Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Pizza Party

Let's get back to it! I hope you all had a great thanksgiving. Are you sick of leftovers yet? I think I promised you pizza.

Yes, the term 'gluten free' can go in the same sentence as pizza - and even beer! Who'd have thought? 






What to do? It was a rainy, cold and cruddy evening as we wandered the isles of Whole Foods and I couldn't think of a thing I wanted to eat. My meat eating, wheat loving boyfriend came to the rescue in the flour isle, grabbing a bag that was above my line of sight (and probably not something I would have chosen alone anyway), suggesting hesitantly, "Want to make pizza?"

Thrilled to death at the idea of making the one thing I absolutely missed more than anything, on top of the fact that I would have a fun evening of food making with great company, I may have literally jumped at the idea. 

Off I went, listing the things I had canned or ready to go at home (toppings and sauce) and the things I didn't (cheese and beer) and planning dinner as an event.


First, off to the beer section of the store for some expensive but delicious sorghum ale, then to another store for some Rennet and Citric Acid for the homemade mozzarella, then home for an adventure in pizza making!

This is less of a recipe and more of a "You can do it (and not believe how much fun it can be)" post!


The Pizza Party 


Gather

Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix - I used Bob's Red Mill
(I'll post and link whatever I use next time, or check out the Gluten Free Goddess, her recipes are always amazing, and as I noticed after I'd written this, we agree that dinner rolls and pizza crust are not so different)

             Ingredients that Bob called for
             -2 eggs
             -Yeast packet (included)
             -2 Tbsp Olive oil
             -1 & 1/2 cups of Warm water

Tomato sauce
Tomato paste to thicken, if needed
Mozzarella Cheese - See Cheese
Toppings - mine were thinly sliced green peppers and onions and his were overly thick and eventually cup shaped pepperoni.

It's so simple, really. The cheese may be the most difficult part because you need to keep an eye on the temperature of the milk and do a bit of kneading, but it wasn't hard by any means

Preheat oven to 425'

Dough - His Job

If you are preparing the pizza alone, I suggest checking the Cheese recipe and maybe getting things to room temperature, then starting the dough. You will have to wait for it to rise and the timing should be perfect. Or again, simply buy your cheese. In our case, we started at the same time, I worked on the cheese since I had more experience with it.

The exact package instructions are here (but mine are more fun)

He mixed the water and yeast for a bit, then beat the eggs into it with the oil and added everything to the flour mixture as per the directions. There is already evaporated cane juice in the mixture for the yeast to feed on to rise, so no additional sweetener is necessary.

He mixed it by hand with a whisk, though I'm pretty sure that when the directions said "beat on medium" they weren't referring the effort put forth in whisking. No matter, he got it done, my arm would certainly have been sore, and it made for a giggle when it was all finished.

Continuing to simply follow directions (as well as I can be expected to, now that I was also reading them and waiting around for my milk to warm up) he separated the dough into two balls and covered to rise.

Once risen, this also lent itself to a few giggles

The directions called for 20 minute of rising, but it seemed to have barely changed in that time. Another 10 minutes did the trick, though its certainly up to your discretion.

While we patiently waited for the very sticky dough to rise, I finished up the Cheese, microwaving and kneading to perfection. Be sure to cover and/or wrap the cheese if you are not using it immediately. It will dry out quicker than you can believe. Also, try not to eat it all before getting it onto the pizza! It's a reasonable warning, wait and see.




Spread

Being a bit rough on the dough

On that lovely greased cookie sheet you are using, or pizza pan if you have one (or two), it's time to lay out your crust. My experience was that this was a bit too much dough for one 16' pizza, as it recommends. Try a cookie sheet, if you don't care about the shape, make two round ones or save some extra dough for dinner rolls, it has the perfect taste and texture for that (and pizzeria's do it all the time!). Basically, you want to make sure the dough is not too thick in the middle as the crust is around the edges. It will cook more evenly and it won't be doughy.



The one suggestion that is ever important with GF baking, use wet hands when shaping your dough. Since you can't flour them, water is perfect. Your hands will glide over the dough like Demi Moore's over clay in a steamy, ghostly love scene. Maybe it's a bit dramatic, but that's what I think of. 


Bake

Don't skip this step! You need to par-bake the crust to have a crispy final product. about 9 minutes did it, though my crust was a bit thick. Just check it and be sure its at least dry and firm.


Top

I mixed a bit of the tomato paste in with my sauce as freezing had it made it too watery to work for this pizza, then spread it, leaving about an inch or so for the crust.

If it were still available as an option, I would have preferred my stewed tomatoes from the garden this year, but they all went to late night GFree wrap pizzas and as gifts to friends (not next year!).

  
We sliced the cheese and arranged it in an aesthetically pleasing manner, though a bit thick. Did you know it's tough to slice soft, warm cheese thinly?

Next time, refrigerating it, then shredding. Easier and it melts more evenly.



We then popped the pizza in the oven for another 18 minutes, but, due to the thickness of everything, put it back in for another 10.

To stop the peperoni from curling, if you happen to use some,
just slice a nick on one side, from the center to the edge, while still cold.
It will cook flat.


We then sliced, ate and enjoyed some tasty, fun, homemade gluten free pizza! But not before a few more pictures, of course.




*After having this crust mix, I will say that it is not bad and that I may use it again for some quick dinner rolls, maybe even pizza as long as I make it a bit thinner in the center, but I will definitely make my own flour mix next time.


Although the health advantages are not as apparent in this one, you are getting as big a dose of veggies as you choose to pile on the pie, as well as a serving of whole grains and some great protein, along with the fat of the cheese. 

You are also getting the sense of calm and normalcy that comes from spending time with good people and eating a favorite comfort food. Sometimes you just need a little gluten free gluttony!

Home Made Mozzarella

Making cheese is fun and easy. It really doesn't take very long, especially this recipe, and you get the satisfying feeling of saying "Yes, I made that!"


I have used this on Pizza, Lasagna, crackers, my hand, anything at all, etc. I really love cheese. I go through phases, and right now my phase is home made! I am lucky that I'm not one of the many with gluten sensitivity that also have lactose intolerance.

While cheese will always have more than it's fair share of fat and cholesterol, and be a product of a living being, it can still be safer, free range, organic and delicious. It all depends on the milk you start with.

For my cheese, I used a gallon of plain, Whole Foods brand 365, whole milk. You can used nearly any kind, low-fat, whole, regular, organic, raw, goat or buffalo (prized throughout much of the world). You may need to adjust your proportions a bit if you do this, though I'm sure you can find directions in my links below or elsewhere. I will be experimenting with more types as soon as I can and be sure to update the post with my results. I also used the stove then microwave method here, where I will try the totally stove top one as well.


Home Made Mozzarella

Gather

1 Large pot - non-reactive
1 candy or digital thermometer
1 gallon of milk (I used 365 whole milk)
1 & 1/2 teaspoons of citric acid - dissolved in 1/4 cup NON-Chlorinated water
1/2 teaspoons liquid Rennet
2 tsp Salt or to taste
Strainer with cheese cloth
Rubber gloves - for kneading hot cheese
Large bowl
Slightly smaller bowl


The Additives


Citric acid and rennet are what make the milk into cheese.

Yes, citric acid is the thing in lemons, limes and our own bodies. It is a mild acid and natural preservative. Wikipedia can get into the chemistry of it, but it is absolutely necessary. The reason lemon juice is not used is that it is not easy to regulate the strength and therefore not suitable for usage for something as precise as mozzarella.

Rennet is a bit different. Let me start with saying I use liquid vegetarian rennet. It is easy and a little goes a long way. It is a derivative of what was originally used when cheese making was discovered.

As I understand it historically, in the middle east, milk was stored in pouches made of the stomachs of young cows or goats in the hot desert by traveling herdsmen (they did not waste the "unsavory" bits as we do). They found that it turned the milk into curds and whey and that the curds could be formed, pressed and preserved. It was the earliest form of preserving milk. The area of lining that produced the strongest effect was isolated and eventually, the rennin extracted for more commercial use. More, again, on Wiki, or the links below.

There are also vegetarian and microbial versions of this coagulant, the former of which, I am using.

I purchased both at a wine and beer brewing specialty store. I guess cheese goes hand in hand with brewing. If you cannot find these items at a local specialty or health food store, you can always order them online, from dairy farms, cheese makers or of course, Amazon.


The Milk

As previously mentioned, the milk choice is yours. Mine was simple whole milk as I assumed it would be the easiest. Pour the milk into a pot and get the thermometer into it. It should be 50' or above before you add the citric acid. Be sure it is dissolved thoroughly before mixing it into the milk

Turn the heat to medium and bring Slowly up to 90'F, No Higher, stirring often so the bottom neither sticks nor burns. At 90 remove from heat and add the 1/4 teaspoon of liquid rennet, mixing for about 30 second to fully combine the coagulants.





Let rest for 20-30 minutes, or until the milk has formed a fairly solid mass that you can slice (in the pot) without it crumbling and the sides have pulled away from the pot. It's called a clean break.

Scoop into the strainer lined with cheesecloth to drain briefly. You don't need it too dry. Simply dumping the pot WILL result in unpleasant burns, from steam and cheese. You want your only lasting memories to be the cheese, not the scars. Be careful.

Once again, save the whey, as I mentioned in my lasagna post, it can be very useful.


Microwave

Transfer the curds into the smaller bowl. They will shrink in the next few steps, trust me.

Microwave for about 1 minute. You will see more whey around the curds. Drain this off and mix the curds a bit by hand (gloved hand, trust me).




Fill a separate bowl with very cold water, maybe throw a few ice cubes in there. Have it ready.

Return curds to the microwave for 30 seconds. Repeat draining and mixing, attempting to knead.





Microwave for  30 seconds one last time. When you remove the cheese, drain off some whey, salt curds then fold and knead like dough until you form a ball and stretch. Have fun with that part.

Do not over work, as you will remove too much moisture and have dry cheese. It will be edible, and meltable, but not nearly as pleasant. Also keep in mind that it will firm up once refrigerated.




 You can now roll it into smaller balls or one large one, depending on your needs.

Once you reach a consistency that is just slightly softer than you want it, shock in a bowl of cold water. If not using the cheese immediately, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then again in either a second layer or a plastic bag (it may release more whey), and refrigerate.


Now you have a ball of the freshest mozzarella you can get! Eat it, share it, save it for a recipe, but please use it within 10 days and keep it refrigerated. A gallon for me has yielded between 14oz and 16oz of finished cheese and one happy me.


Read

Some notes on not so terrible cheese and mozzarella making:

  • http://www.doctorsolve.com/blog/2010/01/7-health-benefits-of-cheese.html
  • http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=121
  • http://www.handjobsforthehome.com/2011/10/homemade-mozzarella-urban-cheese-craft-cheese-kit/ 
  • http://www.cheesemaking.com/

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

More To Come...

Stay tuned for

  • A Gluten Free & From Scratch Pizza Date  Done
  • Mozzerella Making Done
  • Thanksgiving Mini-Cini Cornbreads
  • Killer Kabocha Pie
  • Celeriac Soup - Very Random Done
  • Saurkraut - I need to get this one made!
  • Overnight Yogurt - I'm thinking Thursday
  • And More

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Indian Spiced Roasted Sprouts







I'm hungry and fresh from the farm again, this time with a small bag of brussel sprouts, some sweet potatoes and this thing...



Celeriac, or Celery Root






I'll figure out what to do with him later!

In the mean time, this cold rainy day calls for some warm and spicy roasted things. With a bit of garam masala and side of quinoa (the wonder "grain"), I'll have the perfect fall meal.

Brussels sprouts are another one of those good for you guys that not everyone loves. In the same family as kale, cabbage and broccoli, it helps lower cholesterol, protect your dna and seems to affect the thyroid less than the others.

Roasting is a great way to bring out the nuttiness that was often missed out on when we had these as kids. Out of the box, frozen, then cooked until mushy is no ones idea of a good time. Try this, it's yummy, healthy and different.


Indian Spiced Roasted Sprouts


Gather

Some Brussel Sprouts - Sorry, I didn't weight them, it was about a bowlful - see pictures
1/2 Red Onion
1/2 Sweet Potato
Mushrooms - I used 1/2 a package of Beech Mushrooms - again, see pictures, or use whatever you have handy
1 Garlic clove
1 1-inch piece of ginger
2 teaspoons of Garam Masala - A hot Indian spice, may have been too much, will cut back to 1 next time
1 teaspoon of Tumeric
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup Quinoa (I used red/royal) - rinsed
1 1/2 cups water

Once again, I used what was convenient, that's how I cook. Feel free to adjust the ingredients or even spices. For example, omit turmeric and garam masala and replace with oregano and thyme for an Italian roast, or sub regular potatoes for sweet ones and shallots for onions, throw in some carrots, be creative. Nearly every vegetable is tasty roasted.

Preheat the oven to 400'F



Slice and Dice


Trim the sprouts by lopping off the bottom stem and tossing aside any stray, dirty or dark leaves . As always, save for stock!

Slice in half and soak in water to clean any dirt out while you prep other items.

Cut the onion into chunks large chunks and the sweet potato into small ones. Everything has a different density and you want them to all cook evenly. if you have large mushrooms, 1/2 or 1/4 them as well. I had small skinny ones that I used as is.


Finely chop the garlic and ginger, either in a food processor or with a handy chefs knife and quicker than the eye can see movements.



Mix and Roast

I usually line pans with tinfoil when roasting tender veggies. They seem to stick less, and the clean up is obviously easier. I know it can be wasteful, so it isn't a necessary step, but always recycle it if you use it.



Drain brussel sprouts and combine all veggies and spices in a large bowl with oil. Mix well to fully coat then spread on baking sheet.

Roast for about 40 minutes, mixing half way through. Keep checking that they don't burn. You can take them out whenever they are cooked to your satisfaction.

While they are roasting, cook the quinoa, just like rice but quicker. Combine the water and grains and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cover for 15-20 minutes, until the water is absorbed.

The quinoa will provide the nutrients, protein and complete amino acids that your veggie focused body needs.


Eat and Enjoy

You can mix the veggies with the quinoa, or serve them over or along side of it. Either way, you have a healthy, complete, bone warming meal for a cold, wet day.



Read and Learn

Brussel Sprouts
Quinoa


Monday, November 21, 2011

Too Much of a Good Thing

While at the local farm checking out what they still had on hand this late in the season, I found cauliflower for $2 per head. What's a girl to do but buy the biggest one she sees? And I did. Now, I have a cauliflower bigger than my own head! I wish I shot a picture of it before I chopped it up, but instead, I just showed it to everyone I could, in person. It was ridiculous.

After cleaning and chopping it for any kind of cooking, I was struck with the anxiety of what I could possibly do with all that cauliflower. I detest waste! I also love a good deal, which leaves me in these predicaments at times.


 I figured some Indian Aloo Gobi would do it (a cauliflower and sweet potato version),

With Lemongrass Jasmine rice and tasty Indian spiced pickles


Then maybe Veggie Korma.



Yet there I was, with tons of Indian leftovers and 1/2 a giant head left and a picky, All-American eater coming over for dinner. Me, a foreign-focused foodie, gluten free and vegetarian, with more cauliflower than I knew what to do with needing to be cooked, and Soon, scrambling to make something 'normal.'

Scattered about the table were a zucchini (last one from the garden and getting soft), a few other veggies, some rice paper wraps and a bit of milk in the fridge. It was all I could think of...Veggie Lasagna.

Finished Lasagna




Gluten Free Roasted Veggie Lasagna



Pretty easy, super delicious and made with yummy, stretchy rice paper, spring roll wrap thingys. A decidedly Non-Vegan recipe.

Gather

A huge head of Cauliflower (or any small one will do just fine)
1 Large Zucchini
1 Large Onion
2 Cloves of Garlic
1-2 Bell Peppers
Some Greens - Kale, Chard, Spinach
Any other veggies you feel like throwing in or substituting that might be on their last legs-
     Maybe broccali, kohlrabi, carrots, tomatoes, eggplant, brussel sprouts, mushrooms, etc
A jar of Tomato sauce (I had canned mine a few weeks earlier from garden tomatoes. I'll eventually get to a recipe for that)
About a cup of Ricotta cheese (I made this on the spot, see step Cheese)
A hunk of Mozzarella (I'll get to that one to, or you could just buy it)
An egg
A bit of milk
Fresh ground Parmesean
Olive or Grapeseed Oil
Salt and Pepper
Italian seasoning and/or Oregano, Basil, Thyme, 
6-8 pieces of rice paper


Cheese

-Milk
-Lemon juice

All I had was 1/2 a quart of milk, so that's what I used. Homemade ricotta is insanely easy. Heat some whole milk over med to med-high heat until just boiling, stirring often so it does not burn. A perfect exercise while preparing other items for this meal.

As it starts to boil add a 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and stir constantly. As soon as the curds separate from the whey, remove from heat and gently mix for a few more minutes. Drain in a few layers of cheese cloth in a strainer over a bowl for about 10 minutes. You don't want it too dry, but you can always add more milk or whey later if it is. Put it in a container and refrigerate immediately for later use.

 
Curds Separating from Whey - this persons picture

*** Save the whey! It's the liquid that is left in the bowl. It is a a gas-stopping way to soak beans, a protein packed additive to shakes or smoothies, a replacement for buttermilk in baking, a starter for lacto-fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kimchi, among a slew of other uses. I will definitely post the many uses and values of whey in the near future.***

Drained Curds - Finished Ricotta


Roast

In order not to burn the cheese or under cook the veggies, I decided to roast the latter before assembling the lasagna, starting with the hardest ones, then adding the softer ones to the pan towards the end. You could certainly steam them, but they won't have that lovely nutty, sweetness that only roasting brings out.

In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower, onion and other dense veggies (such as kohlrabi, peppers and carrots) with a couple tablespoons of oil, salt, pepper and whatever seasonings you decided on. Spread them on a high edged baking pan and roast at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.


While these are cooking, prepare any other softer veggies and toss with the same oil mixture, adding more if needed. Carefully remove the pan, after the 15 minutes, and mix in the softer veggies (garlic, mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini) in with the others. Steal a few just to "make sure" they are on the right track then return the pan to the oven at the same temp and cook for another 15 minutes, mixing once.

This is about the point that my brother walked it and demanded to have whatever it was that I was cooking. That is incredibly helpful and best for the final dish, if you happen to have a hungry and demanding brother stopping by.

More Cheese

While the veggies are in their final stages of delicious roasting, combine the Ricotta (I won't be mad if you didn't make it, but you might be), the Parmesan and egg in a small bowl. Add some milk or whey if the mixture doesn't look like this:



Slice the Mozzarella in order to be able to layer it over the vegetables and put aside.

Remove the veggies when they are done and lower the oven to 350 degrees F.



Assemble


 In a large baking dish you will now assemble the lasagna. I am preferential to Pyrex (and alliteration apparently) so that is what I usually use. You will need to wet each sheet of rice paper before layering them, under running water in the sink is fine, or in a large bowl of the same.

I use these, which I find in my local Asian market. My pot is round so it works out. There are other shapes and sizes as well, but these are the most common (and cheap at about $1-2 per pack of 30 or so, depending on the day and sale) 

I spread a layer of tomato sauce first to keep the rice paper from sticking. After wetting each sheet, allow to soften, either in your hand or on a surface that they wont stick too, be careful of that! Layer 2 rice sheets, then mixed veggies, then greens, then ricotta mixture, then mozzarella, then sauce, then 2 more sheets of rice paper, then veggies, cheese, sauce, rice paper...you get the point...until you are out of mostly everything.





Top with 2 sheets of rice paper, a bit of sauce and some mozzarella, or whatever cheese you have left, cover and stick in the oven, which should be at 350F, for about 40 minutes. You really just want the cheese to melt and the minimal egg in there to cook. You can even take off the cover for a bit so that the top browns.

Take it out and let it cool before you cut it.  It will save your mouth and retain its shape better, trust me on both counts.




This was my final product. Sorry for the fuzzy picture, but I was obviously in a hurry to dig in! 


Have fun! 
Be creative! 
Enjoy your food and the process of it.






A Winter Pesto

As I look for a healthy snack, something quick, easy and flavorful, I wander to my freezer for an all time, garlicky favorite, Kale Pesto.

Kale is a hardy winter green and one of the healthiest vegetables you can eat, full of vitamins, nutrients and flavor.
"One cup of kale contains 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and 15% of the daily requirement of calcium and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), 40% of magnesium, 180% of vitamin A, 200% of vitamin C, and 1,020% of vitamin K. It is also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus." - WebMD.com/Kale
Hard to argue with that! It is a superfood for sure, cancer fighting, cholesterol reducing, blood cleansing, etc, etc. But not everyone loves the taste, or even mildly tough texture of kale on its own. Remedies to this are to steam it briefly then add it to soup, lasagna, stir-fries, omelets or dips, or absolutely anywhere else you can sneak it in. 

I make this easy pesto not to hide the flavor of kale, but more as an excuse to eat raw garlic. 


Kale Walnut Pesto


   Gather

It's almost too pretty to eat
So few ingredients, so much pesto!

    1 bunch of kale
    5 cloves of garlic 
(more or less to taste, I Always use more, to the detriment of my 
    loved ones, or anyone I speak to that day)
    1/2 Cup walnuts
    Juice of 1 lemon
    Olive or grapeseed oil 
   1 hunk of Parmesan or Pecorino Romano, or other favorite hard cheese, grated (omit and add more nuts for Vegan)
    Food Processor


Wash and Chop


Be sure to rinse your kale thoroughly, as dirt and sand loves to hide in those curly crevices. I rinse the leaves first, then de-stem and chop them, then rinse again in a colander.

 My Process for de-stemming is simple. I grip the outer stem at the bottom with 2 fingers and slide them up, taking the leaf off with me. I used to cut way the leafs but that was messy and wasteful. This seems to be the fastest way, as long as it is healthy kale with strong stems.

Be sure to save the stems in a bag in the freezer to make free veggie stock, or add to meat stocks.
 
Finely chop the walnuts and garlic in the food processor, in that order. Simply add one to the other.

Steam, Process, Repeat

For a quick steam to soften the kale, boil about an inch of water in a Large pot. If your pot is too small, the kale may fit, but it will not cook evenly, in which case, you can just cook it in batches.  Steam it in the boiling water, with a quick flip or stir after a minute so it doesn't get soggy. If you have a steamer basket, simply steam it in that for a few minutes, until it turns a very bright green. Don't over cook.

If you have a big enough processor, you can add  kale to the garlic/nut mixture now, a bit at a time until it is all in there, slowly adding oil and lemon juice for taste and consistency while processing. Finish with cheese, if using and give a good final blend.


I have a small one, so I make it in batches. I remove about 1/2 of the nut/garlic mixture to a separate bowl. I then add a solid handful of the washed and steamed kale, a bit of oil, lemon juice and cheese and process well. I then remove most and add some garlic/nut mix and repeat the process. I do this until I have achieved the texture and taste I want, adding back the already mixed batch, combining and tasting the whole time. It is more of an experiment than a science, every time. And I end up eating about 1/4 of it in the process. 

It freezes well and defrosts quickly, if it makes it to a container! I use it on rice cracker, veggies, omelets and a spoon. Try it for a different and colorful h'orderve or to liven up some fish.



 Pesto on Garden Tomatos
Pesto Pizza on GF Wrap with Provolone









  







Read:

Kale, in all its glory.



Some other ways I enjoy kale:

Steamed Kale with Grape Tomatoes and Tilapi with Chili-Lime-Butter

Kale "Saag" Paneer (homemade paneer)


A Winter Pesto on Punk Domestics

Kimchi in the Kitchen

So I'll start where I stand. In my kitchen with a big pink bowl of stinky cabbage.


Freshly packed Kimchi
Fermenting is something that has intrigued me for a little while now. Whether it is my affinity for Asian food, attraction to all things traditional, desire to save money or simply the need to use up the vast amount of whey building up in my fridge as a by-product of my yogurt making, I felt the need to make Korean Kimchi.

There are also the always helpful and much desired probiotic enzymes, wonderfully useful bacterial and the delicious sour, salty, incomparable taste.

To compare the price, a pint of good quality. fresh kimchi runs anywhere from $5-10 per pint. I ended up with 2.5 quarts for the cost of a head of cabbage and a daikon radish (about $3). I'm a sucker for saving money while eliminating unknown variables from my food.

So, I made Kimchi! After a quick trip to the H-Mart (local Asian supermarket) I proceeded to peek the interest of those around me with the interesting veggie combination and pungent spices so unfamiliar. A bit of soaking, pounding, mixing and waiting later, I have a delicious, healthy, smelly snack or meal!

Kimchi / Kim Chee


(What I did over my three day process, based on a few recipes, adapted originally from Instructables - Kimchi)

Gather:

1 large and 1 small Non-Reactive Bowl, preferably glass, plastic or ceramic. Aluminum or copper will react with the salt and vinegar byproduct.

3 or 4 Containers with nonreactive lids. I used a few quart sized mason jars with plastic lids and a recycled store bought Kimchi jar.

1 head Napa Cabbage
1 Daikon Radish
2 Carrots
1 bunch scallions
8 garlic cloves
A 4 inch piece of ginger, peeled
2-3 Tablespoons of Korean Chili Powder
1 Tablespoon Fish Sauce (I used Thai anchovy sauce) *
1/4 Cup Whey **
Brine: 1 Tbsp sea salt or kosher salt per 1 cup of warm water (to cover veggies)


Keep in mind that the veggies are completely interchangeable and optional. You can also use other types of cabbage and radish, add seaweed, onions, peppers, beets, other root vegetables, etc. Its up to you and your taste buds. 

*Omit to make Vegan Kimchi, or use a different variety. It does make the smell more pungent and add some salt. You could also replace with Hondashi, Japanese bonito fish soup base. Its up to you.

**I use my whey that I get as a byproduct of making Greek yogurt, which I'll get into next time I make it.
If you don't have any, you can simply strain some plain yogurt (With Live and Active cultures) through cheese cloth for a few hours. The liquid that drains is the whey. Use the thickened yogurt in place of cream cheese or with berries as a snack or dessert.
Alternatively, if you don't have whey, add a tablespoon of salt to the spice mix to start fermentation.

Chop and Soak

Chop the veggies that you are including. I used a mandolin to slice my rainbow carrots thinly and make large matchsticks of the radish. However you slice it, make sure everything is small enough to ferment all the way through and large enough to not make mush. Some people just shred everything, I prefer not to.

Clean the cabbage leaves and slice them as well. I stacked and sliced them into large chunks.

To make the brine, dissolve a mixture of about 1 Tablespoon of sea or kosher salt to 1 cup of warm water, enough to completely cover the veggies. I needed about 8 cups and rested a plate on top to keep everything submerged.

Soak for a few hours, until the leaves are wilty, or even overnight. This will help kill bad bacterial, soften the veggies and help start the fermentation.





 Mix Spices

Finely chop garlic, ginger and scallions (and/or onions if using). I use a food processor for this. Mix in a bowl with the chili powder, fish sauce and whey to make a spice paste. It may not look like enough, but it will be.

Keep in mind something I learned. How spicy it tastes before fermenting is NOT how spicy the finished product will be. It will get Hotter as it sits and mixes with the vinegar, ginger and garlic. Start with less chili, it's easier to add heat later than take it away.

(I forgot to take a picture of this step, I'll remedy that next time I make it)

Drain and Combine

Drain the brine, but reserve for later. Rinse veggies if they are too salty for your taste, but it is not necessary. In the same large bowl, combine the spice mix with veggies and mix well.

After or while mixing, pound the mixture to soften veggies even more and release some of their natural juices. I used the clean, bottom of a jar that i would be packing in for this. Feel free to use anything handy, including your hands. It's fun.

If you have any leftover juice from another batch of Kimchi, store bought or homemade, feel free to throw it in now.

Pack and Wait

It's time to Ferment! You can do this in a number of ways. Traditionally, the Kimchi is prepared in clay pots, covered with a few reserved cabbage leaves and buried or put on the porch. Some leave it in the bowl covered on the kitchen counter.

Since I have neither an appropriate chamber to bury nor a family with tolerant noses, I opted for packing in individual mason jars.

***Quick note- after a few more batches (for myself, friends and family) I have come to realize that it is much easier to do it the more traditional way. Pound the kimchi in the bowl the cover with reserved cabbage leaves to protect from mold. I then covered the bowl tightly with a dish cloth and let sit about 3 days. When it was done, I packed it in jars and refrigerated. This worked much better and I think My family has gotten used to the smell.***

*Very Important!!! No matter how you keep your Kimchi, keep the air off of it!  It will get moldy, possibly grow bad bacterial and be inedible.*

To prevent this, I pounded the cabbage a bit more once in the jars and used a plastic chopstick to remove any air bubbles I saw. I also added a bit of the brine to cover any exposed vegetables. Another lesson I learned from practice, do not over fill your jars. Leave at least an inch or two of space from the rim. While fermenting, the vegetables will expand and release CO2, which will raise the level and spill the liquid (which trust me, no one in your house will like, including you). As an extra safety precaution, maybe place the jars onto a high lipped plate or pan, just in case.

Covered Kimchi in Jars - 2 days in (and outside due to the smell)

You will also need to cover them. The best way I've found so far is to put small plastic bags in the jars then nearly fill with water until they take up all the remaining space. You can rest the lid on top but do not close as they could explode.

All that's left now is to wait. Put the jars in a place where the temperature is steadily around 70F/21C. Not a cold basement or refrigerator. Let sit and ferment for 2-3 days at this temperature in a place where the smell wont offend too many people. Some opt for the garage, which is fine if the temp is steady.

You should see air bubbles form and the smell should get stronger. This means it is fermenting properly. Feel free to taste as you go and put it in the fridge when you are ready. It will continue to  ferment but at a much slower rate, and even grow some different, cold loving bacteria.


If you have eaten Kimchi, you know the smell. If it seems moldy, bad or overly offensive, toss it! Don't take a chance. Botulism won't grow because of the natural vinegar produced and CO2, but other things could have gotten in there and fouled it. As with any living food, be cautious and eat at your own risk. I have never had a problem, nor heard of one, but I must still make this statement.


Enjoy

The longer it sits, the better it gets, but dig in as soon as you want. My first serving was two and a half days later. I couldn't wait. I will pick at it daily and finish it before I know it. Then I'll just have to make more and add a few pictures to this.


Fresh Kimchi over Rice Porridge

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Learn more about Kimchi, one of the worlds healthiest foods:
Kimchi in the Kitchen on Punk Domestics