When I moved to New York a few months ago for college, the only place I had lived before was Seoul, South Korea. Though I'm 100% Korean, I've never really enjoyed much of the traditional Korean foods, as most of them involve rice and spices—two of my taste buds’ greatest enemies. The one thing I do love is kimchi.
Growing up, I always knew kimchi tasted better when cooked. So, one day I decided to incorporate it into my grilled cheese. It was mind-blowing, to say the least. The tangy taste of kimchi combined with the sweetness of the bread and the saltiness of the cheese is as supreme as any incontestable trio. In short, this simple yet flavor-filled recipe is a surefire way to up your grilled cheese game.
Read on to find out how to get this perfect kimchi-filled cheese pull!
What You'll Need:
Kimchi
The sourer the better!
Cheese
The kind of cheese you use is really up to you, but my favorite is a combination of some fresh mozzarella and sharp cheddar.
Bread
Again, the kind of bread you use is up to you. I like using white bread because it doesn't detract from the flavor or the texture of the cheese and the kimchi.
Butter
Any butter will do, as it will only be used to prevent the bread from sticking to the pan. You can even substitute cooking oil or just use a non-stick pan, but butter will enhance the taste of the bread.
Stove and Frying Pan
Miscellaneous Tools
Something to use to place, flip, and cut: chopsticks, a spatula, or any knife all work.
Now let's get grillin'!
1. Butter the bread
Spread butter on each side of the bread, making sure to cover all areas to prevent it from sticking to the pan when grilling.
Pro Tip: Leave your butter out in room temperature 30 minutes prior to make it easier to spread onto the bread.
2. Heat the pan
Heat up the stove to medium to high heat
3. Place bread on the pan
Buttered side down!
4. Place cheese on the bread
If you have any substantially large pieces of cheese, cut or shred them into smaller pieces, so that the cheese will melt more evenly.
5. Place kimchi on top of the cheese
The more kimchi, the merrier!
6. Crown it with another slice of bread
Unbuttered side down!
7. Press down on the sandwich
Use a spatula or your hands... whatever floats your bloat.
8. Flip the sandwich
Use a spatula and a hand if needed! Be steady with this step—there's a lot going on inside, so it's really not a good idea to try flipping it haphazardly like you're in a chef movie.
9. Let it grill
Test your patience as the aroma of kimchi and butter entices you. You'll know it's ready when the cheese is completely melted and the bread is golden brown.
10. Cut up and enjoy!
Cut your sandwich into triangles and enjoy!
Pro Tip: If you want the cheese to melt better, you can heat the fixed sandwich in the microwave for 30 seconds before grilling it.
To make your own authentic kimchi, click here.