I started the year with the good intentions of eating more fermented vegetables but was somewhat astounded when a small half litre of home made cabbage kimchi in my local shop cost a small fortune. So now I am making it for myself most of the time. This version is from ” The Artisan Kitchen” by James Strawbridge.
To make the best kimchi spread the salt over the greatest surface area to increase osmosis: massage thoroughly and get it right into any crevices.The parchment keeps ingredients submerged to maintain an anaerobic environment. A plastic bag filled with air is a good alternative .Look out for small bubbles of carbon dioxide, a sign that fermentation is in full swing. If the process is slow to get going, try moving the jar to a warmer spot.
- 500 g rainbow chard roughly shredded and stalks chopped into large chunks
- bunch of dill finely chopped
- 2 fat garlic cloves sliced
- 5 cm knob of ginger peeled and finely chopped
- 1or 2 red birds eye chillies finely chopped
- fine sea salt
- Prepare enough chard to fill the preserving jar almost to the top, tightly packed in. Test the fit and weigh the chard. Prepare the dill, garlic, ginger, and chilli but keep separate; weigh these as well, then set aside.
- Measure out 2–3 per cent of the total weight in salt.Place the chard in a large bowl and sprinkle over the salt. Massage the salt into the chard, until it begins to release beads of water and starts to soften. Leave for a couple of hours to let osmosis take effect.
- Place the salted chard and any juices into a 1 litre jar, scattering over the herbs and spices with each handful.Pack in the vegetables tightly, pressing them down as you go and eliminating air pockets between layers.
- Use a pestle or the end of a rolling pin to tamp down the ingredients.
- Top up the jar with water, if needed, so that the vegetables are submerged. Cut a disc of baking parchment large enough to cover the contents of the jar, with some excess.
- Place the disc over the vegetables, pressing it down and into the edges to ensure the surface is completely covered.
- Seal the jar and date and label the contents. Leave to ferment at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, for 1–2 weeks.
- Taste regularly after 1 week, until the preferred degree of sourness is reached, then transfer to the fridge, where it will keep for several months.