Korean

Gochujang Noodle Bowl

Spicy, savory, sweet & totally addictive — ready in 25 minutes.

The Story

Spicy, savory, sweet & totally addictive — ready in 25 minutes.

From the night markets of Seoul, where bibim-guksu vendors slick noodles in gochujang under neon, comes a bowl that hits every craving at once.

Ingredients

  • <span class="rr-qty" data-rr-qty-num="7" data-rr-qty-unit="oz">7 oz</span> (200g) noodles (udon, soba, rice noodles, or spaghetti)
  • <span class="rr-qty" data-rr-qty-num="14" data-rr-qty-unit="oz">14 oz</span> (400g) tofu, pressed & cubed (or tempeh / edamame)
  • <span class="rr-qty" data-rr-qty-num="2" data-rr-qty-unit="tbsp">2 tbsp</span> gochujang
  • <span class="rr-qty" data-rr-qty-num="1" data-rr-qty-unit="tbsp">1 tbsp</span> soy sauce (tamari for GF)
  • <span class="rr-qty" data-rr-qty-num="1" data-rr-qty-unit="tbsp">1 tbsp</span> rice vinegar
  • <span class="rr-qty" data-rr-qty-num="1" data-rr-qty-unit="tbsp">1 tbsp</span> maple syrup
  • <span class="rr-qty" data-rr-qty-num="1" data-rr-qty-unit="tsp">1 tsp</span> sesame oil
  • <span class="rr-qty" data-rr-qty-num="1" data-rr-qty-unit="">1 clove</span> garlic, minced

Step 1

Cook the noodles

Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside — cold noodles grip the sauce better.

Step 2

Make the sauce

Whisk gochujang, soy, rice vinegar, maple, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and 2 tbsp water until smooth and glossy. Taste — add the last tbsp of water if it's clinging to the whisk.

Secret Tip

The trick restaurants use: finish the sauce off-heat with a teaspoon of cold butter. The fat captures the volatile aromatics of the gochujang and coats every noodle with that glossy, restaurant-style sheen home cooks never quite get. (Vegan? Use refined coconut oil — same magic, no dairy.)

Make it tonight

Gochujang Noodle Bowl

Read the full recipe →