Simple spicy kimchi

Directions

1. Peel off 1 cabbage leaf and set it aside. Beginning at the top of the cabbage, cut it into 2-inch-wide pieces.
2. In a large bowl, toss together the cabbage, radish, and scallions. Sprinkle on the salt.
3. Squeeze handfuls of the vegetables as you mix everything. This crushing helps breaks down the cell walls, which will release water. Continue to squeeze the vegetables for a few minutes until they feel quite wet and the cabbage has become somewhat limp. Taste. If you’d like more salt, sprinkle in a bit more. If it tastes too salty, you can remedy this by adding more cabbage.
4. Place a plate over the vegetables and place a weight on the plate, such as a jug filled with water. Cover the bowl with a towel and let the vegetables sit for a couple of hours.
5. While the vegetables rest, in a separate bowl, combine the garlic, ginger, gochugaru, and kelp granules (if using).
6. Remove the weight and plate from the cabbage. You should find liquid pooling in the bottom of the bowl. Add the spice mixture to the vegetables and combine everything well.
7. Pack the kimchi into a jar large enough to hold 6 cups or pack two smaller jars that can each hold 3 to 4 cups (see page 47 on choosing jars). Pack the vegetables into the jar tightly. This will force out air bubbles and submerge the vegetables in the liquid.
8. I use my bare hands for this, but depending on the spices and how much you put in, you may want to use a large wooden spoon, pestle, or, if you have one, a wooden pounder. After packing, pour in any liquid remaining in the bowl.
9. Leave at least 2 inches of space at the top of the jar. Stuff the reserved cabbage leaf into the jar. (If using two jars, cut the cabbage leaf in two and use half for each jar.) That alone may keep the kimchi submerged in the liquid. If you have a glass weight, place that on the cabbage leaf. A small glass jar such as a yogurt jar also works. Closing the lid pushes the small jar down, which shoves the cabbage mixture below the surface of the liquid. If you cannot easily close the jar with the small jar inside of it, remove some of the vegetables to make more space..
10. Napa cabbage contains a lot of water. In the unlikely event that the resting cabbage did not release enough liquid and the kimchi is not completely submerged in the jar, pour a bit of water in until you’ve covered the vegetables.
11. Place the jar on a small plate to catch any liquid that may bubble out during active fermentation. Leave the jar at room temperature for at least 3 days.
12. Carbon dioxide will build up in the jar during the active fermentation, which will likely begin on day 1. During this period, open your jar daily to release the pressure. Taste daily. Depending on your kitchen, your kimchi will be ready in about 3 days. Move it to the refrigerator. It will keep for several months but tastes best if eaten within 2 months.