17 great ways to add a kick with kimchi

Kimchi's tangy, spicy flavour is a fantastic addition to a wide range of recipes, from traditional Korean pancakes to kimcheese toasties, pizza and spicy dumplings.

Credit: Jiwon Kim

A delicious fermented condiment and a symbol of togetherness, kimchi is a much-loved traditional Korean food. It's often made with cabbage or radish, but there are many variations.

It's fantastic served up as an accompaniment to other dishes, but it can also add kick and colour as an ingredient. Try some of these recipes that make use of kimchi as an ingredient.

Kimchi pancake (kimchi jeon)

Let's start with a classic! This Korean favourite is often eaten as a snack or a side dish, although you can add vegetables, meat or seafood to make it heartier. This recipe shown below uses purchased pancake mix, but if you'd like to make the batter from scratch, try this recipe for kimchi pancakes with pork belly.

As with most Korean recipes, you can tweak Kim Chi pancakes to your own tastes with the addition of other vegetables, meat or seafood. Credit: Alan Benson

Kimcheese toastie

Korea’s love affair with cheese and spicy, fermented cabbage are united in one humble toastie! Filled with seasoned kimchi, fresh cabbage and baby spinach, this is one satisfying sandwich from chef Chung Jae Lee.

Credit: Jiwon Kim

Pepperoni and kimchi pizza

This inventive fusion pizza from Adam Liaw tops homemade pizza dough with a kimchi and tomato pizza sauce, pepperoni and mozzarella, for a tasty Italian-ish take on Korea's love of pairing kimchi and cheese.

Credit: Jiwon Kim

Roasted cauliflower with burnt orange and kimchi cream

Here, a kimchi, tofu and orange cream forms the perfect partner to roasted cauliflower.

Roasted cauliflower with burnt orange and kimchi cream. Credit: Freshly Picked with Simon Toohey

Sesame tofu, zucchini and kimchi stir-fry

Ready in 25 minutes, this makes a great vegetarian dinner for two, with tofu, edmame and other veg given flavour and colour from kimchi and kochugaru (a Korean chilli powder).

Korean sesame tofu, zucchini and kimchi stir-fry. Credit: Benito Martin

Basic kimchi stew (kimchi jjigae)

If you've made a batch of cabbage kimchi and it's been maturing for a few months, then it's a perfect time to make kimchi stew, says Billy Law, who shares this recipe for an easy, flavour-packed tofu and kimchi pot.

Credit: Billy Law

Kimchi bloody mary

Got leftover kimchi brine? Use it to add tang to a classic cocktail!

Credit: Tammi Kwok

Cheesy kimchi linguini with gochujang butter

A good-quality kimchi is paramount to the flavour of the dish from Lara Lee, anchoring the sour funk that is so vital to the flavour. Cooked pasta is tossed with a kimchi, butter, gochujang, soy sauce and garlic sauce, then served with fried eggs, crispy seaweed and parmesan.

Credit: Jiwon Kim

Kimchi noodle pancake (kimchi buchimgae)

Whip up an easy meal full of flavour, or serve as part of a spread: the pancake includes noodles, kimchi, gochujang, garlic, sesame seeds and egg, and is served with a honey, rice vinegar, soy sauce and sesame oil dipping sauce.

Kimchi mandu

The addition of kimchi to these pork mandu (Korean dumplings) makes them deliciously spicy. Mandu are usually served with a soy and vinegar dipping sauce and gochujang, a hot red pepper condiment which lends an extra kick.

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Kimchi fried rice

"If you’re like me and always keep a tub of kimchi in the fridge, this is one of those weeknight dishes that’s perfect when there isn’t much else around," says Adam Liaw. "You’d be surprised how tasty and satisfying a bowl of this economical fried rice can be."

Credit: (Adam Liaw)

Mozzarella and kimchi frypan bread

It's that cheese and kimchi combination again, this time as the filling for frypan-cooked stuffed flatbreads.

Credit: Tammi Kwok

Kimchi pancake with goat's cheese and cucumber

Cool cucumber ribbons and creamy goat's cheese make a great combination with a kimchi pancake in this recipe from Adam Liaw.

Credit: Adam Liaw

Kimchi arancini

Dan Hong uses a kimchi-miso filling in his version of these Italian rice balls.

The joys of arancini. Source: SBS / SBS Food

Galbi smash double cheeseburger with kimchi special sauce

Coating the burger patties in the sweet-savoury sauce usually used in galbi, a classic Korean barbecue rib dish, before cooking is is the secret to these juicy burgers, along with a dollop of kimchi 'special sauce', made with kimchi, mustard, mayo and ketchup.

Credit: All Up In My Grill

One-pan kimchi cheese dip

New movie night snack fave: kimchi with cooked onion, garlic, mayo, gochujang and soy sauce is topped with grated cheese and heated till wonderfully melted and gooey. Dig in with bread toasts or corn chips!

Source: SBS / SBS Food

Kimchi hot dogs

This hot dog idea combines a Korean kimchi salsa, grated cheese and spicy Sriracha for a delicious mix of flavours.

Kimchi hot dogs Credit: Richo's Bar Snacks