Golden Ratio! Sweet, Sour, and Chewy Bibim Guksu
Golden Ratio! Sweet, Sour, and Chewy Bibim Guksu
[Easy Bibim Guksu Recipe] Enjoy Fantastic Taste at Home! The Perfect Harmony of Sweet, Spicy, and Chewy
Today, I’m sharing a special lunch menu recipe that will capture everyone’s taste buds: ‘Bibim Guksu’! While one child craved kimchi fried rice and another asked for bibim guksu, I decided to make both instead of playing rock-paper-scissors. Among them, I’ll reveal the secret to easily making bibim guksu at home that rivals restaurant quality, with its chewy noodles and rich sauce. Even without complicated steps, you’ll experience the perfect harmony of chewy noodles and a generous amount of sauce.
Key Bibim Guksu Ingredients- Noodles (Somen or Jungmyeon) 150g (per serving)
- Well-fermented Kimchi (Naengmyeon radish kimchi or Cabbage kimchi) 50g
- Fresh Lettuce 2 leaves
- Aromatic Perilla Leaves 2 leaves
- Crispy Cabbage, a little
- Cucumber, a little
- 1 Boiled Egg (for garnish)
- 1 Cheongyang Red Chili Pepper (optional)
Golden Ratio Sauce Ingredients- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 2 Tbsp (heaping)
- Soy Sauce 1.5 Tbsp
- Vinegar 1/2 Tbsp
- Lemon Juice 3 tsp
- Plum Extract 1 Tbsp
- Sugar 2 tsp
- Minced Garlic 2 cloves (approx. 1 tsp)
- Sesame Oil 1 Tbsp
- Toasted Sesame Seeds or Sesame Powder 1/2 Tbsp
- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 2 Tbsp (heaping)
- Soy Sauce 1.5 Tbsp
- Vinegar 1/2 Tbsp
- Lemon Juice 3 tsp
- Plum Extract 1 Tbsp
- Sugar 2 tsp
- Minced Garlic 2 cloves (approx. 1 tsp)
- Sesame Oil 1 Tbsp
- Toasted Sesame Seeds or Sesame Powder 1/2 Tbsp
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start by preparing the fresh vegetables that will determine the taste of your bibim guksu. Using leftover vegetables from your fridge will make it even more abundant and delicious. Today, I’m using naengmyeon radish kimchi that I have at home, but thinly sliced well-fermented cabbage kimchi also makes a wonderful addition. Thinly slice the cabbage and cucumber for a crunchy texture, and tear the lettuce and perilla leaves into bite-sized pieces. If you’d like a bit of heat, finely chop the Cheongyang chili pepper. (Optional: You can also add other vegetables like bell peppers.)
Step 2
Now it’s time to make the fantastic sauce that will be the star of your bibim guksu. In a bowl, combine 2 Tbsp of gochujang, 1.5 Tbsp of soy sauce, 1/2 Tbsp of vinegar, 3 tsp of refreshing lemon juice, 1 Tbsp of sweet plum extract, and 2 tsp of sugar. Add 2 cloves of minced garlic for flavor, 1 Tbsp of nutty sesame oil, and 1/2 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds or sesame powder. Mix everything thoroughly with a spoon until the ingredients are well combined and there are no lumps. Stir until the sauce is smooth and well-blended. Your delicious bibim guksu sauce is ready!
Step 3
Boiling the noodles to achieve a chewy texture is the key to great bibim guksu! Today, I’m using a generous 150g portion of noodles (somen or jungmyeon) for one serving. (Typically, 100g is considered one serving, but 150g is recommended for a heartier meal. About the size of a 500-won coin held in your palm is a good estimate for one serving.) Fill a pot with plenty of water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water boils, add the noodles. As the water starts boiling again, pour in about 1/2 cup of cold water (using a paper cup). This step is the secret to making the noodles extra firm and chewy. Repeat this pouring of cold water 2-3 times while boiling the noodles until they are about 2/3 transparent. Once the noodles are cooked, immediately rinse them under cold water to remove excess starch. Then, briefly soak them in ice water to enhance their firm texture. Drain the rinsed noodles thoroughly in a colander. Add the prepared sauce generously to the drained noodles, along with all the prepared vegetables, and mix well. Finally, top with a halved boiled egg for a visually appealing bibim guksu. Enjoy!
Step 4
Ta-da! Here it is, a mouth-watering bibim guksu with a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors. It’s so satisfying to complete such a wonderful meal with simple steps!
Step 5
Bibim guksu has endless charm. Not only is it easy to make, but the combination of its stimulating spicy-sweet-sour taste and chewy noodles is exceptional. When you’re feeling sluggish from the heat or have a lack of appetite, a bowl of this bibim guksu will lift your spirits and provide a satisfying meal. It’s a delightful dish that can be enjoyed any time, not just on special occasions. 😀
