What Korean dish has made a lasting impression on me? Speaking of food, every dish is memorable for me, whether it's Korean or Indonesian. But let's remember when I first tried kimchi and how it tasted.
In 2022, I tried kimchi. I'd seen it often in Korean dramas. However, my family wasn't a big fan. I tried kimchi with my friends. How did it taste? It was sour, but Indonesia has a dish called acar (pickles), which is also sour and slightly sweet. Kimchi is similar to pickles. Did I like it?
At that time, my friends and I were making a simple barbecue. My friend brought kimchi. Like in Korean dramas, kimchi is perfect for barbecues. It tastes great with grilled beef, vegetables, and kimchi. On its own, kimchi is quite sour. Some brands of kimchi don't suit my palate. The sourness is very strong.
Perhaps the first time, the kimchi tasted sour, although it was similar to pickles, but it was still different for me. The second time, my tongue still felt unfamiliar. On my third try, my taste buds began to warm up to this dish. After becoming comfortable with kimchi, I also started making kimchi jigae. It's very easy, and the sauce neutralizes the sour taste.
After that, after making kimchi jigae, I tried making bibimbap. The sourness of the kimchi and the rice mixed with the vegetables was delicious. From then on, I started to love kimchi. Until this year, specifically from February to April, I made kimchi every month.
For me, kimchi is my salvation. It's a way for me to eat vegetables. I struggle to store vegetables every month. Some vegetables don't last long in the refrigerator, so I might need to buy vegetables every three days. Making kimchi is one alternative to still eating vegetables every day.
How do I enjoy kimchi? I enjoy kimchi in many ways. The easiest way is to imitate South Koreans. If I don't feel like cooking and only have kimchi with egg, that makes me happy. I cook kimchi with flavor, stir-frying it in oil with a little sugar and broth.
After that, I fry an egg and add it to warm rice. It feels like this dish has saved me. In fact, I always cook kimchi like that for breaking the fast. For me, kimchi served that way is delicious. I've run out of some ingredients now, so I haven't made kimchi in the past few months.
When Ramadan arrives, kimchi becomes my savior, whether at breaking the fast or at dawn. That's my experience with kimchi. What do you think? Is anyone else having the same experience with kimchi as me? See you next time.
My name is Nurdiani Latifah. I live in Jakarta – Indonesia, and after 25 years I live in Bandung. I am a media staff at an NGO in Indonesia. I have worked in this institution for almost 2 years on issues of women and peace. I have been a journalist in Bandung for 3 years.
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