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Bokkeum kimchi
Bokkeum kimchi (볶음김치): ripe kimchi stir-fried with pork belly and sesame oil
When a jar of kimchi turns very sour in Korean homes, it gets stir-fried with a little sugar and sesame oil, and often with pork belly, into bokkeum kimchi, a deep, mellow side dish that keeps for days and is a favourite in school and office dosirak. For a vegan version, use kimchi made without fish sauce or salted shrimp and leave out the pork. The usual mistake is using fresh, crisp kimchi, which tastes harsh when fried; it needs to be properly sour. Chef's tip: fry the kimchi until the edges just begin to catch and caramelise, which is where the flavour is.
- Total time
- 17 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 5 ½ oz pork bellycut into thin strips
- 14 oz ripe sour napa cabbage kimchichopped
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp gochugaru (optional)
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat and fry 5 ½ oz pork belly for 4–5 minutes until browned, crisp at the edges and cooked through (160°F).
5 minStep 2: Add 14 oz ripe sour napa cabbage kimchi and fry for 5–6 minutes, stirring, until it softens, darkens and starts to catch at the edges.
6 minStep 4: Off the heat, stir in 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil and 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds. Cool quickly and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 210 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 9 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bokkeum kimchi take?
- About 17 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of toasted sesame oil?
- Toasted sesame seeds ground with a little vegetable oil.
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