Kimchi Fries

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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.

Fries with kimchi and cheese in a casserole dish with a fork.

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.

Fries with kimchi on a small plate. Lime wedges, sliced scallions and sriracha sauce on the side.

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.

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: Prep Ingredients

Kimchi fries prepped ingredients on light background.

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.

  • 1 pound frozen French fries
  • olive oil cooking spray
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 3 tablespoons mayo
  • 1 tablespoon kimchi brine plus 1/2 cup kimchi – drained and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups cheese (emmental or mozzarella) – shredded
  • 2 tablespoons green onions – sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon each of black and white sesame seeds
  • salt – to taste

Step 2: Preheat Oven & Prep Fries

Frozen fries on baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray.

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 3: Season the Fries

Fries with paprika on a baking sheet. Hands with gloves are handling the fries.

Sprinkle the fries with the paprika and some salt and mix them around.

Step 4: Bake

Fries in the oven on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

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.

Step 5: Make the Sauce

Small bowls with creamy sriracha sauce, shredded cheese, kimchi and sliced scallions on light background.

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 6: Overlap the Fries

Fries in a casserole dish. Kimchi on the side in a small bowl.

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 7: Top With Cheese and Kimchi

Baked fries with kimchi and shredded cheese in a casserole dish.

Top the fries with the cheese and kimchi evenly. Bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted.

Step 8: Add the Fresh Toppings

Fries with kimchi and cheese in a casserole dish. Sliced scallions on the side.

Top with the green onions, sesame seeds and sriracha mayonnaise.

Step 9: Serve

Fries with kimchi and cheese on a small plate. and in a casserole dish

Serve immediately and enjoy!

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.

Fries with kimchi on a small plate. Lime wedges on the side.

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 with cheese close up on a fork.

Kimchi Fries

Joss Dyckson
Crispy baked fries are covered in melted emmental cheese, tangy kimchi, sesame seeds, green onions and a spicy kimchi sauce.
5 from 9 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, Korean, Mexican
Servings 4
Calories 526 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 pound 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 pound frozen fries
    Frozen fries on baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray.
  • Sprinkle the fries with the paprika and some salt and mix them around.
    1 teaspoon paprika
    Frozen fries on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  • 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.
    Fries in the oven on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • 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
    Small bowls with creamy sriracha sauce, shredded cheese, kimchi and sliced scallions on light background.
  • 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.)
    Fries in a casserole dish. Kimchi on the side in a small bowl.
  • 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
    Fries in a casserole dish, kimchi topping on the side.
  • 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
    Baked fries with kimchi and cheese in a casserole dish.

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!

Nutrition

Calories: 526kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 14gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 787mgPotassium: 548mgFiber: 5gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 624IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 340mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.

Keyword kimchi
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Hungry for more kimchi recipes? Try our Kimchi Slaw

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Recipe Rating




  6. 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.

    Reply
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