Caramelized Kimchi Grilled Cheese Sandwich

When I immigrated to the states from Korea, I remember having my first grilled cheese at a corner diner in College Point, NY. I was so smitten by it that every week, I would go back to the same diner and try the other variations of grilled cheese on the menu, including ones with bacon, ham, tomatoes and even pickles. Since then, I grew up on grilled cheese and kimchi so there’s something comforting about having both in a cheese toastie. Rather than just adding chopped kimchi straight into the sandwich, I caramelized the kimchi with some butter and sesame oil right before assembly. Then I made a sweet and spicy spread with gochujang, honey and mayonnaise and added shredded mozzarella. I wish I added a slice of American cheese to it as well which would have given it budae jigae vibes. Enjoy!

key ingredients

• Baechu Kimchi: The baechu kimchi I used here is a traditional Korean side dish of salted fermented cabbages. It’s sweet and spicy and used frequently in Korean stews and stir-fries. You can find baechu kimchi at most supermarkets like Whole Foods and of course at, Korean supermarkets like H-Mart.
• Gochujang: Gochujang is a spicy Korean pasted made from fermented soybean, red chili peppers, glutinous rice and salt. Most supermarkets carry gochujang in the Asian aisle and you can also find it here on Amazon.
• Cheese: I recommend a milder cheese for this sandwich. Mozzarella, mild cheddar and/or American cheese are great accompaniments to the kimchi.
• Bread: I used a a sourdough bread for this which worked well but I think hindsight, I would’ve preferred a sweeter sliced bread like the milk bread from Korean bakeries.

key steps

• Caramelize Kimchi: After chopping the kimchi into smaller pieces, season it with a teaspoon of sesame oil. Then add butter to a skillet and once it melts, add the kimchi and cook over medium heat until the edges of the kimchi start charring.
• Make the spread: Add the gochujang, honey and mayonnaise in a bowl and whisk all the ingredients together.
• Grill the Sandwich: The fool-proof way to grill a sandwich is to add a pinch of water to a pan over low heat and cover it with a lid which helps the cheese melt quicker without burning the bread.