5 Different Ways to Use Kimchi

Now that we have come to appreciate the importance of gut health, so many of us want to focus on improving it. It helps to have a little guidance on how to put that into practice. Kimchi is a great way to add in some gut-healthy probiotics, and it’s actually quite versatile. In this post I’m sharing 5 different ways to use kimchi.

Getting inspired to be in the kitchen can be really motivating, especially when you’re trying to make healthy changes. If you want to practical tips on improving your gut health, keep reading to find out how you can include probiotic-rich kimchi at any time of day.

What is Kimchi?

Kimchi is a Korean staple made from salted and fermented cabbage. Typical additions include gochugaru (Korean red pepper), ginger, garlic, scallions, and Korean radishes. The fermentation process provides kimchi with amazing gut-supportive benefits. It is high in probiotics, and therefore supports the health of the gastrointestinal system.

The health of our immune system, the nervous system, the immune system and more relies on the health of our gastrointestinal system. Without proper gut health, we are impaired in absorbing nutrients and deriving from food all that we need to. That’s why it’s a great idea to start including probiotic-rich foods like kimchi.

When purchasing, be sure to buy kimchi that needs to be refrigerated. This will be the fresh, high probiotic, and better quality stuff. Find it at your local Asian market, grocer, or health food store.

5 Different Ways to Use Kimchi

Serve it for Breakfast with Eggs

Eggs are a nutritional powerhouse, but lets face it, sometimes they can be a little bland. Adding kimchi provides a kick without having to put in too much effort. If you’re plant-based, try making a tofu scramble and adding kimchi. In both cases, you don’t want to cook the kimchi, as this can compromise the probiotic content. Just add it on when you are ready to serve. You’ll be setting up yourself up for a gut-healthy day.

Add it to Any Salad

The older I get the more I realize how amazing salads really are – I mean, it’s just a bowl of (usually cold) stuff you like all mixed together. Adding kimchi is easy, and with any asian inspired salad it will fit right in. Try it with my Edamame and Greens Salad, or just add it to some lettuce, cucumber, protein and be done with it!

Enhance your Bowl of Soup

Kimchi has a powerful flavour that can bring out the best in any soup. Just a reminder: you don’t want to boil the kimchi with your soup, but just add it right before serving. Cooking the kimchi on high heat can reduce the probiotic content.

Add it to a Charcuterie Board or Snack Platter

Abundance Platters and Charcuterie Boards have quickly become a favourite way to feed guests, probably because they are so easy and versatile to put together. But I know sometimes, it’s easy to get to snacking and overdo it. Adding kimchi will help support your guts ability to break down and process what’s been eaten. Consider adding a bit to your next party platter – even if it’s a party for one.

Top it on your Tacos

I love Tex-Mex tacos as much as the next person, but sometimes it’s nice to switch it up. Asian style tacos with a soft tortilla or lettuce base are a great vessel for pretty much anything you can imagine. Add in Korean beef, Sweet Garlic Soy Tofu, shredded carrots, cucumber, rice, or anything else you can imagine. Top with kimchi, and you’ve got something pretty magnificent for a meal.

Now you have quite a few good ideas of how to use kimchi, and I hope you will take them and run. Starting in your gut is a great way to begin improving your health overall, and adding kimchi into your food routine gives you an easy way to accomplish that.

Have you tried kimchi? Would you use it in any of the ways I’ve suggested?