Bonus: you can have it on the table in just 30 minutes!
Why this recipe works
Crazy good sauce. This recipe begins with an unbelievably good sauce that puts hard-hitting ingredients on display. Korean superstar ingredient gochujang adds a spicy umami funk, soy sauce savory depth, toasted sesame oil nutty richness, and mirin a complex sweet tang. Every bite is bursting with just the right amount of spice, savoriness, and tang. Incredible texture. The combination of sticky, lustrous gochujang, rich toasted sesame oil, and syrupy mirin creates a sauce that perfectly clings to the noodles. While you can use any noodle, fresh or frozen udon noodles take this dish to the next level with their bouncy, supple, and slurpable texture. Big flavor, easy to make. While you will definitely find restaurant-worthy flavors here, this entire dish comes together in just 30 minutes. No fancy methods or tools are needed, either. You can stop cravings in their tracks by making a double batch of the gochujang sauce. Keep it in your fridge for at least a week, and pull it out when you’re craving saucy, spicy noodles in a hurry!
Ingredient notes
The crave-worthy flavors in this recipe come from a handful of Korean and Japanese ingredients.
Gochujang
Gochujang is a Korean staple and one of my favorite ingredients. A fermented chili paste that’s spicy, subtly sweet and tangy, and deeply savory, it’s made of gochugaru (Korean chile flakes), fermented soybeans, glutinous rice, and salt (read more about gochujang here!). It’s the backbone of my Korean Cucumber Salad as well as the sauce for these noodles.
Soy sauce
Just like gochujang, this builds another layer of umami-richness, making the sauce irresistibly tasty. Substitute: You can use tamari or gluten free soy sauce if you’re gluten free.
Toasted sesame oil
Used often in Korean cooking, toasted sesame oil gives the sauce a nutty flavor and rich mouthfeel. I’ve tried a lot of brands, and this toasted sesame oil is hands down my favorite (affiliate link).
Mirin
This is a type of Japanese fermented rice wine that lends deeply funky, tangy, and slightly sweet flavors, as well as a rich body to the sauce. Where to buy: Mirin is sold at many well-stocked grocery stores (it may be labeled as Aji-Mirin, which means “tastes like mirin”), in East Asian markets, and online. Substitute: Use rice vinegar if you can’t find mirin. Rice vinegar isn’t sweet like mirin though, so use more brown sugar (2 TBSP instead of 1.5 TBSP). If you don’t have either, Bon Appetit suggests using dry sherry, marsala wine, or white wine vinegar.
Brown sugar
This adds the necessary sweetness to the sauce, taming the heat from the gochujang and enhancing the savoriness. You can use coconut sugar, but we don’t recommend using a liquid sweetener like maple syrup or agave, as it will thin the sauce out.
Udon noodles
Fresh or frozen udon noodles always came out on top when testing this recipe. No surprise there! Just like in my 15-Minute Vegan Chili Garlic Noodles, they came out bouncy, chewy, and slurpy every time, and never left too much sauce behind. Udon noodles are a type of thick Japanese wheat noodle made from just flour, water, and salt. Both fresh and frozen noodles work well here. Where to buy: You can find udon noodles at East Asian markets in the refrigerated or frozen section. You may also find shelf-stable, vacuum-sealed udon noodles at these markets. Substitute: If you can’t find them, use dried udon noodles or another noodle variety that isn’t too thin (thin noodles, like rice vermicelli, will wilt under the weight of the sauce). Even Italian pasta, like linguine or spaghetti, will work well, despite its unconventionality. When subbing dried noodles, the weight of noodles will be different, so check out the Tips section!
Vegetables
Go ahead and get creative here – any quick-cooking vegetable works great. I love this dish with shredded Napa cabbage and/or red bell peppers, but check out the Variations section for more suggestions.
Step-by-step instructions
Cook the noodles according to the package instructions, but cook for 1 minute less than the package instructions to prevent a soggy dish. Drain, reserving some noodle water, and set aside. Next, make the gochujang sauce by whisking the gochujang, toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and gochugaru in a bowl. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the scallion whites and greens, garlic, and ginger, as well as vegetables like bell peppers or broccoli. Sauté for a few minutes, then add delicate vegetables like Napa cabbage, bok choy leaves, or snow peas. Stir fry until crisp-tender. Pour the gochujang sauce into the pan along with the sesame seeds. Next, add the cooked noodles and toss to coat. If needed, add a splash of noodle water to help bring the sauce together. Tip: You shouldn’t need to add noodle water if using fresh or frozen udon noodles. It’s more likely you’ll need to add it if using dried noodles. Take off the heat and garnish with reserved scallion greens and Thai basil or cilantro. Gently toss, then enjoy!
Tips for making this recipe
Follow these helpful tips before putting the noodles and sauce together:
Udon noodles: fresh vs. dried
While both fresh and dried noodles will yield the same results, you’ll need to adjust the amount you use depending on the variety you choose: Fresh udon noodles = use 16 ounces (450g) Frozen udon noodles = use 24 ounces (680g) (they’re heavier) Dried udon or other dried noodles = use 8 to 9 ounces (230 to 250g)
Save the noodle water
That starch in the leftover noodle water will help your sauce cling to the noodles, especially if using dried noodles. Set a bowl underneath your colander so you don’t forget to save some water!
Use roasted or toasted sesame seeds
The sesame seeds need to be toasted or roasted ahead of time to bring out their full flavor. You can buy pre-roasted sesame seeds at many grocery stores and Asian markets, but it’s easy to toast them yourself. Just heat a frying pan over medium heat for a couple minutes, then add the sesame seeds. Toss occasionally until they’re lightly golden and slightly fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Make a trip to your Asian market
Your local Asian market will have some or all of these ingredients, especially the gochujang, mirin, and udon noodles. Using the proper ingredients also means you’ll have an easier time achieving the best flavors and textures… All while having fun exploring new cuisines! Pro tip: Pick up some Thai basil if you see it! It adds incredible flavor as a finishing ingredient here.
Variations
You can customize these gochujang noodles quite a bit!
Swap out the vegetables
Pick one vegetable or use half the amount of two vegetables! Napa cabbage: 6 to 8 cups or handfuls, thinly sliced (~250g) Bell peppers: 2 medium, thinly sliced (red, yellow, or orange)Snap peas or snow peas: 8 to 9 ounces (230-250g), ends trimmedBaby bok choy: 2 heads (3 if small); leafy tops cut into 1” pieces; cut white stems into 1” or bite-sized pieces Broccoli: 8 ounces (230g), chopped very finely
Add your favorite protein
Serve gochujang noodles with your favorite protein, like baked or fried tofu, stir-fried tempeh, or store-bought pre-baked tofu.
More East Asian-Inspired Recipes
Marinated Tofu 15-Minute Chili Garlic Noodles Tofu Stir Fry Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad
That’s all you need to know about making these saucy Gochujang Noodles! If you love this recipe, please rate and review it below!
Preheat the oven to 425ºF/218ºC. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper. Slice a block of extra-firm tofu into 4 vertical slabs, and gently press down on them with a towel several times to remove excess water. Press for 10 minutes, changing the towels in between. Chop the tofu into ~ ¾ inch (2 cm) cubes. In a large bowl, add the tofu, 1.5 TBSP neutral-flavored oil, 1 tsp kosher salt, and black pepper to taste, tossing to coat. Add 2 TBSP potato starch (or arrowroot powder), and as gently as possible, toss with your hands. Arrange tofu on the pan in a single layer, spreading out the pieces so they don’t touch. Bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden on the bottom. Flip with a spatula or carefully turn the tofu with your hands. Bake for 15 minutes until golden and crisp.
Recipe: Nisha Vora / Rainbow Plant Life | Photography: Megan Morello
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