Cucumber Fermented Kimchi

Kimchi is the general term for ferments made in the Korean tradition. The most traditional Korean recipe isa base of napa cabbage, with green onions, baby bok choy, ginger and use of red hot pepper flakes called Gochugaru spice. In traditional kimchi recipes, there is typically a fish sauce or fish oil element added in. Olive My Pickle’s Classic Kimchi is very close to traditional kimchi, and none of our kimchi recipes have any fish element, it's 100% vegan.

Burying kimchi (or any ferment) underground was a method used by  ancestors to attain a temperature cool enough to kick off the fermentation process. Optimal temperature for fermentation to commence is around 68-70 degrees F. At OMP we have electricity and temperature controlled fermentation rooms, so burying our ferments is not necessary. 

Some Korean kimchis will be very spicy! Our kimchi here at Olive My Pickle is a medium heat level, not too hot.  We describe them as ‘pleasantly warm.’

Kimchi, like kraut, is quite versatile. Kimchi pairs very well with eggs. You can add to your avocado toast for a kick. Because it's spicy, add kimchi to blander dishes like pasta and chicken. You can stuff an avocado with kimchi, put it in your salad and garnish your dinner plate with a tablespoon of kimchi for a flavor boost. 

Fermented kimchi contains 14 billion colony forming units (CFUs) of lactic acid bacteria per serving. A serving is one eighth of a cup, or about 1 tablespoon. The most abundant types of probiotic bacteria found in fermented pickles are Lactobacillus Plantarum, Lactobacillus Brevis, Pediococcus Aacidilactici, Pediococcus Cerevisiae and Leuconostoc Mesenteroids.

Real, salt-water brine fermented kimchi contain naturally occurring probiotics that are optimal for gut health. Napa cabbage boasts vitamins A and C, at least 10 different minerals, and over 34 amino acids.