Crunchy Kimchi Fried Rice
Quick and Delicious Kimchi Fried Rice Recipe Using Leftover Radish Kimchi
What could be more satisfying and less burdensome to make than a fried rice dish prepared by stir-frying leftover ingredients at home? While a grand meal with a full spread of side dishes and soup is ideal, sometimes a simple fried rice is all you need when you’re feeling a bit lazy. Today, we’ll be making a kimchi fried rice recipe that will further whet your appetite with its crisp texture. We’ll enhance the flavor and aroma with bacon and top it with a fried egg for an even more appetizing dish. Shall we get started?
Main Ingredients- 8 pieces of well-fermented radish kimchi (about 1 cup)
- 2 strips of thick-cut bacon
- 1/2 stalk of green onion
- 1 serving of warm white rice (1 bowl)
- 1 fresh egg
- 1 Tbsp fragrant sesame oil
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
Kimchi Fried Rice Seasoning- 3 Tbsp flavorful radish kimchi juice
- 1/2 Tbsp rich gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1/2 Tbsp savory soy sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp mild minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp flavorful radish kimchi juice
- 1/2 Tbsp rich gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1/2 Tbsp savory soy sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp mild minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
1. Prepare the Ingredients: First, finely dice the radish kimchi into approximately 0.7cm cubes. If they are too large, they might not cook evenly. Cut the bacon into 1cm pieces. Finely chop the green onion to add a fresh aroma.
Step 2
2. Cook the Bacon: Heat a frying pan over high heat. Add the bacon without any additional oil and cook until it’s golden brown and crispy. The fat rendered from the bacon will add depth of flavor to the fried rice.
Step 3
3. Stir-fry the Kimchi: After briefly removing the bacon, add the diced kimchi to the same pan. Stir-fry over medium heat for about 3 minutes. This process helps to mellow out the tanginess of the kimchi and enhance its sweetness and savory notes.
Step 4
4. Add Seasoning and Rice: Add the radish kimchi juice (3 Tbsp), gochujang (1/2 Tbsp), soy sauce (1/2 Tbsp), and minced garlic (1/2 Tbsp) to the stir-fried kimchi and mix well. Once the seasoning is evenly distributed, add the warm rice. Use a spatula to gently break apart any clumps of rice and stir-fry until the grains are separated and slightly toasted. Once the rice is fluffy, turn off the heat, drizzle in the sesame oil (1 Tbsp), and mix well to give it a nice sheen.
Step 5
5. Fry the Egg and Plate: In a separate pan, heat 1 Tbsp of cooking oil and fry an egg to your desired doneness (sunny-side up or over easy). Transfer the kimchi fried rice to a serving plate, then carefully place the fried egg on top. Finally, sprinkle with the chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Your delicious kimchi fried rice, featuring a delightful crunchy texture and a perfect balance of spicy and sweet flavors, is now complete! It makes for an excellent, easy weeknight dinner, doesn’t it?
Step 6
Breaking the yolk of the fried egg and mixing it into the hot kimchi fried rice is pure bliss! The occasional crunch of the kimchi keeps the dish from feeling too heavy, making you want to keep eating. Enjoy your meal today!
