Vegan Kimchi Recipes

Steps:

• Quarter each head of cabbage; remove and discard the cores. Chop cabbage into 1-inch pieces. Transfer in batches to a large salad spinner. Fill with water, agitate with your hands, drain and spin. Repeat with remaining cabbage.
• Peel and trim carrots. Cut into 1-inch lengths, then julienne cut.
• Divide cabbage and carrots evenly between 3 large anti-reactive bowls. Sprinkle 1/3 of the salt over each bowl, then massage with your hands until cabbage is well coated and starting to soften. Fill bowls with cold water to cover. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit on the counter for 2 to 3 hours.
• Drain cabbage and carrots in a strainer. Reserve 1 to 2 cups brine in a sealed container.
• Meanwhile, trim scallions. Cut dark green parts into 1-inch lengths and set aside. Cut off white parts (the bottom 3 to 4 inches), cut into 1/2-inch pieces, and place in a food processor. Set light green parts aside for another use.
• Add chili paste, miso, garlic, and ginger to the food processor. Process until fully blended; it will be thick.
• Transfer cabbage and carrots back to the bowls and add dark green scallions. Spoon 1/3 of the chili paste mixture into each bowl. Use food-safe gloves and massage it all over until vegetables are completely covered.
• Pack kimchi into six sterilized pint-sized jars. Cover with a 2-piece lid and screw partway to keep lid in place but not to seal.
• Transfer jars to a rimmed baking dish and let sit at room temperature until bubbly and fragrant, about 72 hours. Every 24 hours, open the jars and slide a clean chopstick or knife down all 4 sides of each jar to release air bubbles. Press veggies down with a spoon so they are submerged in liquid, adding a spoon or two of reserved brine if necessary, but veggies do release a fair amount of liquid. Because the lids are not sealed fully, there may be some overflow. That's okay, just wipe the jars and continue on with the process. It just means the fermentation is very active.
• After the 72 hours, clean outsides of jars and inner rims as necessary. Seal lids tightly and store in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• Cut the head of cabbage in half lengthwise and slice off the ends. Quarter lengthwise, then slice crosswise into 2-inch (5 cm) pieces.
• Place the cabbage and salt in a large bowl. Using your hands, massage the salt into the cabbage until it starts to soften a bit. Cover with a kitchen towel and let stand for 1-2 hours. Rinse the cabbage thoroughly under cold water, then let drain in a colander.
• Meanwhile, chop the green onions into 1-inch (2 cm) pieces.
• Peel the ginger and garlic.
• Cut the daikon radish into matchsticks.
• Combine the rice, water, garlic, ginger, and soy sauce in a mason jar or medium bowl. Use an immersion blender or standing blender to make a smooth paste. Mix in the sugar and gochugaru, starting with 1 tablespoon for a mild flavor and up to 5 tablespoons to make it spicier.
• Gently squeeze any remaining water from the cabbage and transfer to a large bowl, along with the green onions and daikon. Toss to combine.
• Add the seasoning paste to the bowl. Wearing gloves if you'd like to protect your hands from stings, stains, and smells, gently massage the paste into the vegetables until they are thoroughly coated.
• Pack the kimchi into a large jar, pressing down until the seasoning paste rises to cover the vegetables and leaving at least 1 inch (2 ½ cm) of space at the top. Seal the jar with the lid.
• Eat the kimchi right away or, to ferment, let the jar stand in a dark place at room temperature for 2-14 days. You may see bubbles inside and liquid may seep out of the jar; to be safe, place a bowl or plate under the jar to catch any overflow. Check the kimchi once a day. When it reaches your desired flavor, transfer the jar to the refrigerator. Eat right away, or let sit for another week or 2 for the flavors to deepen.
• Enjoy!