The Ingredient Substitute You Need For Vegan Kimchi (2024)

Tom Maxwell

·3-min read

You would think that a dish like kimchi, which heavily (and almost exclusively) features vegetables like cabbage, radish, garlic, and ginger (along with red chilies and salt), would necessarily be vegan, but that isn't traditionally the case. In Korea, where kimchi is usually served with every meal, the beloved side salad usually contains jeotgal, a kind of salted, fermented fish seasoning made from everything from shrimp to pollack guts. Pretty much every Westernized kimchi recipe calls for fish sauce, which is close enough. However, if you're vegan, don't be dissuaded from making this marvelous dish at home: Miso paste makes a terrific fish sauce substitute without sacrificing any of its salty, fermented, and umami essentials.

Kimchi was an ingenious solution to the problem of preserving harvested vegetables for upcoming winters, using two foolproof methods: salting and fermentation. What kimchi does for cabbage, scallions, garlic, ginger, and radishes (and much more besides), miso does for soybeans, which are fermented with salt and an aspergillus mold called koji.Subbing miso out for fish sauce when making vegan kimchi is a no-brainer.

Read more: 5 Rice Brands To Buy, And 5 To Avoid

Kimchi Is A World Unto Itself

The Ingredient Substitute You Need For Vegan Kimchi (2)

See Also
Vegan Kimchi

Koreans love their kimchi, producing around 200 different types of the stuff.In addition to Napa cabbage -- essential to making the popular baechu kimchi -- different versions of kimchi can include mushrooms, Asian pear, pine nuts, or pumpkin.Apart from salt and (usually) spice, the only other kimchi constant is that it's pickled with lactic acid bacteria. After that, the sky's the limit.

ADVERTIsem*nT

Because of all these things, kimchi is a low- or non-fat, low-calorie, high-fiber, vitamin-packed probiotic superfood that you need in your life.And guess what? Miso also happens to be nutrient-rich and great for your gut, packing in even a little protein (three grams per ounce). The only nutritional downside to eating kimchi -- whether made with miso paste or not -- is its noticeably high salt content.

Kimchi And Miso Sitting In A Tree

The Ingredient Substitute You Need For Vegan Kimchi (3)

The fact is,you can't avoid the heavy use of salt when making kimchi; it's essential to the process of lacto-fermentation.Kimchi's salt brine suppresses the growth of bad bacteria, allowing for the good stuff to flourish. Because it covers the vegetables, it also acts as a barrier against oxidation and its consequence, rot. The essential rule of thumb when making a kimchi brine is that it should contain 2% salt.

Miso paste won't have all the salt you'll need to ferment your kimchi, but it will provide an incredible flavor. Tryusing red miso -- the most robust of the four main types of miso paste -- because even it won't overwhelm the balance of the dish.(About a half cup of the stuff is all you'll need for a 20-serving batch.) Fermented for longer than its white or yellow cousins, red miso has a more complex, pungent flavor; perfect for a zingy side of kimchi. Now it's time to get schooled up on gochujang and perfect your recipe!

Read the original article on Daily Meal.

The Ingredient Substitute You Need For Vegan Kimchi (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan vs regular kimchi? ›

The health benefits of traditional and vegan kimchi are … the same. Yes, there is almost no difference. A study conducted at Brown University showed that because of the fermentation process, both vegan and traditional kimchi probiotics were similar in the end, although both started differently.

Is vegan kimchi any good? ›

It's really tasty and I love doing simple recipes with it. Some nice jasmine rice, scrambled eggs and fresh scallion, heat up some kimchi put it together and you've got a meal! Best Kimchi! My go to for adding flavor and spice to all sorts of dishes.

Is vegan kimchi still probiotic? ›

Kimchi made without seafood products still has the same probiotic bacteria. Good news, vegans: a new study finds that kimchi made without fish products has the same type of bacteria as more traditionally made kimchi.

What is the active ingredient in kimchi? ›

The main ingredient in kimchi is most often cabbage. Traditional Korean kimchi uses baechu, which is also known as napa cabbage. The cabbage is cut into quarters lengthwise, then salted or brined. This draws out the excess water, which helps to preserve the cabbage.

Do you need miso paste for kimchi? ›

For a more traditional kimchi, replace the miso paste with 1/4 cup fish sauce or 2 tablespoons jarred brined tiny shrimp. It's normal for the kimchi to produce lots of gas as it's fermenting. Your jar's lids may pop open when you twist it off and bubbles may appear in the liquid.

Does vegan kimchi smell? ›

When you open a jar of wildbrine Korean vegan kimchi, you'll notice a preponderance of pieces of Napa cabbage in a briny liquid, turned red from the spicy chili peppers that deliver a robust kick. Set the open jar on the table and lean over to take a good whiff.

Who is the vegan kimchi queen? ›

Aruna Lee's path to running a fermented food brand is riveting, from her journey as an orphan to Buddhist nun to founder of Volcano Kimchi.

Is bibigo vegan kimchi good? ›

Bibigo Vegan Kimchi: Good flavor and less spicy than others but had a carbonated taste. Some enjoy carbonation while others do not. Spread the kimchi on a plate and let sit for about 10-15 minutes to see if that helps.

Can I eat kimchi every day? ›

Overall, eating up to three servings of kimchi daily was associated with an 11% lower odds for obesity, compared to folks who ate less than one serving daily, Shin's group found. Results varied somewhat based on gender: Women who ate two to three servings daily saw their odds for obesity fall by 8%, the study found.

Is kimchi good for your stomach? ›

The fiber and probiotics in kimchi can help you maintain a healthy digestive system. The probiotics in fermented food can help reduce the negative symptoms of many gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome and colon inflammation.

Is Trader Joes kimchi probiotic? ›

If you want to get in more probiotics alongside or in lieu of starting a supplement, there are a few foods worth incorporating, such as yogurt, kefir, kimchi, kombucha and sauerkraut. These foods contain probiotics because they're fermented with live active cultures at the end of processing.

Does vegan kimchi have shrimp? ›

This type of Korean Kimchi follows the traditional method of fermenting foods to preserve and enjoy homemade Kimchi for a longer time. To make it vegan, use only vegan-friendly ingredients in seafood products like anchovies, shrimp paste, and a lot more.

What is kimchi traditionally made of? ›

Basic ingredients for kimchi: napa cabbage, radish, carrot, salt, garlic, fish sauce, chili powder and scallions. A sticky, glutinous paste of rice flour is also needed to make the seasoning of the kimchi. Salted napa cabbage before making kimchi.

What is non fermented kimchi called? ›

Fresh kimchi, or geotjeori (겉절이), is made to be eaten without any necessary fermentation. It tastes savory with a vibrant spiciness and a light sweetness from the still fresh napa cabbage.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jeremiah Abshire

Last Updated:

Views: 6283

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jeremiah Abshire

Birthday: 1993-09-14

Address: Apt. 425 92748 Jannie Centers, Port Nikitaville, VT 82110

Phone: +8096210939894

Job: Lead Healthcare Manager

Hobby: Watching movies, Watching movies, Knapping, LARPing, Coffee roasting, Lacemaking, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Jeremiah Abshire, I am a outstanding, kind, clever, hilarious, curious, hilarious, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.