Nabak Kimchi (Water Kimchi) Recipe

Nabak Kimchi (Water Kimchi) Recipe

  • 1/2 napa cabbage, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Korean red pepper powder
  • 5 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon sweet rice flour (glutinous rice flour)
  • 1/2 yellow onion, cut into chunks
  • 1/2 Asian pear – peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
  • 3 green onions, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 6 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 3 slices fresh ginger
  • 1 (1 gram) packet granular sucralose sweetener (such as Splenda®)
  1. Place cabbage in a large bowl; sprinkle salt and red pepper powder on top. Toss well and let stand until cabbage looks wilted, about 1 hour.
  2. Bring water and rice flour to a boil in a large pot. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool, 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. Combine onion, Asian pear, and green onions in a half-gallon jar. Add wilted cabbage, garlic, ginger, and sweetener. Pour water mixture on top. Seal jar and keep at room temperature to ferment for 1 to 2 days. Place in the refrigerator.