Kimchi - Tong Baechu Kimchi (Korean Cabbage/Napa Cabbage Kimchi) (Baechu Kimchi)

배추김치, 통배추김치
Baechu Kimchi (Korean Cabbage, Napa Cabbage, or Chinese Cabbage Kimchi) is probably the most common type of kimchi. This kimchi is made with whole or halved heads of Korean cabbage instead of the cut cabbage seen in many restaurants. The elongated heads have a semi sweet flavor that goes well with ginger, garlic, and dried red chilli peppers.

Kimchi History Note:
Baechu Kimchi was originally made with cabbage and beef stock, or with cabbage preserved in soy bean paste. It wasn't until after chilli peppers were introduced to Korea that the bright red, spicy version of kimchi as it is known today became common place. (Baechu kimchi made with gochu [peppers] appeared sometime around 1800 CE)

Making kimchi is not about precise measurements. It's about taste. Many things can influence the final result, like the taste of the unseasoned cabbage. Some heads of Napa are very sweet so you would add less sweetener (sugar/nashi pear), some are slightly bitter so you would add a little more salt, ginger, daikon, and sweetener to overcome the "bitter". If you get a strong fish/shrimp paste, you would use less in the recipe. etc. For a stronger flavor, maybe you would add more garlic and use chives instead of green/spring onion. Remember, it's about taste so use this recipe as a beginning.
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Recipe Nutrition Facts

Servings: 50

Cooking Times

Preparation Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 48 hours

Ingredients

2 head napa cabbage (approximately 2 lbs)

1/2 cup salt (for brine)

1/4 small Daikon radish

8 each spring or green onions

Seasoning paste

1 tablespoon finely ground red chili powder

3 tablespoons coarse ground red chili pepper

8 cloves garlic, peeled

1/2 small nashi pear

2 ounces fresh ginger, peeled

1 tablespoon shrimp or anchovy paste*

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon salt

* If you do not like the somewhat fishy element of kimchi, you can omit this ingredient and increase salt by 1/2 tablespoon.

Procedure

Prepare the Cabbage

Cut the cabbage in half from bottom to top.
Place the cabbage in a large pot or other container big enough to handle the cabbage cut side up. Carefully lift the leaves and salt between them using about 1/2 the salt.
Slowly add water until there is enough to submerge the cabbage.
Add the rest of the salt spread over the cabbage and let sit for at least 4 hours. (overnight is best)
After soaking discard brine then cut the cabbage sections in half from bottom to top and rinse in cold water.
Remove the solid mass at the root end. (A diagonal cut from the inner or heart top of the mass to bottom outer leaf works best)
Slice the cabbage into roughly 1/2 inch pieces and place in a large mixing bowl.

Prepare the Daikon and Green Onion

Cut larger daikon in half from top to bottom.
Shred the daikon into a strainer or colander
Rinse 1 time in cold water and drain.
Place in a small bowl and lightly sprinkle with salt.
Set aside until time to mix.
Cut the green/spring onion into roughly 1 inch sections and add to paste, mixing until onion is completely covered.

Prepare seasoning paste

Slice the ginger and pear into small pieces and toss in blender.
Add garlic cloves and just enough water to blend into a thick paste.
Pour blended mix into a small mixing bowl, then add all other paste ingredients and mix well
Let stand about fifteen minutes.

Mix the Kimchi

Add the shredded Daikon to the Napa cabbage and lightly toss.
Add the seasoning paste and mix until well spread throughout the cabbage.
Place into glass mason jar(s), leaving room at the top of the jar to accommodate swelling, and refrigerate.
Depending on your "sour" level, the kimchi will be ready to serve in anywhere from one hour to several days.