Savory Zucchini Soy Sauce Bibim Guksu (Spicy & Sweet)
Simple Zucchini Noodle Recipe: Enjoying Seasonal Zucchini with Sweet & Salty Soy Sauce Bibim Guksu
Inspired by a recipe from ‘Sumi’s Side Dishes,’ this is a simple ‘Zucchini Soy Sauce Bibim Guksu’ perfect for when zucchini is in season and affordably priced. We used ‘ugly’ but delicious zucchini to make this delightful noodle dish, suitable for the whole family to enjoy as a special meal.
Main Ingredients- 1 medium Zucchini
- 90g Somyeon or thin wheat noodles
- 1 Cheongyang chili pepper
- 1/4 Green onion
- Pinch of sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash the zucchini, trim the ends, and slice it diagonally into thin strips, not too thick. Sprinkle a little salt over the julienned zucchini and let it sit for about 10 minutes to draw out moisture. This prevents the stir-fry from becoming watery and improves the texture.
Step 2
Gently drain the excess water from the salted zucchini using a sieve. Be careful not to squeeze too hard, as this can cause the zucchini to break apart.
Step 3
Finely chop the Cheongyang chili pepper, removing the seeds. Finely chop the green onion, focusing on the white parts.
Step 4
Heat 1 tablespoon of perilla oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Add the chopped chili pepper, green onion, and 1 teaspoon of minced garlic. Stir-fry until fragrant, being careful not to burn them. Cook until the aroma of garlic and green onion is well released.
Step 5
Once fragrant, add the drained zucchini strips to the pan. If you didn’t salt the zucchini earlier, add a pinch of salt now. Gently stir-fry with chopsticks to avoid mashing the zucchini. Cook just until the zucchini turns translucent and slightly tender.
Step 6
When the zucchini is almost cooked, add 1 teaspoon of soy sauce and stir-fry briefly to season. Finally, drizzle in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and mix well to complete the zucchini stir-fry.
Step 7
Sprinkle some sesame seeds over the finished zucchini stir-fry.
Step 8
Boil the somyeon noodles (90g) according to package directions. Once cooked, rinse thoroughly under cold running water to remove excess starch. Drain well in a sieve. Rinsing under cold water makes the noodles chewier.
Step 9
In a bowl, combine the drained noodles with 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Gently mix and coat the noodles evenly. This step is crucial for flavorful soy sauce noodles. Add about two-thirds of the stir-fried zucchini to the noodles and mix well. Transfer to a serving bowl.
Step 10
Generously top the noodles in the bowl with the remaining stir-fried zucchini for a hearty presentation.
Step 11
Finish by sprinkling more sesame seeds on top and adding a few slices of red chili pepper for color. This delicious Zucchini Soy Sauce Bibim Guksu is ready! Even just topping the noodles with the zucchini stir-fry makes for a satisfying dish. The mild zucchini allows you to eat a generous portion without feeling overwhelmed. Enjoy this subtly savory and flavorful noodle dish with kimchi – you’ll likely finish the whole bowl by yourself!
