There could be plenty of reasons you are looking Substitute for Kimchi options. 1, you couldn’t find ingredients to make kimchi around you, you want to do some experiments as a chef, or you want to learn more ideas for kimchi alternatives for the future.
Whatever the case is, we have added some well-researched Substitute for Kimchi with the maximum options you will find on any other platform.
Kimchi or kamichi is a Korean fermented dish. Sauerkraut, beets pickle, Kkakdugi, and Tempeh makes excellent substitutes for kimchi.
So, without further ado, let’s find some tasty Kimchi replacements here:
Kimchi/Kamichi Food
Kimchi, also pronounced as Kamichi, is a Korean dish. You know that. What most people don’t know is that kimchi among Korean is loved for its inexplicable taste but also for skin and health benefits.
Kimchi is not used for taste only though it is appetizing and used in combination with various meals; it is primarily used for its skin and health benefits.
Why is kimchi so famous?
Kimchi can help you get flawless skin and a juvenile body like Koreans. Seriously??? Yes, you heard it right.
As a fermented food, it has thousands of probiotics (good bacteria) filled with antioxidants and anti-aging properties.
For your understanding: Yogurt, like dairy products, has good alive bacteria in them that, when enter into your body, maintain digestion.
When you excrete faster and have a good bowel movement, you lose weight faster.
“So Kimchi and Substitute for Kimchi will help you get beautiful and maintain a healthy weight.”
What is Kimchi Taste Like?
Before you get your hands on the Kimchi Substitutes, you must know their taste so you can configure the replacements independently next time.
The main notes of kimchi flavor are sour, spicy, and umami. The taste can be different as it is made using various vegetables, depending on the core flavor of added vegetables.
As a first-time taster, you will instantly feel a sour taste. This is because of fermentation.
Tip: Kimchi alternatives can include fermented dishes and ingredients from different cultures. For instance, sauerkraut substitute for Kimchi has a German origin.
Now to the substitutes:
Substitute for Kimchi
The most common Kimchi food is prepared using spring onions, garlic, and ginger. Some Korean ingredients like gochugaru (Korean chili powder) are also added. For a more tasteful experience, jeotgal (salted seafood) is also added.
Based on this and fermentation, here we are adding some Substitutes for kimchi:
1. Sauerkraut:
The most common Substitute for kimchi filled with probiotics is Sauerkraut, made using fermented cabbage. Cabbage is thinly sliced so it can ferment completely, added with salt, and left for a few weeks.
Cabbage is filled with lactic acid, which is released during this time and helps make sauerkraut taste similar to kimchi. You can sprinkle some dry Cayenne pepper to get a spicy flavor like kimchi.
Check here how you can make the perfect substitute for kimchi using cabbage at home:
2. Beets Pickle:
Beetroot has a nice earthy flavor and is very good for your skin and overall health. Fermenting it can give you an excellent yet appetizing kimchi replacement.
As kimchi is known for its crunch, to make a perfect replacement, prepare a pickle of beetroot with ginger and garlic.
To make it a similar substitute for kimchi, you can sprinkle some chili powder on it.
3. Kkakdugi:
Kkakdugi is a Korean-origin replacement for kimchi and is also known as cubed reddish kimchi.
The ingredients required to prepare this homemade kimchi alternative are salted Napa cabbage, garlic, ginger, scallions, and Korean radish.
Evenly chopped vegetables are dipped into rice vinegar, sugar, and brine, packed, and left for a few days to ferment. The more time you give to fermentation, the more it will taste similar to kimchi.
4. Tempeh:
The main ingredient used to make tempeh is a soybean that’s fermented beforehand. Tempeh comes in a bar shape.
It can be a kimchi substitute for fermentation; however, the taste is not as similar.
Kimchi Alternative
The discussion on replacements for Kimchi or kimachi doesn’t end here. We have plenty of more savory similar in taste and benefits of kimchi coming ahead.
Just keep reading:
5. Reddish Pickle:
Kkakdugi is made using Korean reddish. However, if you live in some part of the world where such ingredients are unavailable, don’t worry.
You can still make tasty and healthy substitutes for kimchi at home. Use common reddish better be with a bitter taste to prepare the alternative. Add ingredients like onion, ginger, garlic, and some vinegar.
Now, let it ferment for some time, and your perfect substitute for kimchi is ready.
6. Pickled Jalapeños:
Are you still looking for a substitute for kimchi? Jalapenos are American chili-like medium side Capsicum pod-shaped pepper for you.
Use pickled jalapenos if you like Kimchi for its spicy taste and want to make a spicy alternative. The pickle will need all the common ingredients we discussed above.
Now, fermentation for a few days will make healthy food with probiotics to help digestion.
7. Vegetable Pickles:
Pickles are the most common fermented food with alive bacteria that help digestion. Besides, you can use almost all types of vegetables to prepare pickles.
So, use vegetables with a crunch, slice them like kimchi slices, and make some pickles. Add some chili powder for an even better taste. Use it as a seasoning, side dish, or anything you like.
Kimchi Replacement
We have some kimchi replacements coming ahead, including the famous kimchi replacement sauce. For the best substitute for kimchi, keep reading:
8. Natto:
Natto is a kimchi replacement made using whole soybeans. Remember, you cannot use processed beans for this alternative.
Natto substitute for kimchi will give you a tangy taste. However, the licorice taste can be missing. You can use a trick to add some lemon juice drops to the natto while eating.
9. Miso:
Miso is the kimchi replacement sauce prepared with whole raw soybeans through fermentation. The origin of miso paste is Japan.
It comes in the form of paste or sauce. To make it a replacement for kimchi, use it in combination with crunchy salad dishes.
However, Miso doesn’t have any national value and is used just for its wholesome taste.
10. Kefir:
Kefir is a fermented Turkish-origin ingredient. It can be used as a Kimchi juice substitute. Although it doesn’t have any spices added to it, and it is made using animal milk, nobody can deny its nutritional value.
It will benefit your skin and gut health and fight issues like acid reflux better than Kimchi. You can use pickle-like kimchi replacements for taste and kefir as a healthy substitute for kimchi.
Read more about kefir here:
Kimchi Juice Substitute
Along with crunchy Kimchi, its juice is also getting famous worldwide because everyone wants to look fit and pretty like Koreans.
Kimchi juices come in commercial bottles. However, you can prepare Kimchi juice substitutes at home. Here are the options:
11. Kombucha:
Kombucha is a fermented drink made using Kombucha, a fermented ingredient you can buy online or borrow from someone because kombucha has live bacteria and keeps growing.
It is the best substitute for kimchi for losing weight naturally. Moreover, people addicted to fizzy drinks can use Kimchi juice or Kombucha instead.
Learn all about kombucha and its preparation here.
12. Rice Vinegar and Gochugaru Mix:
You can prepare a Kimchi juice replacement at home using Rice Vinegar and Gochugaru mix. Gochugaru is a spice most commonly known as Korean chili powder in superstores.
All it takes is mixing the ingredients together, giving them time to ferment. You can add flavors according to your choice for a better taste. It doesn’t have a similar palate to kimchi but a nearing one.
13. Sauerkraut Brine and Gochugaru:
When you make Sauerkraut add Gochugaru and leave it to stay for fermentation; after some days, you will see a layer of water on the top while Sauerkraut is at the bottom.
This water makes tasty juice quite similar in taste to Kimchi. You can watch the video given at the top of this page for more information.
14. Ramen Seasoning:
Ramen seasoning is a pretty similar substitute for kimchi juice. Ramen is actually a Japanese dish, similar to soup noodles. The taste of your seasoning will depend on the brand of noodles you use.
You can use seasonings and spices to adjust the flavor and make it near the kimchi juice. However, it would help if you buy kimchi juice beforehand to prepare it so that it can taste similar.
Bottom Line
We hope that until now, you must have found your favorite Substitute for Kimchi. We have added 14 replacements and alternatives to kimchi for taste, crunch, health benefits, and fermentation.
Let us know which substitute you find similar to the kimchi itself by commenting below. For more information, keep visiting us, and for more tasty options on what to eat, click here.
