Sweet and Sour Bibim Guksu (Spicy Mixed Noodles)
A thin wheat noodle dish tossed in a sweet and tangy gochujang sauce with crisp fresh vegetables.
Translated from Korean by AI and not yet checked by a native speaker. Amounts and numbers are taken directly from the original recipe. Read the Korean original →
A light and refreshing one-bowl noodle dish tossed with crisp vegetables in a spicy, sweet, and tangy sauce. Letting the sauce rest in the fridge for a day or two brings out a deeper savory flavor, and adding a splash of cold water when mixing keeps the noodles delightfully moist.
- Servings
- 2 servings
- Cook time
- 4 minprep not included
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Spiciness
- Spicy
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Thin wheat noodles (somyeon)200 g
- Lettuce3–4 leaves
- Perilla leaves5 leaves
- Carrota little
Bibim sauce (2 servings)
- Gochujang (Korean red chili paste)2 tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)1 tbsp
- Regular soy sauce (jin-ganjang) (or brewed soy sauce (yangjo-ganjang))1 tbsp
- Corn syrup (mulyeot)1 tbsp
- Sugar1 tbsp
- Vinegar2 tbsp
- Mirin (cooking rice wine)1 tbsp
- Minced garlic1/2 tbsp
- Toasted sesame oil1/2 tbsp
- Toasted sesame seeds1 tbsp
- Feel free to use whatever vegetables you have in the fridge, such as soybean sprouts, cabbage, or onion.
- If you are making a large batch to store, make it without the toasted sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds, then keep it refrigerated.
Steps
Prepare the ingredients
For vegetables, I prepared lettuce, perilla leaves, and carrot.
Feel free to use whatever vegetables you have in the fridge, such as soybean sprouts, cabbage, or onion.
Slice vegetables and make the sauce
Shred the lettuce and perilla leaves into moderate widths so you can enjoy their texture, and thinly julienne the carrot.
Add all the bibim sauce ingredients except the toasted sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds, then mix well.
If you let the sauce mature for a day or two, it becomes much deeper and more flavorful.
If you are making a large batch to store, make it without the toasted sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds, then keep it refrigerated.
Boil the noodles
Boil the thin wheat noodles (somyeon) in rolling boiling water for 3 minutes 30 seconds, rinse in cold water, and drain completely.
Season the noodles
For 1 serving of thin wheat noodles, add about 3 to 4 tbsp of the sauce along with 1 to 2 tbsp of cold water to keep the noodles moist when mixing.
Add the toasted sesame seeds and toasted sesame oil, taste, and add more sauce if it tastes bland.
Grinding half of the toasted sesame seeds before adding them maximizes their nutty aroma.
Add all of the sliced vegetables and toss gently to finish.
Complete the dish
I had been craving spicy and tangy bibim guksu so much.
I whipped this up quickly and devoured the entire bowl.
Top with a boiled egg for balanced nutrition and enjoy a delicious meal.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Ppunwife's tips
- If you let the sauce mature for a day or two, it becomes much deeper and more flavorful.
- For 1 serving of thin wheat noodles, add about 3 to 4 tbsp of sauce along with 1 to 2 tbsp of cold water to keep the noodles moist when mixing.
- Grinding half of the toasted sesame seeds before adding them maximizes their nutty aroma.
- Top with a boiled egg for balanced nutrition and enjoy a delicious meal.
FAQ
Is there a trick to keeping the bibim guksu moist rather than dry when mixing?
Adding 1 to 2 tbsp of cold water along with 3 to 4 tbsp of sauce per 1 serving of thin wheat noodles makes it much smoother and more moist.
Are there any tips for making a large batch of sauce in advance?
Make the sauce without the toasted sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds and store it in the refrigerator; letting it mature for a day or two makes the flavor even deeper.
Can I use other vegetables instead of lettuce and perilla leaves?
Yes, you can add any vegetables you have in your refrigerator to your liking, such as cabbage, soybean sprouts, or onion.
How long should I boil the thin wheat noodles in boiling water?
Once the water is at a rolling boil, add the noodles, cook for about 3 minutes 30 seconds, then rinse thoroughly in cold water and drain.
