Fragrant Perilla Leaf Kimchi: An Easy Recipe
Fragrant Perilla Leaf Kimchi: An Easy Recipe
A Seasonal Delicacy! How to Make Delicious Perilla Leaf Kimchi
Aromatic perilla leaves are delightful any time of year, but they become a unique delicacy when made into kimchi! Today, I’ll show you how to make delicious perilla leaf kimchi in a flash, without any complicated steps. This kimchi is a real flavor enhancer when you don’t have much appetite – let’s get started!
Seasoning Ingredients- 2.5 Tbsp red pepper flakes (gochugaru)
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 cup fish sauce (anchovy sauce)
- 5 Tbsp plum syrup (maesilcheong)
- 1/2 cup glutinous rice paste (chapssalpul)
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Garnish Ingredients- 1/2 carrot
- 1 small onion
- 1 red chili pepper
- 5 stalks of green onions (scallions)
- 2 green chili peppers
- 1/2 carrot
- 1 small onion
- 1 red chili pepper
- 5 stalks of green onions (scallions)
- 2 green chili peppers
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, rinse the perilla leaves thoroughly under running water. Gently wash them to avoid bruising, then spread them out in a colander or basket, ensuring they don’t overlap. Allow them to drain well; this is crucial to prevent the kimchi from becoming watery or bland.
Step 2
Now, let’s prepare the delicious seasoning. Finely chop all the vegetables except for the carrot (onion, red chili pepper, green onions, green chili peppers). For the carrot, julienne it into thin strips for a pleasant texture.
Step 3
In a large bowl, combine the glutinous rice paste, red pepper flakes, minced garlic, fish sauce, plum syrup, and toasted sesame seeds. Mix well to create the seasoning paste. Add the julienned carrots and the finely chopped vegetables to the bowl and mix everything together. Double-check that the perilla leaves are completely dry before proceeding to coat them with the seasoning.
Step 4
Once the seasoning is well combined, it’s time to coat the perilla leaves. Place one perilla leaf in a wide bowl, and spoon a pinch of the seasoning mixture onto it. Spread the seasoning evenly across the surface of the leaf. It’s best to taste after seasoning one leaf and adjust the seasoning accordingly. If it’s too bland, add a little more fish sauce; if it’s too salty, apply a thinner layer of seasoning. Stack the leaves, layering about 10 leaves at a time in a zigzag pattern, and place them neatly into a container. Perilla leaves wilt quickly once seasoned, so it’s advisable to use a container that is not too large.
Step 5
After filling the container with the seasoned perilla leaves, cover it with a lid and microwave for about 1 minute and 30 seconds. This will result in a delicious steamed perilla leaf kimchi. The fragrant perilla combined with the savory seasoning is perfect with rice! If you prefer a milder flavor or texture, you can reduce the microwaving time to about 1 minute for a slightly cooked version, which is also very delicious.
