Mr Ns Kimchee Base Recipes

Steps:

• Remove outer leaves from cabbage. Cut cabbage in quarters and remove the tough inner core. Slice across sections into 1/2-inch slices. Put into a colander, add salt, and mix well. Place over a bowl and let drain, covered, until wilted, about 2 hours.
• In a large bowl combine the vinegar and sugar and stir to dissolve. Add the chili paste, ginger, garlic, and scallions and stir. Rinse the salt off the cabbage with a couple of changes of water. Dry well and add to the vinegar mixture; stir well to combine. Put into a sterilized glass jar and pack the cabbage down; add enough water to cover. Close the jar and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. This is spicy and gets spicier the longer it sits - add or subtract chili paste to your taste.

Steps:

• Combine first 7 ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate.
• Put the napa cabbage in a large bowl.
• Stir and rub the scant 1/4 cup of salt onto the napa cabbage.
• Press overnight until the liquid rises out of the napa cabbage -- don't add water and don't drain.
• To press, use a lid that is smaller than the bowl you are using and put some sort of weight on the top.
• Add TO TASTE the kimchee base that you prepared the night before to the napa cabbage and its liquid.
• Mix in the green onions, if desired.
• Refrigerate and serve the next day.
• The base can be used for cucumbers instead of napa cabbage, following the directions above but substituting cucumbers instead.

Steps:

• Put pork belly in a bowl. Add garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil and fish sauce. Toss well to coat and let marinate for 10 minutes.
• Set a heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium heat. Melt butter, then add pork belly mixture and let it cook gently for 5 minutes. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Turn heat to medium high and add kimchi, gochujang and gochugaru. Let mixture simmer for 2 minutes.
• Add kimchi juice and water (or broth, if using) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a brisk simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Taste broth and adjust seasoning.
• Just before serving, add tofu and stir gently to combine. When tofu is heated through, ladle into bowls and garnish with scallions.