Easy Ways To Pair Kimchi and Grilled Cheese

Kimchi and grilled cheese sandwiches are a match made in heaven. You can add kimchi to your grilled cheese for a quick flavor boost, but if you've got a few extra minutes there are several ways to add even more flavor. In this post, I'm going to walk you through 3 super quick and easy recipes for new ways to pair kimchi with your grilled cheese sandwiches.

About the Recipe

Don't you hate it when recipes start with someone's entire life story... yeah me too. I'm never gonna do that. This food is good. You will probably like it.

Kimchi Jam

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp butter

• ¼ to ½ cup kimchi, roughly chopped

• 2 tbsp sugar

Instructions:

1. Melt butter in a small pan over medium heat.

2. Add kimchi and sugar to the pan.

3. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.

4. Add the jam to your grilled cheese recipes and enjoy.

Kimchi Pancake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup kimchi, chopped

• ⅓ cup all-purpose flour (add more if needed for consistency)

• Salt, to taste

• MSG, to taste (optional)

• Vegetable oil, for frying

Instructions:

1. Chop up the kimchi and add it to a mixing bowl with flour. Mix until combined and a doughy mixture begins to form.

2. If the mixture is very watery, add more flour, and if it’s very thick, add some water to thin it out. The final consistency should be similar to wet mashed potatoes.

3. Add salt and MSG to taste.

4. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and add a generous amount of vegetable oil to thinly cover the bottom of the pan.

5. Add in the batter and spread it to ensure it creates one even layer without any holes.

6. Fry for 2-4 minutes or until browned. Flip the pancake and cook for another 2-4 minutes or until browned.

7. If making a grilled cheese using kimchi pancakes, chop the kimchi finely to strengthen the pancake, and make two pancakes.

Kimchi Stew

Ingredients:

• ¼ lb pork belly, cut into ½-inch chunks

• ¼ yellow onion, cut into large chunks

• 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped

• 1 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tbsp gochujang (Korean red chili paste)

• ½ cup kimchi, chopped (plus additional whole pieces, optional)

• ½ tsp toasted sesame oil

• 3 cups water

• ⅓ block tofu, cut into 6 squares (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cut the pork belly into chunks and cook in a pot over medium-high heat until both sides are golden brown.

2. While the pork cooks, cut the onion into large chunks and roughly chop the garlic.

3. Once the pork is browned, keep it in the pot and add soy sauce and gochujang. Mix well and cook for 1 more minute.

4. Add chopped kimchi, onion, and garlic. Stir well and cook for 2 more minutes.

5. Optionally, add more un-chopped kimchi for texture.

6. Add toasted sesame oil and water.

7. Optionally, add tofu. Bring the stew to a boil, then it’s ready to eat.

8. Serve with a bowl of rice and, of course, a grilled cheese sandwich.