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Bibimguksu

Bibimguksu, a Korean Cold Noodle dish that comes together in a minute. Thin noodles with a sauce made of Gochujang, vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and ketchup. Refreshing, sweet, tangy and delicious.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time4 minutes
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: Asian-American, Korean
Keyword: Bibim Guksu, Cold noodles, easy recipe
Servings: 2 servings

Ingredients

Noodles

  • 2-3 bundles somen (4-5 ounces) thin wheat noodles or angel hair pasta

The Sauce:

  • 1 Tbsp gochujang Korean chili paste
  • 1 Tbsp ketchup
  • 1 Tbsp soy sauce if not using dashi increase to 2 tbsp
  • 1 Tbsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 Tbsp Maesil Cheong (Plum Extract) substitute sugar or honey
  • 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1 Tbsp gochugaru Korean chili flakes, adjust for heat. Too spicy, use 1/2 tbsp.
  • 1/2-1 Tbsp Kappo Shiro Dashi soup base concentrate, optional
  • 1-2 Tbsp pickling liquid or water

Quick Pickled Cucumbers and/or Radishes

  • 3 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced* little less than 1/8" thick. Add watermelon radishes if desired.
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp sugar*
  • 1 tsp salt

Toppings:

  • 1/2 cup julienned cucumber or pickled cucumbers if not using pickling cucumbers, julienne cucumbers and add raw
  • 1 med-boiled or hard-boiled egg split in half
  • 1 Tbsp roasted sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup shredded poached chicken optional
  • 1/2 cup shredded lettuce or cabbage optional, recommended
  • seasoned seaweed, nori sheets or furikake garnish

Instructions

Sauce: Make ahead of time to allow flavors to blend

  • In a bowl, whisk together the gochujang, ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, sesame seeds, sugar, dashi, and sesame oil until smooth. If it is too thick, add 1 T water. Adjust to taste.

Somen

  • Cook the Noodles: Boil the somyeon according to package directions (about 2-3 minutes). You can use Angel Hair Pasta instead.
  • Drain the noodles and rinse them vigorously under ice-cold water while rubbing them gently to remove excess starch. Squeeze excess water from noodles.
  • Place noodles in a bowl. Pour the sauce over the noodles and mix well.
  • Top with desired toppings. Cucumbers, a boiled egg, and a generous sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Quick Cucumber Pickling

  • Combine vinegar, sugar and salt in bowl.
  • Thinly slice cucumbers and radish and place in pickling solution for 30 minutes.
  • Drain and squeeze excess liquid from cucumbers. Reserve pickling solution.

Notes

Recipe makes a generous amount of sauce. Add to taste.