This Bibim Guksu, or Korean Spicy Cold Noodles recipe is light, refreshing and packed with flavour. Featuring chewy somyeon noodles, kimchi and fresh vegetables doused in a sweet and spicy gochujang based sauce. A easy and quick recipe, ready in just 15 minutes! Vegan + Gluten Free Option
My Korean food cravings hasn’t died yet! I always associate Korean cuisine to be warming and comforting, probably because of all the spicy sauces they use. However, recently tried a Cold Spicy Korean Noodle dish and had to recreate it! It was basically a Korean cold noodle salad with noodles, fresh vegetables and a sweet-spicy gochujang sauce. Many of the ones I’ve seen on menu’s are actually already vegetarian because there is no meat in it, but sometimes comes with an egg or includes hidden anchovies in the sauce or kimchi. To make this a vegan Korean noodle dish, I omitted the egg and made the sauce from scratch. I played around with different ratios of ingredients and loved the turn out of this particular one!
What is Bibim Guksu?
Bibim guksu is a cold noodle dish that is typically made with somyeon (also called somen) noodles which are thin wheat flour noodles. There isn’t really a hard set rule on toppings but usually includes some fresh vegetables and kimchi. The dish then gets mixed with a sweet and spicy bibim sauce that is soy sauce and gochujang based.
Ingredients to Make Korean Spicy Cold Noodles
For the sauce, you’ll need:
- soy sauce, for saltiness
- gochujang, for spice
- rice vinegar, for tang
- korean pear or fuji apple, for a fruity sweetness
- garlic, for flavour
- sesame oil, for aroma
- sesame seeds, for a slight nuttiness
And to assemble the Bibim Guksu, you’ll need:
- somyeon/somen noodles, or soba/buckwheat noodles for gluten free
- Japanese cucumber
- kimchi
- lettuce
- cabbage
Of course, feel free to play around with the toppings and include your favourite fresh crispy vegetables!
As a funny side note… I added in heaps more of sesame seeds to the sauce because I love the nuttiness it gives but play around with the ratio of sauce ingredients to find what you like.
How to Make Delicious Korean Spicy Cold Noodles
- First, prep the bibim sauce by mixing all the ingredients together.
- Then prep the vegetables by thinly slicing them. Place the sauce and toppings in the fridge to keep them chill.
- Cook the somen noodles following the directions on the package. Prepare a bowl of water with ice. Once the noodles are finished cooking, drain and place into the bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Then drain and rinse with cold water.
- Plate by adding the noodles in a shallow bowl, then adding on the toppings and the sauce.
- Mix the bowl until all the noodles are covered with the sauce, then enjoy!
This Vegan version of Korean Spicy Cold Noodle recipe takes less than 15 minutes to put together!
Can I make Bibim Guksu ahead of time?
The sauce can defiantly be made ahead of time. It can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days in an air tight jar. You can make this meal ahead of time, but the noodles tend to get a little dry by the end of the day. If bringing it for lunch, store with a ice pack but don’t place it into the fridge. If you’re having left overs for dinner, just rinse the somen noodles through cold water, drain and then add the toppings and sauce.
As you can see, it’s SUPER easy to make Korean Spicy Noodles and although it has heat to it, it’s very refreshing and perfect for the summer!
More Cold Noodle Dishes to Try!
- Vietnamese Vermicelli Salad with Tofu
- Vegan Hiyashi Chuka
- Pad Thai Zucchini Noodles with Jackfruit Chicken
- Sesame Miso Noodle Salad
- Vegan Bun Chay(Chilled Vietnamese noodles)
If you recreate this Bibim Guksu recipe let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and rating below or by tagging me on Instagram @Okonomikitchen, I love seeing all of your tasty recreations!
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Bibim Guksu (Korean Spicy Cold Noodles)
- Author: Lisa Kitahara
- Total Time: 15
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Description
This Bibim Guksu, or Korean Spicy Cold Noodles recipe is light, refreshing and packed with flavour. Featuring chewy somyeon noodles, kimchi and fresh vegetables doused in a sweet and spicy gochujang based sauce. A easy and quick recipe, ready in just 15 minutes! Vegan + Gluten Free Option
Ingredients
UnitsScale
Bibim Sauce:
- 1/4 Korean pear or Fuji apple (60g), grated
- 3 Tbsp gochujang (58g)
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar (30g)
- 2 tbsp sugar (22g)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce (16g)
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil (14g)
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds (10g)
Noodles:
- 160g Somen noodles, dry
- 1 Japanese (or Persian) cucumber, julienned
- 1/2 cup kimchi (80g)
- 4 leaves lettuce thinly sliced (around 80g)
- 3 asian cabbage leaves, thinly sliced (around 130g)
Instructions
- Mix all sauce ingredients and place in the fridge to chill.
- Prepare the vegetables by slicing them and keep in the fridge to cool.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook somen noodles according to the package. Drain and shock in cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Place the noodles in the middle of a shallow bowl and add toppings. Then add on the sauce and enjoy!
Notes
- Gluten Free: Use buckwheat or soba noodles made from 100% buckwheat flour
- To store: The sauce can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days in an air tight jar
- Nutritional Information Disclaimer: Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated on an online tool (Cronometer).
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 5
- Category: Entree
- Method: Stove top
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 565
- Sugar: 32.7g
- Sodium: 2605mg
- Fat: 11.2g
- Saturated Fat: 1.7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8.6g
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 101.7g
- Fiber: 11.5g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 0
Keywords: korean cold spicy noodles
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About Lisa
I'm Lisa, a home cook, recipe developer and founder of Okonomi Kitchen. Here, you'll find a mix of classic and modernized Japanese recipes, and creative, plant-forward meal inspiration using seasonal ingredients. I hope to share more about Japanese cuisine and culture through food and recipes.
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I'm an avid enthusiast and expert in Korean cuisine, particularly when it comes to the delightful world of Bibim Guksu, or Korean Spicy Cold Noodles. My passion for Korean food extends beyond its popular dishes, delving into the intricacies of flavors, textures, and regional variations. Allow me to share my depth of knowledge to help you understand and appreciate the key concepts and ingredients mentioned in the article.
1. Bibim Guksu Overview:
- Bibim Guksu is a Korean cold noodle dish, featuring somyeon noodles, which are thin wheat flour noodles. It is characterized by a refreshing blend of fresh vegetables and a sweet-spicy bibim sauce.
2. Ingredients for Bibim Sauce:
- Soy Sauce: Adds saltiness to the sauce.
- Gochujang: Provides spiciness and depth of flavor.
- Rice Vinegar: Introduces tanginess to balance the flavors.
- Korean Pear or Fuji Apple: Contributes fruity sweetness.
- Garlic: Enhances the overall flavor profile.
- Sesame Oil: Adds aromatic notes.
- Sesame Seeds: Imparts a slight nuttiness to the sauce.
3. Assembly and Toppings:
- Noodles: Somyeon (or somen) noodles are used, and there's an option for gluten-free with soba/buckwheat noodles.
- Vegetables: Japanese cucumber, kimchi, lettuce, and cabbage are suggested toppings. The article encourages experimentation with other fresh crispy vegetables.
4. Preparation and Cooking:
- Preparation: Bibim sauce is prepared by combining the listed ingredients. Vegetables are thinly sliced and kept in the fridge.
- Cooking Noodles: Somen noodles are cooked per package instructions, then cooled in ice water to stop the cooking process.
- Assembly: Noodles are plated in a shallow bowl, topped with vegetables, and covered with the bibim sauce.
5. Vegan and Gluten-Free Options:
- The article provides a vegan version of the Bibim Guksu recipe by omitting the egg and making the sauce from scratch. There's also a gluten-free option using soba/buckwheat noodles.
6. Making Ahead of Time:
- The bibim sauce can be prepared ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. However, it's noted that noodles may become dry if made too far in advance.
7. Additional Cold Noodle Dishes:
- The article suggests other cold noodle dishes to try, showcasing the versatility of this culinary theme, including Vietnamese Vermicelli Salad, Vegan Hiyashi Chuka, Pad Thai Zucchini Noodles, Sesame Miso Noodle Salad, and Vegan Bun Chay.
8. Nutritional Information:
- The article provides nutritional information per serving, including calories, sugar, sodium, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, and protein.
In conclusion, Bibim Guksu is not only a delicious Korean dish but also a testament to the culinary artistry involved in balancing flavors and textures. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a novice, this recipe promises a delightful culinary journey into the heart of Korean cuisine.