Your taste buds will get a delicious hit of fine Asian flavors in this fusion kimchi fries side dish. Crispy baked fries are covered in melted Emmental cheese, tangy kimchi, sesame seeds, green onions and a spicy kimchi sauce.
These spicy fries are quickly becoming a favorite comfort food of foodies and casual diners, just like many other fusion kimchi recipes, including my kimchi eggs and kimchi pizza.
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🍟 What are Kimchi Fries?
Kimchi fries are simply a Korean spin on plain cheese fries (much like my Korean grilled cheese recipe). The fries are topped with typical Asian ingredients such as kimchi, sesame seeds and sriracha, creating a cheesy, spicy, flavorful side dish or main.
🥘 Ingredients
- French fries - In this recipe I use frozen French fries.
- olive oil cooking spray - You can substitute with canola oil cooking spray.
- paprika - Not pictured.
- kimchi - We will use the kimchi plus the brine from the jar.
- sriracha sauce - Optional hot sauce.
- Emmental cheese - Emmental cheese is a variation of Swiss cheese with pronounced nutty and fruity tones. It is great for melting and has a strong enough flavor to hold its own in this dish but won’t overpower the other ingredients. If you can’t get your hands on Emmental, a classic pizza cheese such as mozzarella will also work.
*Check recipe card for ingredient amounts.
Chef's Note: Most of these ingredients are long-lasting products that you can keep on hand and bust out whenever the kimchi fries mood strikes. This recipe is also great for using up ingredients like green onions that are leftover from another Asian-inspired meal prepared earlier in the week.
🔪 How to Make Kimchi Fries
By adding kimchi, cheese, and other flavorings to oven-baked fries as outlined in our recipe, you will be able to recreate this tasty dish at home any time.
Step 1: Preheat Oven & Prep Fries. Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay the fries out on the parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer, making sure they aren’t overlapping. Spray them with the olive oil.
Step 2: Season. Sprinkle the fries with the paprika and some salt. Mix them around.
Step 3: Bake. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, until golden and crispy.
Chef's Note: Keep an eye on the fries as they bake, as the time may vary depending on the type of fries used.
Step 4: Make the Sauce. While the fries are baking, mix the mayo with the kimchi brine and sriracha sauce in a small bowl (if you don’t like it spicy, leave out the sriracha). Reserve.
Step 5: Overlap the Fries. Transfer the baked fries to a casserole dish, overlapping the fries a little. (Or you could choose to leave them on the pan, but bring them closer together and overlap them.)
Step 6: Top With Cheese and Kimchi. Top the fries with the cheese and kimchi evenly. Bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted.
Step 7: Add the Fresh Toppings. Top with the green onions, sesame seeds and sriracha mayonnaise.
Step 8: Serve. Serve immediately and enjoy!
💭 Top Tip
The most essential ingredient to make this dish amazing is a quality batch of kimchi. You may attempt to create your own, but it is also worth spending the time perusing your neighborhood farmers' market and independent grocery stores for local products. There may be several vendors in your area that offer small-batch, quality kimchi.
👪 Serving Size
These kimchi fries work great as a snack on their own, or as a side to a larger meal. This recipe makes 4 side-dish servings. If you plan on eating it as a main, you will probably want to double the batch.
❓ Recipe FAQs
Originating in Austin, Texas by the Tex-Mex Korean BBQ fusion restaurant Chi'Lantro, kimchi fries have developed into a uniquely American pairing of cultural flavors. The restaurant began as a food truck business founded by Jae Kim in 2010. Jae created the kimchi fries and they have become a staple, being served over 200,000 times per year.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat in the microwave or in the oven at 350°F to retain crispiness.
❤️ More Delicious Kimchi Recipes
If you tried this Kimchi Fries Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!
📋Recipe
Kimchi Fries
Ingredients
For the Fries
- 1 pound frozen fries
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 3 tablespoons mayo
- 1 tablespoon kimchi brine
- 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
- 1 ½ cups Emmental cheese - shredded (or mozzarella if you can’t find Emmental)
- ½ cup kimchi - drained and chopped
- salt - to taste
- olive oil cooking spray
Toppings
- 2 tablespoons green onions - sliced
- ½ teaspoon black sesame seeds
- ½ teaspoon white sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Lay the fries out on the parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer, making sure they aren’t overlapping. Spray them with the olive oil.1 pound frozen fries
- Sprinkle the fries with the paprika and some salt. Mix them around.1 teaspoon paprika
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, until golden and crispy. Keep an eye on them as the time may vary depending on the type of fries.
- While the fries are baking, mix the mayo with the kimchi brine and sriracha sauce in a small bowl (if you don’t like it spicy, leave out the sriracha). Reserve.3 tablespoons mayo, 1 tablespoon kimchi brine, 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
- Transfer the baked fries to a casserole dish, overlapping the fries a little. (Or you could choose to leave them on the pan, but bring them closer together and overlap them.)
- Top the fries with the cheese and kimchi evenly. Bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted.1 ½ cups Emmental cheese, ½ cup kimchi
- Top with the green onions, sesame seeds and sriracha mayonnaise. Serve immediately.2 tablespoons green onions, ½ teaspoon black sesame seeds, ½ teaspoon white sesame seeds
Notes
- This recipe yields 4 side dish portions. If you plan on eating these fries as a main, it makes 2 servings.
- If you love the kimchi, feel free to add more!
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the microwave or in the oven at 350°F to retain crispiness.
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
Sabrina says
These are crazy good! I love the combination of crispy, melty, spicy and soft. Really good!
Joss D says
Thank you so much Sabrina. 🙂
Terri says
OMG I LOVE this spin on fries! I'm pinning for later!
Joss D says
Thank you!
nancy says
kimchi fries poutine what a genius idea! so tasty!
Joss D says
Thank you Nancy!!
Melissa says
the first time I had kimchi fries was at Banh Mi Boys in Toronto and I fell in love! Such a delicious take on fries!
Joss D says
Thanks Melissa! It's total comfort food.
Vanessa says
This flavour combo is insane!!! (in a good way that is). Thanks for the delicious spin on cheese fries.
Joss D says
Thanks Vanessa!
Bernice says
I've had something very similar during our local Poutine Week! It seems crazy but kimchi just goes so well with cheese and gravy!! Your pictures have me drooling all over again.
Joss D says
It really does! It goes surprisingly well with a lot of things. Thanks Bernice.
Colleen says
We LOVE kimchi, and I am so excited to make this for our next poutine night. Thanks for sharing!
Joss D says
Thanks Colleen! We love kimchi too.