Description
Traditional Korean fermented cabbage gets a plant-based twist in this bold and tangy vegan kimchi. It’s full of spice, umami, and natural probiotics that promote gut health, making it a vibrant and versatile staple for any plant-based kitchen.
Ingredients
1 medium napa cabbage
1/4 cup sea salt (non-iodized)
4 cups water
1 tablespoon grated ginger
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon maple syrup
2 tablespoons gluten-free soy sauce or tamari
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 teaspoons Korean red pepper flakes (gochugaru), adjust to taste
1 small daikon radish, julienned
4 green onions, chopped
1 medium carrot, julienned
Instructions
- Chop the napa cabbage into bite-sized pieces.
- Dissolve the sea salt in water and soak the cabbage for 1 to 2 hours, tossing occasionally until it softens.
- Rinse the cabbage under cold water several times to remove excess salt and set aside to drain.
- In a large bowl, whisk together ginger, garlic, maple syrup, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and gochugaru to form a paste.
- Add cabbage, daikon, carrot, and green onions to the paste and massage with gloved hands until evenly coated.
- Pack the mixture tightly into a clean glass jar, pressing it down to remove air pockets. Leave at least 1 inch of space at the top.
- Cover the jar loosely and ferment at room temperature for 2 to 5 days, opening daily to release gas and press vegetables down.
- Once tangy and fermented to taste, seal the jar and refrigerate. The flavor will continue to develop over time.
Notes
Use non-iodized salt to ensure proper fermentation.
Fermentation time varies based on room temperature—warmer rooms speed up the process.
Always use a clean utensil to prevent contamination.
Add shredded purple cabbage or swap daikon for variety.
Adjust spice level by increasing or decreasing gochugaru.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Fermentation
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 15
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
