Kimchi-pickled zucchini and tomatoes
Use kimchi and its brine to quickly pickle zucchini and tomatoes for a bold, flavor-packed topping — salt zucchini first to draw out excess water for a creamier texture.
A jar of kimchi in the fridge is a gateway to exciting, flavor-packed weeknight cooking. Here, kimchi, along with its brine, is used to quickly pickle tomatoes and zucchini. The salt and acid in the kimchi draws out the juice and sweetness from the tomatoes and tenderizes the vegetables. Since zucchini is close to 95 percent water, start by salting it briefly to draw out excess liquid and any bitterness, resulting in a texture that is creamy rather than soggy. There are many different types of kimchi available -- daikon kimchi is fine to use here, while the milder white variety known as baek-kimchi would also work, giving a sweeter result. Cold, creamy silken tofu is the perfect canvas for this bold, funky pickle-y mixture (which is also quite good on its own).