The Korean Ingredient That Gives Your Breakfast A Tangy Upgrade

Breakfast dishes to make with kimchi

If kimchi isn't a regular item on your grocery list, you might be unsure how to pair it with your breakfast spread. Fortunately, your choices are far from limited. Experience a traditional Korean breakfast by serving kimchi alongside bugeo-guk — a comforting soup made with dried pollock, tofu, and bean sprouts. This warm, savory soup beautifully complements the bold, tangy flavors of fresh kimchi. If you're short on time in the morning, consider topping gyeran bap — a Korean egg and rice dish enhanced with butter, soy sauce, and sesame oil — with kimchi. And don’t forget to add a side of milk bread. Alternatively, you can’t go wrong by chopping up a generous portion of kimchi and mixing it into a stack of savory scallion pancakes served with a spicy sriracha mayo dip.

Kimchi isn’t just for Korean cuisine. Whether it’s a hearty corned beef hash with potatoes, classic British dippy eggs, umami-rich broth-cooked oats with mushrooms, or a dollop of Greek yogurt, the bold and distinctive flavor of kimchi is perfect for breakfast. We even suggest transforming kimchi into a jam to spread on a crusty slice of whole wheat bread, or using it as a surprising twist in your pancakes. How you decide to incorporate kimchi into your breakfast is entirely up to you, but be warned: once you try it, you may find it hard to resist adding it to your lunch and dinner as well.