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Get ready for a flavor explosion! These Korean inspired street tacos with caramelized kimchi are SO delicious and flavorful! If you’re looking for a new twist to add to your taco game, these Korean inspired street tacos are definitely it! Sweet, spicy, tangy and altogether delicious.
After spending some time in South Korea, exploring the many districts of the bustling city of Seoul and eating the most incredible Korean BBQ we have literally ever had, its safe to say Korean food will always have a special place in my heart. These tacos are the perfect way to enjoy the flavors of Korean food without spending too much time in the kitchen.
I’m not sure what I love more about these Korean inspired street tacos… the sweet and spicy ground beef, or the caramelized kimchi on-top. One thing is for sure, these tacos would definitely be incomplete without the kimchi that really sets them off. It adds such a delicious, authentic depth of flavor that is a must if you choose to make these tacos. If you’re new to Korean cuisine, you might be asking yourself, what is kimchi?
Kimchi is pretty much a staple in Korean food. Its history goes all the way back to the period of the Three Kingdoms, around 37 BC. By pickling vegetables for fermentation it was a fairly easy way to preserve food for many, many months. There are actually quite a few of vegetables you can use to make authentic kimchi, but the most commonly used vegetable is napa cabbage. Homemade kimchi can be a fun way to preserve cabbage if you have an overabundance at home. We have made it before, and it takes some love and patience. Someday I hope to perfect it and I will add the recipe here. Until then, you can find kimchi in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store. I happened to find mine at Grocery Outlet of all places.
Mmmmm…..
For the tacos you start by making a delicious sweet and spicy sauce. Then, you brown the ground beef, add that delicious sauce and allow to cook for a few minutes. After that is finished you add a splash of sesame seed oil to the pan, caramelize the kimchi, prepare any additional toppings (onion, avocado) assemble the tacos, and enjoy! We top these off with Sriracha drizzle for extra spiciness. Super simple and super flavorful. I would love to hear how this turns out for you! Leave a comment below. Happy cooking!
If you make this, be sure to tag #butternutandsageblog on Instagram!
Recipe
Korean Inspired Street Tacos with Sweet & Spicy Caramelized Kimchi
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 8 oz ground beef
- 2 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 teaspoons sesame oil, divided
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-2 teaspoons fresh minced ginger
- 12 flour tortillas
- 1 cup good quality kimchi
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- onion, cilantro, avocado and sriracha for assembling
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, garlic powder and red pepper flakes.
- Heat the oil over medium high heat and add the minced garlic. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant and then add the ground beef. Breaking up the beef as it cooks, cook until browned about 5-7 minutes. ;Stir in the sauce mixture into the beed and stir until well combined. Cook until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
For the Caramelized Kimchi:
- Heat the remaining 1 teaspoon sesame oil over medium high heat. Add the kimchi, a teaspoon of sugar and cook until the kimchi begins to caramelize, about 3-5 minutes. Serve tacos with diced onion, fresh cilantro, sriracha and kimchi. Enjoy!!!
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