A lightning-fast upgrade to store-bought kimchi with toasted sesame oil and seeds for an added nutty depth. Perfect when you want a punchy, flavorful taco topping in under 2 minutes.←Back to Taco Topping Recipes
1 cup store-bought kimchi
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
1 tablespoon scallions (finely sliced, optional)
Throw that kimchi into a mixing bowl.
Drizzle on the toasted sesame oil—don’t hold back, it’s the secret sauce here.
Sprinkle with sesame seeds like you’re adding glitter to your food (but, y’know, edible).
Optional: Toss in some scallions if you want to be fancy and fresh.
Mix it all up, and boom!
Chef's Notes
Kimchi is fermented napa cabbage seasoned with gochugaru, garlic, ginger, and fish sauce, and it's one of those ingredients that instantly elevates anything it touches. For this recipe, store-bought is perfectly fine. Look for kimchi that's been refrigerated (not shelf-stable) and check the ingredients for fish sauce or shrimp paste if you're cooking for vegetarians. Well-fermented kimchi has a deeper, funkier flavor than fresh; if it's been sitting in your fridge for a few weeks, it's probably at its peak. Brands like Chongga, Mother In Law's, and Wildbrine are reliable. Find them at Korean markets, Whole Foods, or increasingly at regular grocery stores. Toasted sesame oil is essential; it should smell intensely nutty, like walking past an Asian restaurant. If yours smells like nothing, it's either light sesame oil (flavorless) or has gone rancid. Kadoya is a reliable brand. A pinch of gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) adds extra heat if you want it. This "recipe" is really more of an upgrade to store-bought kimchi, which is itself already fermented perfection. Sometimes the best cooking is knowing when not to cook and just enhance what's already excellent.
Into This Topping? Remix It!
Take Sesame Kimchi into the Summoning Circle and shuffle it with hundreds of other taco components to create your perfect taco.
Community Ratings
No ratings yet
No reviews yet. Be the first to review this recipe!
