Sweet and Sour Jjolmyeon
Sweet and Sour Jjolmyeon
Recreate the Nostalgic Snack Bar Favorite: Easy Homemade Jjolmyeon
As the summer heat intensifies, we naturally crave cooler dishes. Today, we’re making Jjolmyeon, a beloved snack bar menu item perfect for those times when your appetite seems to vanish with the heat. It’s a refreshing and flavorful dish that awakens your taste buds.
Main Ingredients- Jjolmyeon noodles 300g
- Lettuce 5 leaves
- Perilla leaves 5 leaves
- Carrot 1/8
- Cabbage 3 leaves
- Bean sprouts 1 handful
- Hard-boiled egg 1
Spicy and Tangy Sauce- Soy sauce 2 Tbsp
- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 2 Tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) 2 Tbsp
- Sugar 2 Tbsp
- Vinegar 4 Tbsp
- Minced garlic 1/2 Tbsp
- Sesame oil 1 Tbsp
- Toasted sesame seeds 1 Tbsp
- Apple juice 50ml
- Soy sauce 2 Tbsp
- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 2 Tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) 2 Tbsp
- Sugar 2 Tbsp
- Vinegar 4 Tbsp
- Minced garlic 1/2 Tbsp
- Sesame oil 1 Tbsp
- Toasted sesame seeds 1 Tbsp
- Apple juice 50ml
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Rinse the bean sprouts thoroughly. Blanch them in boiling water until crisp-tender, then set aside. Be careful not to overcook them, or they will become mushy.
Step 2
Thinly julienne the cabbage, carrot, perilla leaves, and lettuce. Feel free to adjust the types and quantities of vegetables based on what you have on hand and your personal preference. Fresh, crisp vegetables are key to a delightful Jjolmyeon experience.
Step 3
In a bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients: soy sauce, gochujang, gochugaru, sugar, vinegar, minced garlic, sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds, and apple juice. Stir well until the sugar is dissolved. The apple juice adds a natural sweetness and helps create a sauce that is perfectly thinned for easy mixing with the noodles. You can substitute apple juice with pear juice or even a bit of carbonated beverage for a different twist.
Step 4
If using frozen or fresh Jjolmyeon noodles that are clumped together, gently separate them with your hands before boiling. Cooking them while stuck together can result in a dense, unappealing mass of noodles.
Step 5
Bring a generous pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the Jjolmyeon noodles and cook for about 3 minutes, or according to the package instructions, as cooking times can vary by brand. Once cooked, immediately rinse the noodles under cold running water to stop the cooking process and drain them thoroughly in a colander. This step is crucial for achieving that signature chewy and bouncy texture.
Step 6
Arrange the drained Jjolmyeon noodles on a serving plate or in a large bowl. Artfully pile the prepared julienned vegetables on top of the noodles.
Step 7
Generously drizzle the prepared sweet and tangy sauce over the noodles and vegetables. Place a halved hard-boiled egg in the center as a colorful garnish.
Step 8
The combination of the zesty sauce and crunchy vegetables makes this Jjolmyeon an ideal dish for beating the summer heat and stimulating your appetite. Enjoy this taste of nostalgia, easily recreated in your own kitchen! This will surely be a family favorite throughout the summer.
