Korean Bibim Naengmyun (Instant Spicy Cold Noodles)
By: olivia kim
Published: Sunday, June 3, 2012 - 9:17am

Ingredients




•2 Instant Bibim-myun packages
•1 tbsp gochujang (red pepper paste)
•2 hard boiled eggs
•2, 3 pieces red leaf lettuce, thinly shredded
•1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced
•1/2 cup kimchi, thinly sliced
•1/2 tsp sesame seeds (garnish)
•alfalfa sprouts (garnish)

Preparation

1 1. Prepare the vegetables by thinly slicing them into 2-inch strips. This allows them to be eaten comfortably with the noodles. Shred the lettuce into desired pieces and lay them as a bed for the noodles. 2 2. Boil the noodles in pot for about 7 minutes or shortly after the noodles separate on their own. It's best to have slightly undercooked noodles as opposed to overcooked noodles, as they will continue to soften as you eat them. For extra spiciness, add in 1 tbsp of gochujang (red pepper paste) to the original sauce packets. 3 3. After draining the noodles under cold water for several minutes, top on the bed of lettuce and top with pre-cut vegetables and garnish with sesame seeds and alfalfa sprouts. Add the spicy sauce according to taste preference. Enjoy!

About

Though I am not a big fan of cold dishes, this instant bibim naengmyun (Korean cold noodles) is pretty refreshing and filling at the same time. The original instant version is simply cold noodles mixed in with the spicy hot sauce (which is great in itself despite its simplicity) but when you add some vegetables and lettuce it really makes a complete meal. This was just one of our lunch menu items last week when the weather got considerably warm. For those not familiar with Korean noodles, the more popular version called mul naengmyun (chilled Korean noodles) is a hit with noodle lovers. They are usually topped with the same ingredients of hard boiled eggs, julienned cucumbers, pear or apple slices, and beef strips, accompanied by vinegar and hot mustard sauces nearby. This latter version is not spicy compared to bibim naengmyun but it is equally as good. We still haven't posted an official recipe for a cold noodle dish, but with the warmer weather ahead I think we'll have something posted in no time.
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