Stir-fried Aged Kimchi with Perilla Oil
A True Rice Thief! Savory Stir-fried Aged Kimchi with Perilla Oil
Aged kimchi (mukimchi) is delicious no matter how you cook it, but today we’re sharing a recipe for ‘Stir-fried Aged Kimchi with Perilla Oil’ that brings out its deep, fermented flavors. It’s one of my son’s favorite side dishes, and he proudly says it tastes even better because he made it himself! This simple yet deeply flavorful dish is sure to revive your appetite.
Ingredients
- 1.5 portions of aged kimchi (adjust to size)
- 1 stalk of green onion
- 3 Tbsp perilla oil
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Rinse the aged kimchi thoroughly under cold running water several times to remove the red pepper flakes and excess salt from the surface. If your aged kimchi is particularly sour or salty, soaking it briefly in rice water before rinsing can make it softer.
Step 2
Once the kimchi is clean, squeeze out as much water as possible by hand. Then, cut it into bite-sized pieces (about 2-3 cm wide). Cutting it too small might cause it to break apart too much when stir-frying, so aim for a moderate size.
Step 3
Heat a pan and add a generous amount of perilla oil. Add the chopped green onions and stir-fry over medium-low heat to slowly release their fragrance and create ‘green onion oil’. Stir-frying the green onions until they are lightly browned and release a sweet aroma will add a deeper flavor to the dish.
Step 4
Once the green onion oil is fragrant, add the cut aged kimchi and continue to stir-fry over medium-low heat. Cover the pan and let it simmer gently for about 15-20 minutes, or until the kimchi becomes very soft and tender. It’s important to stir occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Step 5
When the aged kimchi is tender, add the soy sauce, sugar, and a generous amount of sesame seeds. Stir-fry for another 1-2 minutes until well combined. We’ve added plenty of sesame seeds for a rich, nutty flavor – it looks like a field of sesame seeds!
Step 6
Finally, drizzle in 1 teaspoon of sesame oil and mix everything well one last time to combine. Your delicious stir-fried aged kimchi with perilla oil is now complete.
Step 7
Serve this soft and flavorful stir-fried aged kimchi with perilla oil over a bowl of warm rice. It’s a guaranteed ‘rice thief’ that will make even the most reluctant eaters enjoy their meal!
