For This Mother–Daughter Cooking Duo, Home Is Where the Kimchi Is

When Sarah Ahn set out to document her mother’s Korean recipes, she found the sense of home she'd been missing. Now she’s sharing those recipes with the world.

Sarah Ahn (R) is the creator of Ahnest Kitchen and co-author of "Umma" with her mother, Nam Soon (L). America's Test Kitchen/Kritsada Panichgul

Nam Soon Ahn crouches on the floor of her kitchen under the recessed lights and brown cabinets. With latex-gloved hands, she mixes fermented vegetables and herbs in a large metal bowl. Her adult daughter, Sarah Ahn, films her mother and adds her own narration.

“Yes, she does make kimchi on the ground,” Sarah said. “A lot of people ask me why. It’s more ergonomic for my mom ... and it’s something that our ancestors did as well.”