Once you make your own Napa Cabbage Kimchi (Poggi Kimchi), you will never go back to store bought. Homemade kimchi tastes so much better and fresher.
Some weeks back upon my return from England, I shared a picture on Facebook of some Napa Cabbage Kimchi that I had made. It was the second time I made kimchi in a span of two weeks. I was truly surprised that my friend, DongXing, requested I make at this at her house. She really put me to the test as a foodie as we cooked a variety of dishes from the blog. We even made Char Siew Bao which I hope to post soon. We had a lot of fun cooking together. I was very thankful that my recipes are on-line and we had no problems accessing them. 🙂
This kimchi recipe was adapted from Discovering Korean Cuisine, my favorite Korean cookbook. There are many dishes in there that I have tried with much success, two of which are their Kkakdugi and Stuffed Oi Kimchi (Cucumber Kimchi). Ro-Ri San and I prefer homemade kimchi to store bought ones, and so I try to make some whenever I can. It really is much easier than it looks. I hope you will give it a try.
The recipe below was adapted from the cookbook Discovering Korean Cuisine.
Similar Tools Used in Making This Napa Cabbage Kimchi
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Glasslock Food-Storage Container with Locking Lids, 17oz, 6 piece set Including Lids
Cuisipro Stainless Steel Measuring Cup and Spoon Set
Disposable Food Prep Gloves – 500 Pieces

Napa Cabbage Kimchi (Poggi Kimchi)
Ingredients
- 1 small Napa cabbage (about (2½ lb/1.12kg)
- ½ cup kosher salt / coarse salt
- 2 tbsp glutinous rice flour
- ¾ cup water (180)
- 6 oz Korean radish (julienned) (170g)
- 3 oz Chinese chives (cut into 2-inch lengths) (85g)
- 6 green onions (sliced lengthwise and cut into 2-inch lengths)
Sauce
- ¾ cup Korean red pepper powder (75g)
- 1 inch ginger (minced) (30g)
- 8 cloves garlic (minced )
- 2 tbsp sauejeot (Korean salted shrimps) or fish sauce
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp sugar
Instructions
- Quarter Napa cabbage lengthwise. Rinse under running water and drain. Place in a large bowl and sprinkle salt evenly over cabbage leaves, lifting leaves to sprinkle salt in between leaves. Cover and leave overnight (6 to 8 hours).
- Drain and rinse cabbage under running water and drain on colander for 30 minutes.
- In a small pot, combine glutinous rice flour with ¾ cup (180ml) water. Bring to a boil and keep stirring as the water heats up and the mixture thickens. When it reaches pancake batter consistency, turn off heat. Set aside to cool.
- Prepare the sauce by combining all the sauce ingredients and glutinous rice paste (from Step 3) in a large bowl.
- Add radish, chives, and green onions. Mix well.
- Place one of the cabbage quarters on a plate. Spread sauce mixture between each leaf and around the cabbage. Repeat with the the other three cabbage quarters.
- Place cabbage facing up in a container and close the lid. Keep container in the fridge. Container may be left out at room temperature for a day to quicken the fermenting process. After that it should be kept in the fridge.
- To serve, cut off the root end of the cabbage and discard. Slice cabbage quarter into slices and serve in stacks in a small dish.
Notes
Nutrition
Yay! We have a winner for the collection of Spice Spray. The person was randomly selected by random.org and she is commenter number 25, Lindsey! Congratulations Lindsey and I hope you enjoy using these very versatile sprays. Please email me with your address so that I can forward it to the good people at Spice Spray. A big THANK YOU to Spice Spray for their generosity!
Enjoy…..and have a wonderful day! 😎
Belinda @zomppa says
Homemade kimchi – nicely done!
Victoria says
I love making things from scratch even if most people buy them prepared. Never made kimchi, but it looks like it’s well worth the effort to get it right 🙂
Biren says
Making things from scratch is almost always well worth the effort and kimchi is one of them. 🙂
Julie M. says
That looks delicious Biren! I just love that I always learn something new whenever I visit your blog. I really need to try and put together some of this kimchi and taste it for myself!
Lindsey@Lindselicious says
Yay so excited that I won! Thanks so much Biren! =) I’ll email you my addy. I have never made cabbage kim chee- just cucumber and daikon style. This looks so good!
Biren says
Congrats Lindsey! I hope you enjoy using theose sprays. 🙂
You should try making cabbage kimchi. It is the best!
Lyndsey ~The Tiny Skillet says
Biren, your kimchi looks really good. I should try making it some time. I was in our Korean market the other day when they were making a large batch of kimchi and it smelled so good and I was so hungry. I can’t resist getting it picking some up when I’m there.
Pepy @Indonesia Eats says
I love kimchi! One of my faves for cold days esp mix it with a noodle soup. Anyway, congrats to the winner!
Blackswan says
Looks like u’d fun making Kimchi, dear! Love those shots 🙂
Congrats to Lyndsey for winning the spray!
Jamie @ the unseasoned wok says
Oooh i never made my own kimchee before!! I love this stuff and the kind you buy from the market doesn’t always have enough flavor. I’m going to try this.
anncoo says
This looks interesting. I didn’t know must add sweet rice paste into kimchi 🙂 Must be very yummy 🙂
Biren says
I only found out about the sweet rice paste when I started making my own kimchi. It makes the sauce nice and thick and prevents it from being too watery.
Lisa H. says
I adore Kimchi… will have it with almost everything…
Reese@SeasonwithSpice says
Can I request this when we visit Minnesota?:) I don’t think Korean foods can be easily found in MN.True? Your kimchi looks delicious!
Biren says
Sure Reese! Just let me know two days ahead of your visit. 🙂
There are two Korean stores that I can go to, one about 30 and the other about 45 minutes drive from us. The latter is next to a Korean restaurant serving Korean buffet – an incentive to drive up there.
Tina (PinayInTexas) says
My hubby & I love kimchi! Now I am inspired to try making it myself! Thanks for sharing this, Biren!
Congrats to Lindsey for winning the Spice Spray!
FreeSpiritEater says
Glad you had a great time making the kimchi. Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe, the photos are making me hungry! =]
Clarkie @ Beloved Green says
I would love to make my own Kimchi, this looks fabulous!
Joanne says
I LOVE kimchi but have not dared to make it at home! Your recipe for it looks spicy delicious!
Angie's Recipes says
Biren, your kimchee looks so good!
Kalyani says
looks delicious and wonderful clicks ……
Biren says
Thanks for the comment and for visiting! I hope you will visit again soon. 🙂
Magic of Spice says
I want to try this…I love cabbage but never get very crative with it. This looks fantastic!
Peggy says
This kimchi looks great – and you’re right, homemade is always better!
DongXing says
Hiya Biren, I am so glad you made this when you were visiting. We have been eating this with grilled beef, fried rice, noodles, salads. It is just so amzing that it goes so well with so many things. I am now waiting to buy another head of chinese cabbage to make this again. Thank you!
Kay Ecker says
Your Kimchi looks delicious! Homemade is so much better, I just made a big batch yesterday. We must think alike because I also have that cookbook!
Have you seen this website? That is also another place I found the recipe for Kimchi and she also has some other great Korean recipes.
http://www.maangchi.com/recipe/easy-kimchi
Can’t wait to see your Cha Shiu Bao post..yum:)
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
very interesting! I never knew how to make kimchi – use rice flower? Wow that was unexpected ingredient!