This Kimchi Fried Rice is so easy to make and a great way to use up your day-old rice. Make it a low-carb option with cauliflower rice for a healthy vegan dinner side.
Back in the days where school was our only priority in life, my friend and I, as much as possible, always cook all meals from scratch. We tried to avoid canned or semi-homemade recipes. However, we faced a big challenge when it came to kimchi. We tried many times, experience with different kind of seasonings, but we still couldn’t figure out the perfect zing for kimchi, and at the end, we gave up.
Last month, I went to a grocery store, after driving my mom for a haircut. It was a Korean grocery store, and its shelves are packed with all delicious Korean items. I always enjoy grocery shopping, especially in new places that I’ve never visited before, so I didn’t mind at all to drive 1.5 hours for this store. It was Saturday and like many other grocery places, it was packed with lots of Korean ahjummas and ahjussis speaking in a language which I often hear in K-Drama only. I totally felt like I was in Korea, especially when I saw two aunties selling fresh kimchi. One of them handed a toothpick for me to taste the kimchi and they started talking to me in Korean. The kimchi was soooo delicious that I grabbed two right away and decided to deal with what to do with kimchi later.
I’ve been picturing kimchi pancakes, kimchi burrito, kimchi quesadilla, kimchi pizza, and so many more kimchi dishes in my mind; but at the end, I decided to make kimchi fried rice (kimchi bokumbop), instead. Simply because Frederick loves fried rice and he likes making fried rice for me, so kimchi fried rice is a good reason for me to relax (or giving instructions) while he’s busy cooking. The mixture of fatty, salty meat with the spicy, acidic kimchi felt like a perfect way to dress up leftover standard rice.
Fried rice is a good way to clean up your fridge. Cook the rice at least a day ahead of time and refrigerate. This helps to dry the grains out enough to give your fried rice a good texture.
If you like kimchi, you will LOVE this fried rice! Heck, you might even like this if you don’t like kimchi. Looking for more easy recipes?
Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokumbop)
Ingredients
- 4 cups of day-old cooked rice
- 1/2 onion diced
- 1 medium shallot
- 2 stalks of green onion
- 6 oz. kimchi
- 4 eggs 1 egg for each serving
- 2 tablespoons oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon gochujang
- 2 teaspoons low sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kimchi juice
Instructions
- Chop kimchi into ¼” pieces (about 1 cm) to yield 1½ cup of chopped kimchi.
- In a large pan or wok add the oil on medium heat. Add chopped kimchi to pan and saute for 5-10 min on medium heat or until kimchi is cooked completely.
- Add the onion, shallot and sautee for 2 minutes.
- Add the sauce and mix well. If kimchi starts to stick to the bottom but not cooked through yet, add a little bit of water or more kimchi juice. You can add more kimchi juice if you like it spicy. If you don’t have kimchi juice, you can also add some gochugaru for more spiciness and red color.
- Reduce heat to low. Add the rice and mix thoroughly. If you are using cold leftover rice, make sure you mix it until there are no cold lumps of rice and all the rice is warmed up. Let it sit on low heat for about 5 min.
- Salt to taste and top with a fried egg and green onion to serve.
Notes
What a great find! I love kim chi fried rice-we only had it for the first time in the last few years and here you are with a recipe for it! 😀
Hope you get a chance to make this, Lorraine. 🙂
Kimchi fried rice–one of my favorites! Your version looks so loaded with flavor I bet it tastes as good as it looks, especially with the fresh kimchi. Yum!
Thanks, Jean. Fresh kimchi is the best.
Yum! I love kimchi but have never paired it with fried rice! Excited to try this out 🙂
Yes, kimchi fried rice is full of flavor and hope you get a chance to try this, Aubrie.
I’ve never had kimchi fried rice but I’m not going to be able to say that for long. What a beautiful dish that is in the 2nd to last photo. Beautiful.
Thanks, Maureen. I hope you get a chance to make this.
Linda, you read my mind! I’ve been craving kimchi fried rice like crazy and now I want to eat this whole delicious bowl. Nothing like K dramas and kimchi, right?
OMG Amy – that’s completely true, lol.
Linda!!! kimchi fried rice is my ultimate fave. and now I am thinking about kimchi pancakes, kimchi burritos, kimchi quesadillas and kimchi pizza 🙂 Glad you picked up kimchi from the korean market. . you know how much I love kimchi and want people to get more familiar with it! love this recipe!!
Totally agree with you, Alice. Fresh & authentic kimchi is the best. 🙂
Sounds good but I would like to know more about the kimchi. I know some people make it but I don’t think I’m ready to do that even if I had a recipe. Is the jarred kimchi available in local markets ok to use? You mentioned a Korean market. I think there is one about an hour from where we live. Is there a favorite brand?
Thank you.
Yes, there are some good kimchi in a jar; however I prefer fresh kimchi for better flavor. Not too sure about the brand, though. I’ve tried few of them. Some are okay, some are horrible….
What a delicious meal!!! Can you believe I’ve never tasted kimchi? But you and Alice are making me double think that!!!
Perhaps we can do kimchi party for SundaySupper 🙂
Ive never tried kimchi fried rice but your creation look delicious and full of flavour
Awww thank you and hope you get a chance to try this, too.
I recently had kimchi for the very first time and loved it! I can’t wait to try more. This recipe looks so good!
I was just about going downstairs and making kimchi fried rice – it’s one of my favorite lunch at home (easy to cook for myself!). I’m going to try your recipe this time! What a timing! And yours look so delicious!
So much flavor in this recipe. Yum!
This was such a quick and easy recipe, I’m always happy for new ways to serve rice too!
I love kimchi in all forms, and this simple recipe is one I’ll incorporate into my weeknight rotation for sure!
I’ve never tried kimchi fried rice until now and it was amazing 🙂
So glad I stumbled upon this recipe, it sounds fantastic! Going to go grocery shopping so I can make it this weekend!