What to Serve with Kimchi – 10 Delicious Dishes to Try

I always enjoy trying new dishes, so when I was asked to find some side dishes to serve with kimchi at work, my eyes widened with excitement and wonder. I knew I would have a lot of fun exploring all the options.

Well, you don’t know why I was unable to contain my excitement at mentioning kimchi – a spicy, fermented cabbage dish popular in Korea and throughout Asia.

It shaped my childhood and has always been a staple in my home. My mom would make kimchi pancakes, kimchi rice, and kimchi soup. It’s that flexible

Now back to choosing a side dish to serve with kimchi. This can be tricky. You want a dish that will complement the spices in the kimchi, without being overpowered by it.

I’ve compiled a list of my favorite side dishes to serve with kimchi. I think it’s going to be fun telling you all about them!

Side Dishes For Kimchi

1. Grilled Steak
2. Ultimate Steamed Egg
3. Korean Fried Chicken
4. Breaded Pork Chops
5. Sashimi
6. Tuna Patties
7. Shoyu Ramen
8. Bibimbap
9. Shrimp Fried Rice
10. Kimchi Pancakes

Grilled Steak

I love the smoky flavor of grilled steak, and it pairs perfectly with kimchi. The key is to grill the steak on medium-high so that it’s juicy and tender. Season it with a little salt and pepper, and you’re good to go!

There are so many different ways to prepare kimchi, so it’s really up to you how you want to incorporate it into your dish. You could add some chopped kimchi to your steak sandwich, or use it as a topping for your grilled steak.

Ultimately, it’s up to you how you want to enjoy your kimchi and steak!

To prepare your steak, you’ll need the steak of your choice (I like ribeye or New York strip), salt and pepper, and kimchi (chopped)

Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Season your steak with salt and pepper, and grill for about three minutes per side. Remove from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes. Slice the steak against the grain into thin strips.

To assemble, start with a bed of kimchi on your plate. Top with grilled steak strips, and enjoy!

Ultimate Steamed Egg

This dish is so popular in Korea that it even has its own name: Gyeranjjim. It’s a steamed egg casserole that is usually made with vegetables like scallions, carrots, and mushrooms.

I love the silky texture of the eggs, and the way they absorb all the flavors of the vegetables. It’s the perfect dish to enjoy with a bowl of rice and kimchi.

Whenever I make gyeranjjim, I like to add a little bit of kimchi to it. I think the flavors go really well together!

To make gyeran jjim, you’ll need eggs, scallions, carrots, mushrooms, kimchi (chopped), sesame oil, and soy sauce.

Start by whisking the eggs in a bowl. Add the scallions, carrots, mushrooms, and kimchi, and mix well.

Pour the mixture into a greased casserole dish, and steam over boiling water for about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and drizzle with sesame oil and soy sauce. Serve with rice and kimchi.

Korean Fried Chicken

This is one of my husband’s favorite dishes, and it’s definitely a crowd-pleaser. It’s crispy, juicy, and full of flavor. What’s not to love?

Korean fried chicken is usually served with a sweet and spicy sauce, which pairs perfectly with the kimchi. The hack for a crisp chicken is to double-fry it. First, you fry it at a lower temperature to cook the chicken all the way through. Then, you raise the temperature and fry it again until it’s golden brown and crispy.

If you go this route, you’ll need chicken thighs, flour, eggs, cornstarch, salt and pepper, kimchi (chopped), and oil for frying.

Start by seasoning the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Coat them in flour, then dip in eggs that have been beaten. Finally, coat them in a mixture of cornstarch and flour.

After frying, it is ready to be served with kimchi and your choice of sauce.

Breaded Pork Chops

This is another dish that my husband loves. It’s simple to make, and the pork chops are always juicy and flavorful.

If this is the side dish you want to make. Then, go for it. Get your flour, eggs, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper ready. Begin with the seasoning. After that, dip them in egg beaten to ensure a crispy coating. Finally, season them with salt and pepper before dipping them in bread crumbs.

In a large skillet, heat up some oil over medium-high heat. Add the pork chops to the pan, and cook for about three minutes per side. Remove from heat and serve with kimchi.

Sashimi

When I was living in Japan, I used to love going to the local sushi restaurant and getting sashimi. It’s such a fresh and delicious way to enjoy fish.

And what goes better with fresh fish than kimchi? The combination of the two is heavenly.

If you’re looking for a light and healthy meal, this is it. Just be sure to get good-quality sashimi from a reliable source. Also get your kimchi and wasabi.

Then arrange the sashimi on a plate. Top with kimchi, and enjoy with wasabi.

Tuna Patties

There are few things I love more than a good tuna patty. They’re so flavorful and moist, and they go great with kimchi.

I prefer using canned tuna, bread crumbs, eggs, scallions, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce, and salt and pepper to make my tuna patties.

To make the patties, start by mixing all the ingredients together in a bowl. Form into small patties, and fry in a little oil until golden brown. Serve with kimchi on the side.

Shoyu Ramen

This is every college student’s dream meal. It’s cheap, easy to make, and so satisfying. And it pairs perfectly with kimchi.

I love it when the kimchi floats to the top of the soup and gets all nice and crispy. Yum!

You’ll need ramen noodles, water, shoyu (soy sauce), kimchi, scallions, and an egg to make this dish.

Place the prep bowls on a cutting board and trim off the noodles with a pair of scissors. In a pot, bring water to a boil. Put in the ramen noodles and cook for about three minutes.

Add the shoyu and kimchi, then simmer for around five minutes more. Then, top with scallions and an egg, and savor.

Bibimbap

Bibimbap is one of my all-time favorite Korean dishes. It’s a rice bowl that’s typically served with an egg, vegetables, and meat. And it’s so good with kimchi.

The key to making a good bibimbap is to get the rice nice and crispy. To do this, you need to cook it in a hot pan with a little oil.

I also like to add a sunny-side-up egg to my bibimbap. The yolk runs down and coats the rice, making it even more delicious.

For a great bibimbap and kimchi meal, don’t forget any of these ingredients; rice, kimchi, vegetables (such as carrots, cucumber, and bean sprouts), meat (such as beef, chicken, or pork), an egg, sesame oil, and Gochujang (Korean chili paste).

Shrimp Fried Rice

This is another one of my favorite dishes to make when I’m short on time. It’s so easy, and it always turns out delicious.

I like to add kimchi to my shrimp-fried rice for a little bit of spice. If I feel like it, I even add other vegetables, such as carrots or peas.

Then I’d go get my rice, kimchi, shrimp, scallions, garlic, ginger, eggs, sesame oil, soy sauce, and salt and pepper.

When I start, it is always by cooking the rice in a pot. In a separate pan, sauté the kimchi and shrimp until the shrimp is cooked through. Add your ingredients and stir until everything is mixed together. Serve with rice.

Kimchi Pancakes

These pancakes are so good, and they’re perfect for a quick snack or light meal. They’re also great with kimchi.

I like to make my pancakes with kimchi, scallions, flour, salt and pepper, and eggs. You can also add a little bit of water to the batter if it’s too thick.

When making kimchi pancakes, start by mixing all the ingredients together in a bowl. Heat up some oil in a pan over medium heat, and drop spoonfuls of batter into the pan. Fry until golden brown on both sides. Serve with kimchi on the side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is kimchi a main dish or side dish?

Kimchi can be a main dish or side dish, depending on what you’re serving it with. It’s great as a side dish with ramen, bibimbap, shrimp fried rice, and more. It can also be a main dish when served with rice and other sides.

Does kimchi go with everything?

There is no one definitive answer to this question. Kimchi can be paired with a variety of dishes, depending on your preferences.

What can a vegan eat with kimchi?

A vegan can enjoy kimchi with dishes such as rice, noodles, and salad. There are many options for a vegan when pairing kimchi with a meal.

What are some healthy kimchi recipes?

The following are some healthy kimchi recipes to try:

1. Kimchi Fried Rice
2. Kimchi Vegetable Soup
3. Easy Kimchi Quesadillas
4. Spicy Kimchi Hummus
5. Kimchi Potato Salad

Conclusion

Pairing kimchi with the right side dish can make or break a meal. With its bold flavors, kimchi can be overwhelming if not paired correctly.

When it comes to choosing a side dish to serve with kimchi, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. First, you need to think about the flavor of the kimchi. Is it spicy? Sweet? Sour? What kind of flavors will be complementary?

You also need to consider the texture of the kimchi. Is it crunchy? Chewy? Soft? What kind of textures will be complementary?

Last but not least, you need to consider the kimchi’s temperature. Is it hot? Cold? Room temperature? What kind of temperatures will be complementary?

This guide gives you everything you need to know about what to serve with kimchi, and their recipes, including tips and tricks for making the perfect pairing.

I hope you enjoyed reading this list of side dishes to serve with kimchi.