Description
This Easy Korean Spicy Noodles recipe delivers a flavorful, bold dish combining chewy noodles with a spicy, sweet, and tangy sauce made from traditional Korean ingredients like gochujang and gochugaru. Perfect for a quick and satisfying meal, it can be customized with your choice of protein and vegetables for added texture and nutrition.
Ingredients
Scale
Noodles and Boiling
- 8 oz (225g) noodles (udon, ramen, or rice noodles)
- 4 cups water (for boiling)
- ½ teaspoon salt
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
- 1 tablespoon gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes, optional for extra heat)
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (for sweetness)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar (for balance)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
Vegetables & Protein (Optional)
- 1 green onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- ½ cup mushrooms, sliced (optional)
- ½ cup baby spinach or bok choy (optional)
- ½ cup protein (tofu, shrimp, or chicken) (optional)
Instructions
- Boil Water and Cook Noodles. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil to prepare for cooking the noodles.
- Cook Noodles. Add the noodles to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until they reach an al dente texture.
- Drain and Rinse. Drain the noodles and rinse them under cold water to stop cooking and prevent stickiness; set aside.
- Prepare Sauce. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together gochujang, soy sauce, gochugaru, honey, sesame oil, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and grated ginger until well combined.
- Adjust Seasoning. Taste the sauce and adjust by adding more honey for sweetness, gochugaru for extra spice, or rice vinegar for additional tang as preferred.
- Heat Sesame Oil. Warm 1 teaspoon of sesame oil in a skillet over medium heat to prepare for stir-frying.
- Cook Protein (Optional). If using protein such as tofu, shrimp, or chicken, add it to the skillet and cook thoroughly until fully done, then remove from skillet and set aside.
- Stir-Fry Vegetables (Optional). Add mushrooms, baby spinach, or bok choy to the skillet and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until vegetables are tender.
- Add Noodles and Sauce. Toss the cooked noodles into the skillet and pour the spicy sauce over the noodles and vegetables.
- Combine Thoroughly. Stir well to evenly coat the noodles and other ingredients with the sauce, blending flavors together.
- Garnish. Transfer the noodles to a serving bowl and sprinkle with chopped green onions and sesame seeds for garnish.
- Serve. Serve immediately to enjoy the bold, spicy flavors of this delicious Korean noodle dish.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of gochugaru or gochujang to control the spiciness level according to your preference.
- For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce and ensure the noodles selected are gluten-free.
- Adding vegetables like bok choy or spinach increases the nutritional value and adds freshness to the dish.
- Protein choice is flexible: tofu for a vegetarian option, or shrimp/chicken for extra protein.
- Rinsing noodles in cold water after boiling prevents them from clumping together.
- If you prefer a vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup.
