Korean Food: Kimchi
This side dish of fermented vegetables continues to be an essential part of any Korean meal. Early
kimchi dishes were relatively mild, spiced with fermented anchovies, ginger, garlic, and green onions. Koreans still use these ingredients today, but the spice most closely associated with modern
kimchi is red pepper powder. Korea boasts more than two hundred types of
kimchi, all rich in vitamins, minerals, and proteins created by the lactic acid fermentation of cabbage, radish, and other vegetables and seafood. The
kimchi served at a meal will vary according to region, season, and may differ according to the other dishes on the menu. A seaside region's
kimchi will be saltier than that of a landlocked area, and summer cooks produce cooling water
kimchis to contrast with the heartier cabbage
kimchis of the autumn and winter. And a delicate cucumber
kimchi sits better beside a bland noodle dish than beside a robust beef stew. To understand
kimchi at its simplest, think of it is as divided into two kinds: seasonal
kimchi (for short-term storage, made from vegetables that are fresh in the markets at any given time) and
Kimjang kimchi (for long-term storage, made in quantity in late autumn).