The essence of most varieties of kimchi popular in Korea is the kimchi paste since all the flavors of this dish lie within this paste. So, let’s bring you all about kimchi and its ingredients that you longed to know.
Kimchi paste is the base of many kimchi varieties, including the most basic baechu kimchi. Traditionally, this is spicy and hot, coming together with basic ingredients such as:
- Gochugaru (Korean red pepper)
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Glutinous rice flour
- Fish sauce
- Sugar
- Salt
Some kimchi paste recipes might also include lime juice, sesame oil, sesame seeds, etc.
So, let’s see what else we have piled up for you in this article!
What Is Kimchi Paste?
Kimchi paste is a red, spicy, tangy, and flavorful paste that is traditionally used as the base flavoring of many types of kimchi. You can buy this kimchi paste from the store as it comes in jars, or make it at home as one of the steps when making kimchi or make it ahead of time. This paste has several staples, while secondary ingredients vary depending on the recipe or household.
Although the primary purpose of this paste is to flavor kimchi, you can also use kimchi paste with several other dishes like soup, stews, meat, seafood, and even vegetables. The exotic flavor combination of kimchi paste usually has a catchy taste, giving out something more than just a mixture of red chile pepper powder.
Spices In Kimchi Paste
01- Gochugaru (Korean Red Pepper)
This is an essential ingredient used in this paste. Gochugaru is the pulverized powder of Korean red chiles that provides this paste with relevant heat, spiciness, and vibrant color. This usually has a coarser texture than regular chile powder types, which is also known as Korean red chile flakes. Gochugaru is probably the main ingredient of this paste, so it has been used more than the rest of the ingredients.
02- Garlic
Fresh garlic is the next staple used in traditional kimchi paste. The bold, pungent and aromatic garlic adds an amazing zing to this paste with a distinctive umami kick to pair with the rest of the ingredients used. Most of the time, fresh garlic cloves are incorporated into kimchi paste, while sometimes garlic powder also features in some recipes.
03- Ginger
Zesty ginger is another amazing spice that adds a distinctive piquancy to the kimchi paste, teaming up well with garlic. Its warmly sweet and slightly citrusy flavor and aroma rejuvenate, balancing out other robust and sharp flavorings of this paste. Although some recipes come out without ginger, this ingredient is a traditional spice that is considered a must-have in the kimchi paste.
Other Kimchi Paste Ingredients
In addition to the spices discussed on top, kimchi paste is often flavored with salt, sugar, and fish sauce. While glutinous rice flour is mainly included to get the perfect texture for our topic leader, it also acts as the base of this paste, which helps to thicken the kimchi dish. While these ingredients become essentials, some recipes even come up with the following elements:
- Lime juice
- Sesame oil
- Sesame seeds
- Baby shrimps/ anchovies
- White onion/ scallions
- Oyster sauce
- Soy sauce
- Rice vinegar
However, the kimchi pastes you find in the store might include additional ingredients such as:
- High fructose corn syrup
- Cayenne pepper
- Onion powder
- Bonito extract
- Squid extract
- Citric acid
- Flavor enhancers, artificial and natural colors, stabilizers, thickeners, preservatives, etc.
A Simple Homemade Kimchi Paste Recipe
2
Cups5
minutes15
minutes20
minutesKimchi paste is often prepared as one of the initial steps in making the main kimchi dish. But still, if you are a regular kimchi maker or love the taste of this paste with other dishes you make, the best thing would be to put together a larger batch and make it ahead.
On that note, let’s bring you an authentic kimchi paste that you can easily make at home. You don’t need to take them all the way up to the Korean supermarket to buy the ingredients since you can find them all in your local supermarket. So, let’s get on with some flavorful kimchi paste!
Keep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
- Spices
1 Cup 1 Gochugaru
8 cloves 8 Garlic (coarsely chopped)
1 tbsp 1 Ginger (coarsely chopped)
- Other ingredients
1/4 cup 1/4 Glutinous rice flour
1 1 White onion (cut into chunks) – medium-sized
1 cup 1 Sugar
1/4 cup 1/4 Fish sauce
1 tsp 1 Kosher salt
1 1/2 cups 1 1/2 Water
1 tbsp 1 Rice vinegar
- Equipment:
1 1 Food processor
1 1 Thick bottom pan
1 1 Wooden spoon
1 1 Air-tight jar
Directions
- First, combine water, sugar, and glutinous rice flour in the thick-bottomed pan and whisk everything together until well combined.
- Then, keep the pan over low heat and keep stirring until you get a thick, gluey paste. This process might take about 5-6 minutes (do not let the paste burn). Remove from the stove and set it aside.
- While the flour paste is cooling down, put the garlic and ginger into your food processor or grinder jar and grind them to a paste. Then add onion chunks, rice vinegar, and fish sauce to the ginger-garlic paste and give a good pulse until you get a fine, lump-free paste.
- Next, stir in the prepared ginger, garlic, onion, vinegar, and fish sauce mixture into the rice flour mixture, along with Gochugaru and salt. Mix everything together until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Use immediately with your kimchi dish or store in a tightly-fitting jar and keep in the refrigerator for up to 03 months.
Tasty Notes By SpiceRally
- We have presented an authentic Korean version of kimchi paste. But if you can’t find the ingredients that we have mentioned in our recipes, here’re some of the substitutes you can use:
– Gochugaru- Cayenne pepper or Chipotle powder
– Glutinous rice flour- regular rice flour, potato starch, corn starch, tapioca starch
– Rice vinegar- apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar
– Fresh garlic cloves- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
– Fresh ginger- ¼- ½ teaspoon of ground ginger - If you prefer a vegan version of this kimchi paste, skip the fish sauce and add soy sauce instead.
- Feel free to adjust the seasonings, like salt and sugar, depending on how you like it.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @spice_rally on Instagram and hashtag it with #SpiceRally
Like this recipe?
Follow @SpiceRally on Pinterest
Join our Facebook Page!
Follow SpiceRally on Facebook
Does The Kimchi Paste Contain MSG?
Traditional kimchi paste does not typically contain MSG. But the products you buy from the store might have this ingredient for flavor enhancement. So, check the label before purchasing.
Is Kimchi Paste Gluten-Free?
Most traditional kimchi pastes are generally gluten-free. However, this factor largely depends on the ingredients used in preparing it. Therefore, your store-bought or homemade kimchi might include gluten in it.
Is Kimchi Paste Vegan-Friendly?
Most authentic kimchi paste recipes are made with fish sauce or traces of fish, like baby shrimp or anchovies. Thus, this paste is not traditionally vegan-friendly. But you can make or find vegan options.
Is Kimchi Paste Dairy-Free?
Traditionally, kimchi paste does not contain any dairy products. But, sometimes, the stabilizers or flavor enhancers used in commercial production might contain dairy. So, check the label before buying if you are following a dairy-free diet.
In The Bottom Line…
Spicy, hot, and flavor-loaded kimchi paste is the most important ingredient included in most traditional Korean kimchi varieties. Although each kimchi paste recipe could slightly vary depending on the household or chef, essential ingredients like Gochugaru, garlic, ginger, sugar, glutinous rice flour, fish sauce, etc., can be seen in the traditional kimchi paste.
