Fermented Napa Cabbage with Green Bell Peppers
Kickin' Up the Kimchi: A Spicy Green Pepper Adventure
Ever tried Green Pepper Kimchi? It was a mystery to me too, until I decided to take the plunge and whip up a bowl myself. You'll find the recipe I concocted below, inspired by those long, mild, sweet green chili peppers popular in Korean grocery stores. Swap in any mild green chili if you're in a bind.
- Quantity: 3/4 gallon
- Difficulty: Medium-tough
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 48 hours
Ingredients (17)
- 25-30 Green Korean or Mild Green Chili Peppers (Substitute: Jalapeños, Serrano, Thai Chili, Poblano, Bell Peppers or Anaheim)
- 2 ounces fresh chives
- 4-6 slender green onions
- 1 head garlic
Brine
- 1 gallon water
- 1/2 cup salt
Seasoning Paste
- 2 tablespoons finely ground hot red chili powder
- 2 tablespoons coarse ground hot red chili pepper
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1/2 small nashi pear
- 2 ounces fresh ginger, peeled
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon salt
- Water as needed
Instructions
Day 1:
- Brine: In a one-gallon jar, stir together water and salt until salt dissolves completely. Add more salt if necessary to prevent dissolution. Drop in the peppers and let soak for 24 hours.
Day 2:
- Seasoning Paste: Toss all ingredients in a blender, adding just enough water for a thick, smooth paste. Set aside for 20 minutes to 1 hour.
- Garlic: Peel cloves, rinse, and drain.
- Chives: Rinse, drain, and chop into 1 1/2-inch sections.
- Green Onions: Discard root and any wilted leaves, rinse, drain, and chop into 1 1/2-inch sections.
Final Mix:
- Drain the brine from the peppers and discard. Transfer the peppers to a large bowl and mix in the seasoning paste, ensuring it reaches inside the slits. Add all remaining ingredients, stir until well-combined. Pack into a clean one-gallon jar, seal, and let sit at room temperature for 24 hours before refrigerating and serving cold.
Substitution Tips:
- Jalapeños or Serrano: Commonly found in most stores, they offer similar heat levels.
- Thai Chili: These pack a punch and could replace Green Korean peppers for extra kick.
- Poblano: This mild pepper can replace Green Korean peppers for a milder, less spicy flavor.
- Anaheim: Suitable for both heat and flavor, Anaheim peppers can be a potent substitute.
- Bell Peppers (Green): Swap in for a non-spicy version with a hint of freshness.
Experiment with these options or a combination to find the perfect flavor and spice level for your Green Pepper Kimchi adventure!
- The Green Pepper Kimchi recipe, inspired by mild green chili peppers, includes instructions for a seasoning paste made with hot red chili powder, fish sauce, garlic, a nashi pear, ginger, sugar, salt, and water.
- The final mix for the Green Pepper Kimchi includes several vegetables such as green Korean or mild green chili peppers, fresh chives, green onions, and peeled garlic cloves.
- Substitution tips for the Green Pepper Kimchi recipe suggest using jalapeños or serrano peppers for similar heat levels, thai chili peppers for an extra kick, poblano peppers for a milder flavor, anaheim peppers as a versatile substitute, or green bell peppers for a non-spicy version.
