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If you’re a kimchi fan, you will be all over this kimchi fried rice from the new cookbook by Celine Steen, Bold Flavored Vegan Cooking.
This easy, weeknight meal comes together in only 20 to 30 minutes. But don’t let the simplicity fool you! It’s bursting with flavor that will make your taste buds do a jig.
When I was contacted about the blog tour for Celine Steen’s newest work, I was immediately all in.
I’m a longtime fan of her recipes. Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day, which she co-authored with Tamasin Noyes, is a beloved favorite in my cookbook cupboard.
(If you can only make one recipe from VSSTD, make sure it’s the chickpea shawarma. Amazing.)
Judging from her creative recipes in Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day, I knew Bold Flavored Vegan Cooking wouldn’t be full of the same recipes we’ve seen in various incarnations over and over again.
Celine doesn’t shy away from using ingredients and spices that may require a trip to a specialty grocery store or online order. And the dishes are all the better for it.
You’ll find a variety of recipes in the book – from weeknight friendly meals, like the kimchi fried rice I’m sharing today, to more involved projects.
You can also find gluten-free, soy-free, and oil-free options as well.
Once I get another batch of fried squash blossoms, you can bet that the squash blossom pizza will be making an appearance in my kitchen. I’m also looking forward to trying the Indonesian-inspired rice pancakes.
This recipe for smoky kale and chickpeas with miso peanut drizzle also looks terrific.
I’m a huge fan of kimchi. So I couldn’t wait to make this recipe.
Celine notes that the recipe is highly adaptable. You can reduce the amount of kimchi, depending on the potency of the jar you’re working with.
She has a recipe for homemade kimchi in the book. But I used a store-bought variety and reduced the amount by half. That worked perfectly for my tastes.
(Some kimchi is made with fish sauce. So remember to look for a vegan variety at the grocery store. Although, at my natural grocery store, they sell 3 or 4 different kinds, and all of it is vegan.)
For optional garnishes, Celine recommends peanuts, sesame seeds, scallions, nori, baked tofu, or Gochujang Kimchi Sausages (a recipe which is also included in the book). My bulgogi tofu would work beautifully here.
However, I decided to top the fried rice with kimchi sausages that I had in the freezer from Herbivorous Butcher.
I thawed them earlier in the day. And they were ready to be sliced and browned before topping the Korean fried rice, along with peanuts, scallions, and sesame seeds.
This hearty dish reminded me of a Korean version of jambalaya. It’s a full meal in a bowl with loads of textures and flavors.
Celine has done it again!
Kimchi fried rice
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons melted coconut oil or peanut oil, divided
- 1 medium white onion peeled, trimmed and chopped
- 1 pound Homemade Kimchi or store-bought, roughly chopped*
- 1 ½ cups frozen green peas
- 3 cups rice cooked and chilled
- 1 Tablespoon reduced-sodium tamari
- 1 Tablespoon kimchi brine
- Garnishes: Chopped dry roasted peanuts and sesame seeds, thinly sliced scallions, crumbled roasted nori sheet, mild-flavored fried or baked tofu of choice, Gochujang Kimchi Sausages
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet or wok. Add the onion and cook until it starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Add the kimchi and cook until it isn’t too juicy anymore and is heated through, about 5 minutes. Add the green peas and cook until bright green and heated through, about 3 minutes. Set aside.
- Break the rice apart with a spoon to remove clumps. In another skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of oil on medium-high heat. Add the rice to the oil and cook until heated through and crisp, about 3 minutes.
- Add the tamari and kimchi brine, and cook until absorbed and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Be sure to stir occasionally.
- Stir the rice into the vegetables to combine. Cook for another 2 minutes to let the flavors meld. Serve with your garnishes of choice.
Bianca Phillips says
This sounds amazing! I love Celine’s books, and I didn’t even know about this one! But I’m all about bold flavors, so I must get it.
Cadry says
This dish (and whole book really) are totally Bianca. You would be all over it!
Alina @VeganRunnerEats says
Oh my, this dish sounds right up my alley! Kimchi has been a huge helper to get me excited about eating during my current pregnancy as my appetite is often nonexistent. Thank you for sharing, Cadry! Plus, the book sounds amazing!
Cadry says
That’s too bad that your appetite has taken such a dive! I’m glad you’ve found something that helps at least. I hope you enjoy the kimchi fried rice if you decide to make it!