Spicy and Sweet Jaengban-guksu (Korean Cold Noodles)
Spicy and Sweet Jaengban-guksu (Korean Cold Noodles)
Delicious Noodle Dish Jaengban-guksu for the Whole Family
Do you enjoy noodle dishes? While I don’t typically gravitate towards pasta or noodles myself, there are times when I crave them. If I were dining alone, I’d probably whip up a simple portion. However, today is special! My father is off work, my mother is taking some time off due to COVID-19, and I’ve received an extended vacation starting today. So, I decided to make a generous serving of Jaengban-guksu for my parents and me to enjoy together. There are many ways to make delicious Jaengban-guksu, but I believe the most crucial element is the sauce. While slicing vegetables thinly and cooking buckwheat noodles perfectly are important, a flavorful sauce is what truly elevates the dish. Most recipes online for Jaengban-guksu are similar, but the sauces can vary widely. I think the best approach is to adjust the sauce ingredients to suit your personal taste. If you prefer a sauce that’s not overly spicy and stimulating to the palate, like mine, following my blog’s recipe for Jaengban-guksu might be a great choice. Let’s begin making Jaengban-guksu right now!
Ingredients- Buckwheat noodles (soba) for 3 servings
- 1 yellow bell pepper
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1/2 cucumber
- 1/2 onion
- 1/3 carrot
- 1/5 red cabbage
- 1/8 green cabbage
Sauce- 6 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 4 Tbsp vinegar
- 3 Tbsp oligosaccharide (or corn syrup)
- 2 Tbsp Mirin (rice wine)
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp wasabi (or mustard)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 6 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 4 Tbsp vinegar
- 3 Tbsp oligosaccharide (or corn syrup)
- 2 Tbsp Mirin (rice wine)
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp wasabi (or mustard)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Finely julienne the onion into strips about 0.3cm thick. Stack the perilla leaves (kkaennip), roll them tightly, and then slice them into strips of about 0.3cm thickness, similar to the onion. This ensures the vegetables blend well with the noodles.
Step 2
Thinly shred the green cabbage and red cabbage into strips approximately 0.3cm wide. After washing them thoroughly. These colorful cabbages will make the Jaengban-guksu look even more appealing.
Step 3
Trim the ends off the cucumber and slice it into thin, half-moon or elongated strips about 0.3cm thick. Peel the carrot and cut it into similarly sized julienne strips. It’s best to cut them slightly thicker to maintain a pleasant crispness.
Step 4
Remove the seeds from the red and yellow bell peppers, wash them, and then slice them into julienne strips approximately 0.3cm thick. Their vibrant colors will add a festive touch to your dish.
Step 5
Arrange all the prepared vegetables – onion, perilla leaves, green and red cabbage, cucumber, carrot, and bell peppers – beautifully around the edge of a large serving platter. Arranging them by color will make the dish visually stunning.
Step 6
Now it’s time to cook the buckwheat noodles. Bring a generous pot of water to a rolling boil and add the buckwheat noodles. Cook them for about 4 to 5 minutes, or slightly less than the package instructions suggest (about 30 seconds to 1 minute less). Overcooking can make them mushy and affect the texture.
Step 7
Once the noodles are cooked, immediately drain them and rinse them thoroughly under cold running water. This step removes excess starch and ensures the noodles are firm and chewy.
Step 8
After rinsing in cold water, drain the noodles well in a colander. It’s crucial to remove as much water as possible so the sauce doesn’t become diluted. You can gently press them to squeeze out any remaining water.
Step 9
Place the well-drained buckwheat noodles in the center of the platter, on top of the artfully arranged vegetables. Finally, generously drizzle the pre-made, delicious sauce over the noodles. Your flavorful Jaengban-guksu, perfect for the whole family to enjoy, is now complete! Toss well and savor every bite.
