotic bacteria and not mould is allowing the fermentation to occur in an anaerobic environment (no oxygen). If oxygen gets into the crock the vegetables will grow mould and the kimchi will only be suitable as compost. Look for a fermentation crock which has a water airlock trap. This allows the carbon dioxide to escape as the food ferment, without allowing air to enter the fermentation vessel.  This is theMontier Pilon Crock I use to make my kimchi.

Use Pure Products

1. Water – Tap water is unsuitable for the kimchi as it has been chlorinated. Chlorine kills bacteria, even the good bacteria that we want to cultivate. Use bottled spring water with no additives.
2. Salt – Salt should be non-deionised table salt. As with chlorine, iodine is an anti-bacterial agent. It actually kills, yeast, bacteria, fungus, viruses and moulds. So if you want your Kimchi to ferment you need to choose salt which hasn’t had iodine added. I use this particular Himalayan salt.
3. Fish Sauce – When purchasing fish sauce look for a brand which has no preservatives. Preservatives will inhibit the growth of our good bacteria in the ferment.

Ferment out of direct sunlight

The kimchi needs to ferment away from direct sunlight. Sunlight kills bacteria so it’s best to put the fermenting vessel in the pantry or a cupboard.

Place a large plate under the crock

As the vegetables ferment carbon dioxide will bubble up through the water lock.  This can cause spillages of water and brine from the crock. By placing a plate under the vessel cleaning up is a simple as changing the plate each day.

So there you have it, a no fuss, basic recipe which will work every time. Just make sure to take notice of the watchpoints. Don’t forget to pin for later.

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