If you enjoy spicy food and Korean cuisine, you are in for a treat! Gochujang noodles are a delicious and simple dish suitable for any occasion. Gochujang is a fermented Korean chili paste with a fiery, sweet, and savory flavor. It’s a common component in Korean cooking and may be found in soups, stews, and marinades.
We’ll use gochujang to make a spicy and savory sauce for our noodles in this dish. We’ll also add some vegetables and protein to round out the dish. This recipe is easily customizable, so substitute your favorite vegetables and protein.
Ingredients
- 1 package (8 oz) of udon noodles
- 1/4 cup gochujang, or as desired
- 1/2 cup divided water
- 2 tbsp of soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1 tbsp. Fresh lime juice
- 2 tbsp of olive oil
- 1 dinosaur (lacinato) kale bunch (10 oz. ), ribs removed and coarsely sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped scallions
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1/2 cup cucumber, sliced into matchsticks
- sesame seeds, toasted
- sesame oil that has been roasted
- 1/2 lime, sliced into four wedges for serving
Directions
- Gather all of the ingredients.
- Warm up a large saucepan of lightly salted water. Cook udon noodles in boiling water, stirring regularly, for 10 to 12 minutes, or until soft but firm to the bite. Set aside after draining and rinsing with cool water.
- Combine gochujang, 1/4 cup water, soy sauce, maple syrup, and lime juice in a mixing bowl. Set aside the sauce.
- Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a wok or big skillet until it shimmers. Add kale, 1/4 cup scallions, garlic, salt, and pepper to taste. Cook, tossing regularly with tongs, for 2 minutes, or until greens are slightly wilted and tender, and garlic and onions are glossy and almost translucent. Cook until the sauce has slightly thickened and deepened in color, about 1 to 2 minutes more.
- Cook until the sauce is boiling where it pools, about 2 to 3 minutes, adding the remaining 1/4 cup water 1 tablespoon at a time if the additional sauce is needed to coat the noodles.
- Serve with cucumber, the remaining 1/4 cup of scallions, and sesame seeds on top. Serve heated with lime wedges and drizzled with sesame oil.
Tips:
If you can’t get gochujang paste, use Sriracha or a similar hot sauce instead.
If you’re vegetarian or vegan, you can replace the chicken with tofu or leave it out entirely.
Feel free to add more vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, or snow peas, to this recipe.
It is crucial to know that gochujang paste can be spicy for those unfamiliar. However, sweetness and savory notes also come through, making it a complex and tasty component. If you like a milder flavor, reduce the amount of gochujang paste in the recipe.
Sharing food allows Koreans to show their love and care for others. Gochujang noodles are a delicious dish to provide to friends and family. This dish will impress and satisfy everyone’s taste buds, whether it’s a casual get-together or a formal event.
In conclusion, gochujang noodles are a delicious and nutritious Korean meal that is simple to prepare and personalize. It’s a comprehensive meal that’s excellent for any occasion, thanks to its tasty and spicy sauce, succulent chicken, and diversity of vegetables. So try it and share it with your family and friends; it’s sure to become a new favorite in your recipe collection.
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