One of my favorite things about living in LA is seriously all the readily available and authentic Korean food in K-town. It's no more than a 35 minute drive and then you're in heaven!! Don't get me wrong, Chinese food and flavors will always have my heart but I've been on a Korean food kick for the last 3 years that only seems to be growing and growing. If you ever want my favorites, message me and I'm happy to provide you with a healthy list of specialty stews, hand cut noodle places, the BEST k-bbq and of course tofu restaurants.
When I found out I was on the show, I really wanted to showcase Korean flavors somewhere on the menu since it's such an influence on my pallet in the recent years. The savory hors devour challenge was perfect! Since then, I don't have a reason to make 36 tartlets for anyone so I adapted my recipe for just making these highly addictive and delicious kimchi twists!
These are a great recipe for pairing with your cheese and charcuterie platters or just to have as little snack bites!! The kimchi takes on a new flavor when it's baked and rolled into all this amazing butter goodness. It's not overly KIMCHI in your face just as an FYI. It's more like an acidic, salty aftertaste. So so good! Give it a shot!
Kimchi Twists
Makes about 3 dozen 4" twists or 15-20 long twists.
Kimchi butter:
- 226g of European butter, 8 oz - slightly softened but not fully soft
- 1 cup of mat napa cabbage kimchi, pureed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Kimchi Dough:
- 2 cups of all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2/3 cup of ice water
Other:
- 1 egg
- 1-2 tablespoons of kimchi puree leftover juice
Make the lean dough:
1. In a small bowl, prepare ice cold water. In a medium stainless steel mixing bowl, mix flour and salt together. Add a couple of tablespoons of water at a time and fluff the dough with your fingers and keep your fingers loose using a scooping motion. Do not get any ice into the dough.
2. Continue until alternating adding water and scooping flour together until the flour comes together in large pieces and holds together when pressed.
3. Shape dough into a square and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. It’s ok if it is shaggy and not clean looking.
Make the kimchi butter:
1. Cream the butter in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment for a couple minutes until light and fluffy. You don't want this to become completely whipped since you're just trying to break it down a bit.
2. Take the kimchi and blend it with a food processor until fine. Strain out all the liquid from the puree and set aside. You will end up using some of this later.
3. Add kimchi, salt and black pepper to butter and beat together until just incorporated.
4. With a spatula, remove butter mixture from mixing bowl and place on a large piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap to form into a square block that is 4” by 4”. Wrap and put it into the fridge to chill for at least 30-45 minutes or till hard.
Making Kimchi Dough:
1. Roll out the lean dough to approx. 7” x 7” square.
2. Remove the butter and place as a diamond on the square dough so it’s at a 90 degree angle. Wrap the corners of the dough over the butter so they meet in the middle. Then pinch to seal and flip over so the seams are on the bottom.
3. Next you will be preparing this similarly to how you make puff pastry. Complete First and Second Turns. Flour the surface lightly and flip the dough with butter over so the seams are facing the counter. Roll out to be a rectangle approx 12 inches by 6 inches wide. Fold it in thirds by the top third over the bottom third and bottom over the top third.
4. NOTE: Dough may be very wet because of the kimchi so just add flour at every spot that starts leaking or if butter breaks through skin. Make sure counter is properly floured at all times. Rotate the dough so it looks like a book then roll it out again into a rectangle of 12 x 6” and fold again. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Mark down that you’ve done 2 turns.
5. Complete Third & Fourth Turn: Repeat same rolling out and folding dough two more times. If any butter pops out cover it with a little flour.
6. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Mark down that you’ve done 4 turns.
7. Complete Fifth and Sixth Turns: Repeat same rolling out and folding dough two more times. If any butter pops out cover it with a little flour. Dough should be smooth and easy to roll out.
8. Chill for 1 hour in plastic wrap.
Baking the Kimchi Twists:
1. Pre-heat oven to 425 F / 218 C. Prepare baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
2. Roll out the pastry dough so the dough is between 1/4 and 1/8 inches thick. Then cut out desired shapes/size strips using a floured pizza cutter.
3. Prepare your egg wash by mixing 1-2 tablespoons of kimchi juice to your beaten egg. Place kimchi strips on the baking sheets by twisting and then lightly pressing the ends down on the sheet. Brush each twist with your kimchi egg wash. Don't cover too much with the egg wash, just brush lightly.
4. Place cut pastry back into the freezer to chill/firm slightly for 5-10 minutes. Bake for 15-25 minutes at 375 F and plan to flip the twists at least once half way through baking.
5. Cool baked twists completely on a cooling rack then enjoy!! Keep in an airtight container if storing for 5 days.