Korean Kimchi Mandu
Kimchi is a symbol of Korean cuisine, consumed for centuries as fermented vegetables. Kimchi mandu is one of the stars of modern Korean street food, born from the marriage of traditional mandu and characteristic kimchi. It is especially popular in the winter, when warm, spicy flavors are truly appealing. The secret to the mandu filling is well-prepared kimchi: always squeeze it to prevent the moisture content from soaking the dough. Tip: you can also use more mature, sour kimchi if you want a more intense flavor experience. This recipe is great for friend gatherings, Korean-themed dinners, or even as a simple weekend treat. The spicy-sour filling and the crispy-soft dough together make mandu a real Korean flavor bomb.
Ingredients for this recipe
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Preparation Steps
1
Finely chop the kimchi, then squeeze out any excess liquid using a kitchen towel. This prevents the filling from becoming too wet.
2
Crumble the tofu and squeeze out the moisture with a kitchen towel. This is an important step to ensure the mandu doesn't become too soft or mushy.
3
Slice the scallions, and grate the garlic and ginger. In a bowl, combine the ground pork, kimchi, tofu, scallions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
4
Place a teaspoon of filling in the center of each mandu wrapper. Moisten the edges with water, fold in half, and crimp the edges to seal well. Be careful not to let the filling leak out.
5
Heat a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the mandu and cook for 2-3 minutes, until the bottoms are golden brown.
6
Pour 100 ml of water into the skillet, cover, and steam for 5-6 minutes, until the water has evaporated. This will soften the dough and cook the inside.
7
Once the water has evaporated, remove the lid and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until the bottoms are crispy again. This gives it that classic texture.
8
Serve with soy sauce or a spicy dipping sauce. Garnish with chopped scallions or toasted sesame seeds before serving for an even more authentic experience.
