Try Kimchi in a Grilled Cheese Sandwich

A grilled is a simple and well-loved sandwich. It is a favorite of many American children.

But writer and professional cook Christopher Kimball urges people to add some Korean flavor into their next grilled . He suggests throwing kimchi into the mix. The spicy fermented cabbage is a traditional Korean .

with kimchi may sound strange, but the combination is not new. A Korean meal called budae jigae, or army base stew, was developed during the Korean War. It is a hot pot made with American foods, such as hot dogs, baked beans and noodles, along with kimchi and American cheese.

Kimball recently published the cookbook “Cook What You Have,” which draws on common foods to create easy, weeknight meals. Kimchi and its flavorful juices make for a much more interesting grilled cheese than what many Americans grew up eating. Kimball also suggests adding cooked meat, like ham or bacon, to turn the sandwich into a more filling meal.

Here is what you need to make yourself – and a few friends – a kimchi grilled cheese.

70 mL of mayonnaise

15 mL of kimchi juice, plus 300 mL of kimchi, with the liquid removed and cut into small pieces

8 pieces of sandwich bread

8 slices of cheese

And 4 slices of thinly cut ham or 4 slices of cooked bacon

In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise and kimchi juice. Spread the mixture evenly over one side of each piece of bread. Flip four of the slices to be mayonnaise side down. Then, top each piece with one slice of cheese, one slice of ham or bacon and one-quarter of the kimchi. Top each with another slice of the remaining cheese, then another slice of bread, with the mayonnaise side up. Press on the sandwiches to push the filling together.

Heat up a 30-centimeter nonstick or cast-iron pan over medium heat. Add two of the sandwiches and cook them for two to three minutes. Using a wide spatula, flip the sandwiches and continue them on the other side, for another two to three minutes.

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