The perfect blend of two cultures, American and Korean. A classic American burger and a traditional Korean kimchi, with a twist.

Kimchi (or kimchee) also known as gimche is a traditional naturally fermented Korean condiment seasoned with spices and chiles. Interestingly, prior to European contact with Korea, kimchi was much simpler, consisting of cabbage and beef stock. After the chili pepper was introduced to Asia, Koreans began to use it to enhance the flavor of their national dish. In a country as diverse as Korea there are regional and seasonal variations. In northern Korea, kimchi is typically milder than its southern counterpart. Because south Korea is closer to the ocean, recipes include fish sauce or shrimp paste for seasoning and are typically spicier than the northern style. Mara has added yet another level of sophistication to our kimchi by including a touch of sweetness. She uses pears to balance out the sour flavors of fermented foods. Using daikon for bitterness, anchovies for savory, and sea salt, all 5 basic tastes are found in this delicious recipe. During the growing season, the pears are sourced from Ela Family Farms in Hotchkiss, Colorado. The Ela’s have been farming mouthwatering fruits for four generations. They grow peaches, apples, pears, plums, and heirloom tomatoes on Colorado’s fertile western slope. Their land is beautiful anytime of year, but especially so during the spring when the trees are flowering.Mara uses the finest ingredients available, and has created another unique recipe. This is ozuké’s first non-vegan pickled thing. Ozuké’s Anchovy & Pear Kimchi is seasoned with fish sauce, which gives it that rich umami (savory) taste. Besides just eating it straight out of the jar, my family agreed that a grassfed burger was the perfect way to appreciate all those flavors quickly. Plus, it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, perfect for grilling! What follows is a food pairing idea.

Beef Burger recipe:
1 lb of ground beef 100% grassfed
Salt & pepper or WFM Rocky Mountain Pepper Blend to taste

Directions:
Prepare grill. Mix by hand ground beef and seasonings. Form patties. Grill to desired temperature. Prepare additional toppings. Assemble and eat! We decided to try different toppings with our Anchovy & Pear Burgers. Avocados on one, cheese and tomatoes on the other. All combinations were delicious. This tasty kimchi has limited availability for the time being. It is available in Boulder at Fresh Thymes Eatery, in Longmont at Lucky’s Market, in Lafayette at Isabelle Farm Stand, in Denver at Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage on Leetsdale, and in Albuquerque, New Mexico at La Montanita Food Coop Valley location.

The flavors are so perfectly balanced that it makes a great companion to almost any dinner. Pick up a jar to bring to your Hanukkah celebration and Thanksgiving dinner. And let us know what you think. Gobble Gobble!