What do you do when you have leftover kimchi juice?
If you’re like most people, you might be wondering what to do with it.
Kimchi juice is a Korean dish made from fermented vegetables.
It’s sour, spicy, and salty, and it’s packed with flavor.
So what can you do with it?
Here are a few ideas.
Use it as a condiment for noodles
Kimchi juice makes a great condiment for noodles.
If your kimchi juice is too spicy and sour for you, try adding some soy sauce to balance the flavors.
I really like this because
1) I don’t need to add any additional condiments, and
2) the flavor is absorbed by the noodles through the juice.
The best noodles for this are Korean ramen or egg noodles.
Use it as a salad dressing
Kimchi juice is a great dressing for salads.
It’s spicy, sour, and salty – perfect for adding flavor to your greens.
This works best with leafy greens like romaine lettuce or baby spinach.
You just need to mix some kimchi juice with your favorite type of oil, like olive oil or canola oil.
Mix it with some soy sauce and use it as a marinade for meat or tofu
Kimchi juice is a great marinade for meats or tofu.
It’s spicy, tart, and tangy – perfect for adding flavor to your meat of choice.
This works best with beef or pork.
Cut your meat into about 1/2 inch cubes and marinate overnight in the kimchi juice mixture.
You can also add some honey, sugar, or soy sauce to add a little sweetness.
Use it as a replacement for vinegar in pickling mixtures
Kimchi juice is acidic like regular vinegar, so you can use it as a substitute in pickling mixtures.
It will give your vegetables the same tanginess that vinegar gives them.
And the best part is that you can make it at home.
Just dump some kimchi into a fine strainer and allow the juice to drip out.
If your kimchi is too spicy, add sugar or soy sauce to balance the flavor.
Add it to soup or stew for extra flavor
Kimchi juice is a great addition to soup or stew for flavor.
You just need to add 1/4 cup of kimchi juice to your soup or stew.
Remember to add a little soy sauce or sugar if your kimchi juice is too spicy for you.
Drizzle it over fried rice or bibimbap
Drizzling kimchi juice over fried rice or bibimbap is a great way to add some tang and spice to your favorite Korean dishes.
Add it to marinades for grilled vegetables
Grilled vegetables are delicious, but they can get boring after a while.
You can try marinating them in the kimchi juice mixture from your kimchi before grilling them.
Use it as a dipping
You can use your leftover kimchi juice as a dipping sauce for meats, tofu, or vegetables.
Just mix the juice with some soy sauce and you’re all set.
Remember that kimchi juice is very salty, so don’t use too much soy sauce.
You can also add other ingredients like sugar, honey, garlic, onions, ginger, chili peppers – if the juice is too spicy, you can balance the strength by adding a little sweetness.
Make kimchi pancakes with it instead of water
This is my favorite trick.
Just take 2 cups of kimchi juice and whisk it in with 3/4 cup of flour to make your pancake batter.
You can add some water if you think the batter is too thick, but I like it just fine without any additional ingredients.
You’ll get a fluffier pancake that has a nice tangy flavor.
The pancake will be more moist than normal, but it doesn’t change the flavor at all.
Use it to make vegan sauces like soy sauce or teriyaki sauce
You can use the leftover juice to make vegan sauce substitutes.
I personally like to use it in place of soy sauce because it’s so much more flavorful than regular soy sauce, but you can try using it in place of teriyaki sauce as well.
Just mix your kimchi juice with some flour or cornstarch and cook it over high heat until it thickens.
You can also add some sugar or honey to make it a little sweeter.
Use it to make kimchi fried rice
Kimchi fried rice is the best when it’s made with kimchi juice.
Just mix some leftover kimchi in with your regular fried rice recipe and add a little soy sauce if you need to balance the flavor.
I like to add chopped onions, carrots, peas, mushrooms, garlic, or any other vegetables I have on hand.
You can also add a little sesame oil and/or use other types of rice, like brown rice.
Sautéing everything in the juice adds amazing flavor.
Make porridge with it instead of water or broth
Just toss some leftover kimchi into your porridge and mix it with water, broth, or juice.
I like to add a few pieces of bacon as well for extra saltiness and flavor.
Use 3/4 cup of rice porridge per 1/2 cup of the juice and use vegetable broth or water if you don’t have any leftover kimchi.
Are you sure it’s safe to drink?
Yes.
Just make sure yours doesn’t smell bad.
If there’s any mold on your kimchi, just scoop the kimchi out of it and allow the juice to drip out overnight.
Is kimchi juice acidic like vinegar?
No, it is more salty than acidic.
However, you can make kimchi vinegar by allowing the juice to ferment in a jar for several weeks or months.
This is an excellent way to preserve your leftover kimchi and add some tangy flavor to your dishes.
Kimchi has a ton of probiotics because it’s fermented for several days or weeks.
This means that the nutrients and helpful bacteria have time to grow, which is what makes it so healthy.
Just be sure to eat your fermented foods in moderation.
How long can you keep leftover kimchi?
You can keep your leftover kimchi in the fridge for several months.
However, if you leave it out uncovered at room temperature, it will start to ferment and change colors after a few days.
Carbon dioxide and alcohol released during fermentation could cause the lid of your container to pop off or bulge.
If you see any signs of fermentation, just throw your kimchi away and make a new batch. (source)
What other ways can I use leftover kimchi juice?
There are so many different ways to use the leftover juice.
Put it on your scrambled eggs, mix it into pancake or waffle batter, or whisk some into salad dressing recipes.
Just be sure to season it with sugar, salt, soy sauce, black pepper, etc.
if you need to balance the flavor.
Remember that you can use the leftover as a marinade for meat and vegetables.
Just mix it with oil, soy sauce, minced garlic, sesame oil, and sesame seeds.
You can also add some honey or sugar if you’d like to balance the flavor of the marinade.
Can I just use store-bought kimchi juice instead of making my own?
Yes.
Just make sure to read the ingredients on the label.
You might be surprised by what you find in store-bought products.
Some of them have added sugar, ginger, garlic, and other spices that might change the flavor of your dish.
What is kimchi juice made from?
It is made from fermented kimchi in the same way that apple cider vinegar is made from apples.
The brine in your jar of kimchi contains beneficial bacteria, amino acids, and enzymes that aren’t found in regular cabbage or other vegetables. (source)
How much sodium does kimchi juice contain?
You’ll find about 400 milligrams of sodium in every cup of the juice.
However, you can balance the flavor by adding some sugar or honey to your dishes if needed.
Conclusion
Kimchi juice is a great way to get probiotics without having to take pills.
It tastes good and has the same benefits as taking capsules or tablets of supplements, but it also gives you some flavor variety in your diet.
So, next time if you have some leftovers, try my recipes above to take advantage of it.