Bibim-Guksu is a popular cold Korean noodle dish made with very thin wheat noodles called somyeon or Somen noodles with added spice paste, sweetener, sesame oil and Kimchi. It is one of the most popular traditional noodle dishes in Korean cuisine and especially popular during summer.
Bibim guksu
Cold noodles might be a weird recipe for many. But in Korea cold noodles is a common dish which is popular during Summer. A bowl of cold noodles will surely calm you down during hot summer season.
This is a quick, and easy to follow recipe for Bibim Guksu. It takes less than 10 minutes to make. The sauce for Bibim guksu doesn't need any cooking except cooking of the noodles.
About Bibim Guksu
Bibim guksu is a popular Cold Korean noodle dish made with Somen noodles which is a thin variety of wheat noodles. The sauce for bibim guksu is made with Kimchi, garlic, gochujang, sugar and sesame oil. I made a simple sauce using handful of ingredients, the recipe which I followed is from maangchi and it turned out super yummy.
In this recipe, I used Kimchi brine for the tart tangy taste which pairs well with gochujang, sugar and sesame oil. Toss cooked noodles in this sauce which coats each strands of the noodles and makes it super tasty. The noodles have a spicy taste from gochujang, kimchi and kimchi brine. So the finely julienned cucumber and boiled egg cools the palate.
Some recipe for bibim guksu uses ground onion or green onion with apples, gochugaru, rice vinegar, garlic, sugar or honey for sweet taste. Some recipe also uses soy sauce in the sauce. You can top the noodles with vegetables like cucumber, carrots, lettuce, zucchini. This recipe is easily customisable to your taste. Since this noodle dish is served cold, you can boil the noodles and prepare the sauce in advance and store in fridge which makes it a perfect lunch box recipe.
Similar Korean Recipes
10 minute Bibim Guksu
Korean cold noodles can be made using different recipes, it is either served with an icy broth or a sweet and spicy bibim sauce. The sauce for bibim guksu which I shared here is made with kimchi, gochujang, sesame oil, sugar and garlic. It is easy and fast to make.
More Popular Korean Dishes
Ingredients
Noodles - I used Somen noodles which is a thin wheat noodles. You can use any variety of noodles including shirataki noodles too.
Gochujang - Korean red pepper paste also known as gochujang is used in the sauce which creates a thick glossy sauce.
Kimchi - kimchi has variety of flavour profile which makes a great base to the sauce. cabbage is chopped finely which adds texture to the noodle dish. The kimchi brine adds a tart taste to the sauce.
Garlic - even though this is optional, it adds aroma and taste.
Sugar - I used sugar for the sauce. You can use honey or brown sugar too.
Toasted sesame oil - one of the main ingredient for the noodle is this toasted sesame oil.
Toppings - boiled eggs, cucumbers, toasted crushed sesame seeds for topping.
Expert Tips
- Chop kimchi before mixing into the sauce for even distribution.
- You can skip kimchi brine if you want less spicy noodles.
- Reduce garlic if you don't want it to be pungent.
- Top the noodles with carrots, lettuce as well.
- Rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, can be used in the sauce too.
- You can use grated apple in the sauce instead of sugar.
Serving & Storage
Since this noodle dish is served cold, you can boil the noodles and prepare the sauce in advance and store in fridge which makes it a perfect lunch box recipe. Korean spicy noodles stays fresh upto 3 to 4 days in fridge.
Step by Step Pictures
1)Bring lots of water to a full boil. Add in Somen noodles or any noodles of choice. Boil as per package directions.
2)Once cooked, strain this through a sieve or colander. Rinse them with plenty of cold water while rubbing the noodles so the excess starch washes away.
3)Strain this completely to remove excess water. Set aside.
4)Slice cucumber thinly and cut into julienne. Set aside till needed.
5)Make bibim guksu sauce. Take chopped Kimchi, kimchi brine, gochujang in a bowl.
6)Add in peeled chopped garlic, and sugar.
7)Add in toasted sesame oil.
8) Mix this really well. Taste and adjust as per your preference.
9)Now add in the boiled strained noodles and toss well with the kimchi paste.
10)Bibim guksu is ready to serve.
11)Now take this noodles in a bowl.
12)Top with julienned cucumber and toasted crushed sesame seeds.
📖 Recipe Card
Bibim Guksu (Korean Spicy Cold Noodles)
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Sauce Pan
Ingredients
- ½ cup Kimchi finely chopped
- ¼ cup Kimchi brine
- 2 tablespoon Gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
- 2 cloves Garlic peeled and minced
- 1 tablespoon Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Toasted Sesame oil
- 200 grams Somen noodles thin wheat noodles
- 1 tablespoon Toasted sesame seeds crushed
- 1 medium Cucumber julienned
- 2 no Boiled egg optional
Instructions
- Bring lots of water to a full boil. Add in Somen noodles or any noodles of choice. Boil as per package directions. Once cooked, strain this through a sieve or colander. Rinse them with plenty of cold water while rubbing the noodles so the excess starch washes away. Strain this completely to remove excess water. Set aside.
- Take kimchi, kimchi brine, gochujang, garlic, sesame oil, sugar in a bowl and mix well. Taste and adjust as per your preference.
- Now add in the boiled strained noodles and toss well with the kimchi paste.
- Now take this noodles in a bowl. Top with julienned cucumber and toasted crushed sesame seeds.
- Serve cold. cucumber, sesame seeds and boiled egg. Serve cold.
Notes
- Chop kimchi before mixing into the sauce for even distribution.
- You can skip kimchi brine if you want less spicy noodles.
- Reduce garlic if you don't want it to be pungent.
- Top the noodles with carrots, lettuce as well.
- Rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, can be used in the sauce too.
- You can use grated apple in the sauce instead of sugar.
Serving & Storage
Since this noodle dish is served cold, you can boil the noodles and prepare the sauce in advance and store in fridge which makes it a perfect lunch box recipe. Korean spicy noodles stays fresh upto 3 to 4 days in fridge.Nutrition
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