kimchi easier than you think

Ingredients kimchi easier than you think

4-5 pounds Napa cabbage cut into roughly 1"x 2" pieces (about 30 cups of chopped raw cabbage)
1 bunch green onions washed roots trimmed and cut into 2 inch segments
5 Tablespoons kosher salt (about 10% less if you're using regular table salt)
For the paste:
1/4 cup minced garlic (about 5 or 6 large cloves)
1/4 cup minced fresh ginger root (about a 2" segment peeled)
1/4-1/2 cup crushed red chili flakes depending on how hot you want your kimchi. See notes above re: gochugaru
1/4 cup steamed white rice lightly packed. Short or long grain is fine. If stale microwave with 2 Tbsp. water for 1 minute
1/4 cup fish sauce
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water for blending + 1/3 cup water for rinsing seasoning from bowl (see directions below)

how to make kimchi easier than you think

In a large stainless steel or mixing bowl, toss the raw cabbage and the salt together to pre-brine the cabbage. Make sure to thoroughly incorporate the salt throughout the cabbage. In 10 to 15 minutes, you should start to see the cabbage leach liquid and wilt. Let the cabbage sit for 1.5 to 2 hours, tossing and redistributing every 30 minutes to ensure even brining.

After at least 90 minutes of pre-brining, rinse the cabbage with enough water to cover the cabbage by 4 or 5 inches by swishing the cabbage in the water 7 or 8 times. Remove the cabbage into a strainer and let the excess water drain while you prepare the paste.

Make the paste by putting all the paste ingredients into a blender and blend until you can't see the individual grains of rice. Pour the paste over the cabbage.

Get into the bowl with your hands and mix the paste into the cabbage until all the pieces are evenly and thoroughly coated.

Pack your kimchi into a clean, dry bottle or other tight-lidded container (this time I repurposed a half gallon kimchi jar) and use the last 1/3 cup of water to swish around the mixing bowl, pick up all the remaining paste, and pour that liquid on top of your kimchi. Remember to leave 2 to 3 inches of headspace at the top to allow for expansion as fermentation takes place.

Your batch of kimchi is now ready for fermentation in a dark but not cold place like the inside of your cupboard. Or, if you can find a warmish spot in your garage, you can put it there. (I know that's not always possible for cold climate people in the middle of winter.) As it ripens, it's a good idea keep the lid slightly unscrewed to relieve the pressurization caused by fermentation. (Your jar can literally explode from the pressure on a specially active fermentation day.)

People often ask HOW RIPE DOES THE KIMCHI HAVE TO BE BEFORE I REFRIGERATE OR EAT IT? You can eat the kimchi whenever you want. Fresh, just after it's been made, all the way up to when it's so incredibly old, ripe and stinky you could choke out a subway system by placing an open jar in one of the vents. It remains safe for human consumption for A VERY LONG TIME.

But as to when to refrigerate, just go out once a day every day to taste a piece, and when it gets to the ripeness you like, stick it in the fridge. It'll continue to ripen, but very slowly.

Enjoy! :)