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Korean-style serving of Bossam kimchi

보쌈김치 · Bossam kimchi

Bossam kimchi

보쌈김치

What exactly is it?

Traditional bossam kimchi wraps a varied filling in large salted cabbage leaves like a parcel. Pork-wrap restaurants also use the name for rich, sweet-seasoned kimchi served with boiled pork, so the context changes what arrives.

Main ingredients

Cabbage, radish, pear, chestnuts, jujubes, fermented seafood, optional oysters or octopus

Ordering and serving

Fillings can contain raw oysters or octopus, so it is not necessarily vegetable-only. At a pork restaurant, distinguish kimchi alone from a set including meat.

Origins and changes

Gaeseong’s regional version encloses seafood, fruit and vegetables in cabbage leaves. Its parcel-like shape gives the name, and elaborate fillings made it suitable for festive and guest tables.

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Dish to compare

Bossam kimchi

보쌈김치

Main ingredients
Cabbage, radish, pear, chestnuts, jujubes, fermented seafood, optional oysters or octopus
Flavor and character
Traditional bossam kimchi wraps a varied filling in large salted cabbage leaves like a parcel. Pork-wrap restaurants also use the name for rich, sweet-seasoned kimchi served with boiled pork, so the context changes what arrives.
How to eat it
Fillings can contain raw oysters or octopus, so it is not necessarily vegetable-only. At a pork restaurant, distinguish kimchi alone from a set including meat.
Read about this dish →

Napa-cabbage kimchi

배추김치

Main ingredients
Napa cabbage, salt, chili powder, radish, garlic, scallion, often fermented seafood
Flavor and character
Salted napa leaves are filled with radish and chili seasoning, then fermented. Fresh kimchi is crisp and seasoning-led; acidity develops as it matures. Seafood seasoning and other additions differ between households and regions.
How to eat it
Eat small amounts with rice. For vegetarian kimchi, ask about fermented shrimp, fish sauce and oysters. Follow the restaurant’s policy on side-dish refills.
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