Kimchi Fries
Crispy baked fries are covered in melted emmental cheese, tangy kimchi, sesame seeds, green onions and a spicy kimchi sauce. Your taste buds will get a delicious hit of these fine Asian flavors in this fusion side dish.
What are Kimchi Fries?
Kimchi fries are simply a Korean spin on plain cheese fries. The fries are topped with typical Asian ingredients such as kimchi, sesame and sriracha, creating a cheesy, spicy, flavorful side. They are quickly becoming a favorite comfort food of foodies and casual diners alike.
Kimchi Fries Ingredients
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.
- frozen French fries
- olive oil cooking spray
- paprika & salt
- mayo
- kimchi
- sriracha sauce
- cheese (emmental or mozzarella)
- green onions
- black and white sesame seeds
Kimchi Fries Origin
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.
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.
Tips & Info
The most essential ingredient 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.
The recipe calls for Emmental cheese, which 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.
This dish is relatively simple and comes together quickly, but it will surely be a hit with whomever you are serving it to. Kimchi fries work great as a snack on their own, or as a side to a larger meal. If you plan on eating it as a main, you may want to double the batch.
Will you be eating this dish as a side or doubling it up for a main? Did you enjoy the unique fusion flavors? Let us know in the comments and please share the recipe!
Kimchi Fries
Ingredients
- 1 lb. frozen fries
- Olive oil cooking spray
- 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
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 lb. frozen fries
- Sprinkle the fries with the paprika and some salt and 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 10 minutes or 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, you may want to double the batch.
- If you love the kimchi, feel free to add more!
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.
Hungry for more kimchi recipes? Try our Kimchi Slaw
I am Joss, the creator and editor of In the Kitch. I am inviting you on this food journey with me to learn, grow and bring out that inner chef in you. I hope to inspire you to get creative in your own kitchen!
