10-Minute Recipe: How to Make Paik Jong-won's Legendary Kimchi Fried Rice at Home

When you don't have good side dishes in the fridge or you lose your appetite, there is always one go-to dish that comes to mind right away: spicy, sweet, and savory Paik Jong-won style kimchi fried rice.

The secret to achieving a deep, restaurant-quality flavor with simple ingredients lies in scallion oil and caramelized soy sauce aroma. Here is the super simple, fool-proof secret recipe step-by-step, so definitely give it a try for your next meal!

🛒 Essential Ingredients (1 Serving)

Using well-fermented, sour kimchi will give you a much deeper flavor.

• Basic Ingredients:

          Sour kimchi (finely chopped) - 1 bowl,
          Cooked rice - 1 bowl,
          Green onion/scallion (chopped) - One,
          Spam or pork (a small amount),
          Egg - 1

• Sauce/Seasoning: 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp coarse chili powder (gochugaru), 0.5 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp sesame oil, cooking oil as needed
  
  

🍳 Step-by-Step Cooking Guide

1. Make Fragrant Scallion Oil
   Heat a pan with plenty of cooking oil, add the chopped green onions, and fry over low heat until golden brown to create a rich scallion oil.
   
   
2. Sauté Spam or Pork
   Once the scallion aroma arises, add the prepared Spam or pork and fry until the outside turns golden to add savory richness.
   
   
3. Add Caramelized Soy Sauce (Smoky Flavor)
   Push the ingredients to one side of the pan and pour 1 tbsp of soy sauce into the empty space, allowing it to bubble and sizzle. Once the soy sauce caramelizes slightly and releases a smoky aroma, mix everything together thoroughly.
   
   
4. Sauté Sour Kimchi & Seasoning
   Add the finely chopped sour kimchi, 0.5 tbsp sugar, and 1 tbsp chili powder, then sauté until the kimchi softens. (The sugar cuts through the sourness of the kimchi.)
   
   
5. Mix Rice & Finish with Fried Egg
   Turn down or turn off the heat, add the rice, and mix well using the edge of a spatula to prevent clumping. Once combined, turn the heat back up to high and fry for 1–2 minutes so it gets slightly crispy on the bottom, then drizzle with 1 tbsp sesame oil. Top with a sunny-side-up fried egg to break and mix in—your perfect Paik Jong-won Kimchi Fried Rice is complete!

💡 Recipe Summary & Key Points

Category	Key Cooking Point	Recommended Tip
Scallion Oil & Meat	Fry scallions well in oil to build base flavor	Spam, brisket, or bacon all work great
Caramelizing Soy Sauce	Sizzle soy sauce on the pan floor for smokiness	The core secret of Paik Jong-won's recipe to maximize flavor
Mixing Rice	Mix the rice with heat turned off/low	Prevents burning and ensures even seasoning

This is the ultimate dish to whip up a delicious meal in just 10 minutes using basic pantry staples and kimchi. If you're wondering what to eat tonight, try making this fried rice filled with savory scallion aroma!