In my humble opinion, Thanksgiving dinner is not about turkey, on the contrary for me it is all about Thanksgiving Side Dishes. Who agrees? Well, also about seeing your family members that only remember you once a year, and when you host Thanksgiving dinner read more
Looking for a healthy side dish that’s quick, flavorful, and packed with nutrients? This Roasted Cauliflower with Guacamole recipe combines caramelized cauliflower florets with creamy homemade guacamole for the ultimate veggie-packed dish.
Kimchi is a traditional as well as national fermented Korean side dish made of vegetables with a variety of ingredients.
It is a staple of every Korean household, therefore it’s an important part of Korean culture, and I hope you try it!
Classic Christmas songs, hitting radio stations, malls, and stores… You are definitely feeling the holiday spirit everywhere around here.
Don’t you agree that people are just a bit happier in December, then everyone is back to grumpy selves in January, then back to happy around tax time?!
NOW, LET’S TALK ABOUT KIMCHI, SHALL WE?
The recipe finally made it on my blog, and the biggest reason is not only ’cause I love kimchi so much, but because I received an overwhelming number of requests in the last few months with the same question: “how do I knowingly make my own kimchi?” – So here it is!
I am also asked a lot, especially in stores when I purchase tofu-how does it, taste, or can you make your own. I never tried naturally making tofu, but maybe I should do a little research and make my own.
But that will wait for a while until then I will enjoy the store-bought. Ok… I was positively off the subject for a bit there, let‘s continue thoughtfully…
What is kimchi?
As I said, Kimchi is a traditional as well as national fermented Korean side dish made of vegetables with a variety of ingredients.
It is a staple of every Korean household, therefore it’s an important part of Korean culture.
Kimchi can be eaten as an accompaniment to almost any meal, and it serves as a side dish with every meal.
There are many different variants of kimchi, that’s why I named it in the title “Napa cabbage”, to be specific what kind of kimchi I am presenting today.
This particular one is called “mak baechu kimchi” because it is chopped into bite-size pieces for quick fermentation, simpler serving, and easy consumption later.
The most popular and recognizable kimchi out of all varieties is made from napa OR Chinese cabbage (baechu)- however, cucumber, daikon or white radish, scallions kimchi, and much more depending on the season are also loved and made by Koreans.
Kimchi can be non-spicy, mild, and very spicy depending on how much chili powder you are using.
The taste of fermented kimchi has a pinch of sourness, slight burn in your mouth from the spiciness, prudent smell, and kimchi should have a crunch when you bite it.
NOTE* Napa cabbage is lighter in color than other Chinese cabbages such as Bok Choy, which is also sometimes called Chinese cabbage.
I can’t wait until my kimchi ferment for a few months, so I can make delicious stews such as Kimchi Jjigae,
Budae Jjigae or use it in my Gourmet Ramen Soup, and of course kimchi pancakes, so good! I hope you will try it and please don’t be intimidated, because it is a simple “labor of love” recipe, full of flavor, nutrition and I must add pure deliciousness.
If you decide to make Korean Fermented Napa Cabbage at home please tag on my social media, or Instagram @SandrasEasyCooking using hashtag #sandraseasycooking. Thank you so much for your love and support!
Yes, you can make kimchi without sweet rice porridge. I like to use it because it pulls all the ingredients together.
But it is optional. No, you do not have to add any seafood products. If you are able to get it or eat it, I recommended it, but it is optional. I like to keep it in the garage and I wrap the container with a plastic bag to eliminate the odor as much as possible.
Even though it is sealed completely with the lid, the kimchi smell will escape.
Usually, after 3 days, I put it in the fridge. All the products can be purchased online, or at Asian markets. Some ingredients could be found even in local grocery stores.
I like TO ADD ABOUT SODIUM levels if you never made kimchi before be careful if you are using salted shrimps and oyster sauce or fish sauce... all three ingredients are salty so please add a little bit at the time and taste.
I found this one perfect for me, but we all have different taste buds. If you are not adding any of the above, then use SALT to TASTE!
This Arugula Salad with Fresh Figs and Feta Cheese is the perfect combination of flavors and textures. With the sweetness of fresh figs and the creaminess as well as the saltiness of feta cheese, it’s a dish that will impress your family and friends. Not read more
A delicious and healthful recipe, Air Fryer Ginger Turmeric Cauliflower over Yogurt combines the aromatic mixture of ginger and turmeric with the nutty flavor of roasted cauliflower. This delicious creation is rich in antioxidants, nutrients, and taste. This dish will fulfill your cravings whether you’re read more
If somebody had told me that the viral TikTok Carrot Salad would become one of my favorite recipes this month, I would have dismissed it with a wave of my hand. But, to my surprise, it was indeed that good!
I couldn’t resist making a small change to the original recipe. After all, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t put my own spin on things.
However, I must give credit where credit is due. I am bowing down to whoever created this incredible dish, so if you know who the is creator please do let me know. I have seen videos but I do not actually know who posted it first so let me know so I could tag them.
I do recall that the original recipe called for the addition of lime or lemon. However, I decided to switch it up and use Ponzu instead.
The tangy and citrusy flavor of ponzu perfectly complemented the sweetness of the carrots. It added a refreshing and unique twist to the salad that took it to a whole new level.
The TikTok Carrot Salad has truly won me over. Its simple yet vibrant combination of flavors, paired with the satisfying crunch of the carrots, make it a delightful dish to enjoy. Whether as a side dish or a light meal on its own, this salad has become a staple in my kitchen.
I am amazed by the power of viral recipes and how they can surprise us with their deliciousness.
So, if you’re skeptical like I was, I urge you to give this TikTok Carrot Salad a try. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
Shaved carrots perfectly matched Japanese ponzu sauce along with sesame oil and furikake, which contains nori (dried seaweed), sesame seeds, sugar, and salt. Also, sometimes and often it includes some form of dried fish, typically bonito flakes.
If you decide to make my version of TikTok Carrot Salad, please let me know in the comments or share it with me on social media such as Instagram or Facebook; @sandraseasycooking with the same hashtag #sandraseasycooking.
Easy and tasty recipe for Viral TikTok carrot salad
If you do not have furikake, you can use toasted sesame seeds.
I like shopping at Asian markets, where I find extra thick carrots but regular ones will do as well, however, the carrot ribbons will look much smaller.
If you do not have ponzu sauce, try this sauce:
This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate, but we try our best.
