Bibim guksu
Cold spicy noodles
비빔국수 · Cold thin noodles in a sweet, sour and spicy gochujang dressing
Bibim guksu (비빔국수) is a bowl of chilled thin wheat noodles mixed with a sweet, tangy and fiery gochujang dressing and topped with crunchy cucumber, lettuce and kimchi. It is a summer favourite all over Korea, quick enough for lunch and refreshing on a hot day. The noodles are rinsed in cold water until springy, then tossed with the sauce just before eating. Many versions add half a boiled egg; this one is fully vegan. Chef's tip: rinse the noodles hard in cold water, rubbing them like laundry, then drain them really well. Leftover starch or water dulls the dressing and makes the noodles sticky.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
For the noodles
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 clove garlicgrated
For the toppings
- ½ cucumbercut into thin matchsticks
- 3 ½ oz kimchivegetarian, made without fish sauce or salted shrimp; chopped
- 4 lettuce leavesfinely shredded
- 1 spring onionfinely sliced
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Mix 3 tbsp gochujang (Korean chilli paste), 1 tsp gochugaru (Korean chilli flakes), 3 tbsp rice vinegar, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil and 1 clove garlic in a large bowl until smooth. Taste: it should be sweet, sour and spicy all at once.
Step 2: Bring a large pan of water to a rolling boil and add 7 oz somyeon (thin wheat noodles), stirring so they don't stick. When the water foams up, add a cup of cold water; when it boils again, the noodles are done, about 3–4 minutes in all.
4 minStep 3: Drain the noodles and rinse them under cold running water, rubbing them between your hands to wash off the starch, until they are cold and springy. Drain very well.
Step 4: Add the noodles to the bowl of dressing with 3 ½ oz kimchi and toss until evenly coated.
Step 5: Twist the noodles into two bowls and top with ½ cucumber, 4 lettuce leaves, 1 spring onion and 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds. Serve straight away, while cold.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 480 kcal
- Protein
- 13 g
- Carbs
- 92 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bibim guksu take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of rice vinegar?
- Cider vinegar with a pinch of sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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