Kimchi Risotto Recipe (2024)

1

Begin by making the kimchi, as this needs to ferment for at least 7 days (if you're using shop-bought kimchi, you can skip this step). Chop the cabbage into roughly 2cm strips and submerge in the water with the salt for 2 hours. After 2 hours, drain and rinse twice in cold water. Leave for at least one more hour to fully drain (it needs to be as dry as possible before adding the chilli paste)

  • 500g of Chinese cabbage
  • 90g of fine salt
  • 1l water

2

To make the paste for the kimchi, use a microplane to grate the onion and pear into a paste. Finely chop the salted shrimp, garlic and ginger and mix with the paste then add the gochugaru and fish sauce. Taste and season with salt or more fish sauce if needed. Leave at room temperature for at least one hour before mixing with the cabbage

  • 25g of onion
  • 25g of pears
  • 10g of salted shrimp, ideally sae woo jeut, easily found in Asian and Korean supermarkets
  • 15g of garlic
  • 4g of fresh ginger
  • 30g of gochugaru, (Korean chilli flakes)
  • 25g of fish sauce, ideally Korean fish sauce

3

Once the cabbage and paste are ready, mix together and pack tightly into a sterilised jar. Push the cabbage down so that it is fully submerged under the fermenting liquid and weigh it down with a stone. Close the lid and leave to ferment for a minimum of 7 days but anywhere up to 6 months, opening the jar every few days to release the gases and prevent the jar from exploding. The longer you leave it to ferment, the stronger and more pungent the flavour will be. You ideally want a strong-tasting kimchi for this dish. Store in the fridge once you’re happy with the flavour

4

To prepare the crispy nori, wet the sheet of rice paper and stick it to the nori. Leave to dry out completely, then cut into portions. Place a pan of vegetable oil over a medium heat and once hot, deep-fry until crisp (1-2 minutes). Drain on kitchen paper and season with salt

  • 1 rice paper sheet
  • 1 nori sheet
  • vegetable oil, for deep-frying
  • salt

5

To make the risotto, heat the chicken stock until simmering. Place a separate pan over a medium heat and add 45g of the butter and the oil. Add the onion and cook for a few minutes until translucent. Add the rice and toast for a minute

  • 2l chicken stock
  • 45g of butter
  • 20g of vegetable oil
  • 1/2 onion, finely diced
  • 200g of risotto rice

6

Add a couple of ladles of warm stock and stir well. Let the rice keep gently bubbling and stir it continuously, adding more stock a ladle at a time as the rice absorbs it and gets thicker. You need to keep it at the consistency of thick soup for about 12 minutes. After this time, keep stirring, adding a small amount of stock if needed, until the rice is cooked to your preference. This usually takes around 18 minutes in total

7

In the meantime, weigh out 200g of the kimchi and strain it well, reserving the liquid. Chop the kimchi up and place almost all of it in a pan with a pinch of sugar to heat through and mellow the flavour a little (reserve the rest for garnishing)

  • 1 pinch of sugar

8

When the rice is ready, stir in the kimchi along with the fermenting liquid. Remove from the heat and beat in the remaining butter and cheese, then season to taste with salt and pepper and cover and leave to rest for a few minutes whilst you poach your eggs

  • 15g of butter
  • 60g of cheddar, (mild cheddar works best), finely grated
  • 40g of Parmesan, finely grated
  • sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper

9

To poach the eggs, place a wide saucepan on the hob filled with boiled water from the kettle. Bring to a gentle simmer and then stir to create whirlpool. Crack your eggs into the pan swiftly. The motion of the water should help them spin and form. Set the timer for 2 minutes, then swiftly hoist them back out and place on a tray lined with kitchen paper to soak up any excess water

  • 4 eggs

10

Divide the risotto between 4 bowls and top each with the reserved kimchi, an egg and some crispy seaweed. Sprinkle over some spring onions and sesame seeds, drizzle with sesame oil and serve warm

  • 2 spring onions, finely sliced
  • toasted sesame seeds
  • sesame oil
Kimchi Risotto Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient in risotto? ›

Use Salted Water Instead of Broth in Risotto

It's an ingenious tip on many levels.

What is the secret to a good risotto? ›

Always use warm stock.

Warming the broth before adding it to the warm rice coaxes more starch out of each grain of rice and helps prevent it from overcooking. Cool broth takes longer to warm up in the risotto pan and may shock the grain into holding onto its starches while the rice itself continues to cook.

What rice not to use for risotto? ›

​For making risotto, avoid any long-grain rice varieties. They are less starchy and are not going to achieve a creamy texture. Basmati, Jasmine, Wild Rice, Sushi Rice, Brown Rice, Wild Rice, and Parboiled Rice are not suitable for making the risotto.

Should you rinse arborio rice before making risotto? ›

Due to the starches in risotto and paella, washing the rice would ruin the dish as starch is a big component of its success. "If you are cooking risotto or paella, you should not wash the rice because the washed rice draws out more starch and coats the surface of the rice's surface," says Chef Hamaya.

Why do you put butter in risotto? ›

La mantecatura is everyone's favorite stage because you add more flavor and creaminess to the risotto though the addition of butter, cheese or oil. Grab your rested risotto and cold butter or cheese, gently stirring until melted and evenly distributed.

Is risotto healthy? ›

Risotto contains carbohydrates, which are necessary to fuel the body. But, some recipes are high in saturated fat because of the cheese and butter that is used to prepare the dish. Risotto can also be high in sodium. Adding vegetables and a lean protein helps give risotto a more balanced nutritional profile.

Which is better, arborio or carnaroli? ›

Arborio is wider and longer, and not quite as starchy as the other two varieties. This makes for a slightly thicker, softer risotto. Its widespread availability makes it the go-to variety. Carnaroli, known as the “king” or “caviar” of risotto rice, is said to produce the creamiest risotto.

Is Basmati rice OK for risotto? ›

The only rice to really avoid is long-grain, like basmati or jasmine, as it doesn't have enough starch content to get achieve risotto's signature creaminess.

Why is risotto called the death dish? ›

But after a number of risotto missteps by contestants – such as a savoury strawberry risotto in season one and a number of other risottos that failed dismally – I dubbed risotto the show's “death dish”. It was a name that stuck, as it claimed a number of promising cooks both on MasterChef and My Kitchen Rules.

How do Italians eat risotto? ›

Obviously there is not written rule, as in most cases concerning customs or "good manners": however, according to the Italian Academy of Galateo, a correct way to eat risotto exists. In fact, according to the opinion of these experts, risotto should only be eaten with a fork.

How do restaurants get risotto so fast? ›

In his post, López-Alt writes that the speediness of restaurant risotto boils down to the fact that chefs “par-cook it to around 75 per cent done then cool it rapidly by spreading it in a thin layer on a sheet tray and refrigerating it”.

What to add to risotto to make it taste better? ›

A sprinkle of parsley, Parmesan, salt, and pepper adds the finishing touch. From intimate gatherings to lavish dinner parties, this savory dish promises to soothe, satisfy, and impress at the same time!

What makes risotto so special? ›

A hint of wine is often added after the rice to deglaze the pan, but the real star of risotto is the broth. While constantly stirring the rice, warm broth is added in, one ladle-full at a time. Over time, the rice absorbs the broth, releases its starches, softens, and creates that signature velvety texture.

What is the main ingredient of risotto? ›

In addition to rice as the main ingredient, classic risotto also contains a small amount of onion or shallot sautéed in butter, dry white wine, hot stock, vegetables or mushrooms, and different aromatics.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dean Jakubowski Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6760

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dean Jakubowski Ret

Birthday: 1996-05-10

Address: Apt. 425 4346 Santiago Islands, Shariside, AK 38830-1874

Phone: +96313309894162

Job: Legacy Sales Designer

Hobby: Baseball, Wood carving, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Lacemaking, Parkour, Drawing

Introduction: My name is Dean Jakubowski Ret, I am a enthusiastic, friendly, homely, handsome, zealous, brainy, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.