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4.6 from 369 votes

Yangbaechu Kimchi (Green Cabbage Kimchi)

Need some quick kimchi? Or can’t find napa cabbage where you are? Try this kimchi recipe made with a head of your normal green cabbage. It’s light, crunchy, and refreshing!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Salting
1 hr
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 24
Course: Side Dish , Others
Cuisine: Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 1 head green cabbage, 양배추 (about 2.5 pounds)
  • 4 tablespoons coarse sea salt less if using table salt, about 3 tablespoons)
  • 3 scallions roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup Korean red chili pepper flakes, gochugaru (고추가루) (add 1 more tablespoon for spicier kimchi)
  • 3 tablespoons salted shrimp, saeujeot (새우젓) finely chopped, (or fish sauce)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic 
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Remove tough outer leaves of the cabbage if any. Cut the cabbage head into quarters and remove the core from each quarter. Cut each quarter into bite-sized pieces (about 2-inch squares). Rinse the cabbage and drain.
  2. Place the cabbage in a large bowl. Dissolve the salt in 2 cups of water, and toss well to coat evenly. Leave it for an hour or 2 until the cabbages have softened, flipping over once or twice halfway through or every 30 minutes. Rinse the salted cabbage once, and drain to remove excess water.
  3. Mix the chili pepper flakes (gochugaru), saeujeot, sugar, garlic, and ginger with 1/2 cup of water.
  4. Add the chopped scallions, the gochugaru mix, and 1 cup of water to the salted cabbage. 
  5. Using a kitchen glove, mix everything well by hand until the cabbage pieces are well coated with the gochugaru mix. 
  6. Place in an airtight container or a jar, pressing down hard to remove air pockets. Leave it out in room temperature for half a day or overnight. Then, refrigerate.

Notes

  • This recipe was originally posted in July 2011. I've updated it here with new photos, more information and an improved recipe.