Kkaennip (깻잎김치) is an herb unique to Korean cuisine that's often translated as "wild sesame" in Asian grocery stores. It has broad green saw-toothed leaves and a strong camphor-like scent that's somewhere between basil and mint. That's probably because kkaennip isn't related to sesame as the name implies, but is a part of the genus Perilla, which is a member of the mint family. In the west you probably know another type of perilla called shiso: the green leaf that's often used to garnish plates at sushi restaurants. Although they're similar in appearance, kkaennip has a distinct flavor from Japanese shiso that's more nutty and complex.
In Korea, the large leaves are often used to wrap grilled meat and they're also used as an herb in a variety of dishes including Kimbap and Gamjatang. My favorite way to prepare kkaennip is to turn it into kimchi. It's relatively simple to make with a handful of savory and spicy ingredients getting mixed into a paste and spread between the leaves.
Left to pickle for a week, the pungent garlic, spicy chili, and sweet asian pear all mingle with the herbaceous kkaennip to create a delicious wrapper that makes short work of a bowl of hot rice. I like to grab the stem of a leaf to separate it from the rest, lay the kimchi on top of the rice, and then use my chopsticks to tuck the sides of the leaf under the rice, making a little bundle of spicy, savory rice that's as fun to eat as it is delicious.
For my version I usually add a little Asian pear(or sweet apple) puree to lend a hint of sweetness. I also like adding kkaennip seeds to accent the flavor of the leaves and to deliver a crunchy texture kind of like giant poppy seeds. If you can't find them in your area, toasted sesame seeds will work too.
This recipe first appeared on norecipes.com but due to its age I've moved it here to my personal recipe archive. Check out the full No Recipes Archives for more older recipe or check out some of my favorite recipes.
Units
Ingredients
- 1 small onion (thinly sliced)
- 2 tablespoons gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 tablespoons asian pear (pureed)
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 large cloves garlic (grated)
- 1 tablespoon kkaennip seeds (sesame seeds can be substituted)
- 2 scallions minced
- 32 leaves kkaennip (also known as wild sesame or Korean perilla)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the 1 small onion, 2 tablespoons gochugaru, 2 tablespoons asian pear, 2 tablespoons fish sauce, 2 large cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon kkaennip seeds and 2 scallions. Stir to combine
- Wash and dry the 32 leaves kkaennip. In a container with a lid that seals (like a jar or tupperware), layer the leaves with some of the onion mixture spread between each layer. Seal the lid and refrigerate.
- After a few days, the kkaennip should start looking like the photo. Make some hot rice and enjoy!
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