Spicy and Tangy Vegetable Jjolmyeon Noodles
Recipe for Deliciously Chewy Jjolmyeon Packed with Fresh Vegetables
As someone who loves noodles but can’t handle too much spice, and a partner who adores spicy food, I created this Jjolmyeon recipe with a homemade sauce to satisfy both our palates. This dish features a perfect balance of chewy noodles, fresh, crisp vegetables, and a vibrant, zesty sauce. Follow these detailed instructions for a delightful meal that’s easy to make, even for beginners.
Main Ingredients- Jjolmyeon noodles (for 2 servings)
- 1 bowl of soybean sprouts (before blanching)
- 12 lettuce leaves
- 1/3 carrot
- 1 onion
Special Sauce- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
- 5 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1/3 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp acacia honey
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
- 5 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1/3 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp acacia honey
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start by preparing the vegetables. Thinly slice the onion and julienne the carrot into similar-sized strips. (To reduce the onion’s pungent flavor, you can soak the sliced onion in cold water for 5-10 minutes; this also helps maintain its crispness.) Rinse the soybean sprouts thoroughly. Bring a pot of water to a boil with a pinch of salt. Blanch the soybean sprouts briefly – just until they are crisp-tender, not mushy. Immediately drain them and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool them down. Drain them well on a sieve.
Step 2
Wash the lettuce leaves and pat them dry. Cut them into bite-sized pieces, about the length of your thumb knuckle, which is a convenient size for enjoying with the noodles.
Step 3
Now, let’s make the special sauce that gives Jjolmyeon its signature flavor! In a large bowl, combine 1 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp vinegar, 5 Tbsp gochujang, 1/3 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp acacia honey, 2 Tbsp sesame oil, and 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds. Mix everything together thoroughly with a spoon until well combined. (If you’re in a hurry or find the sauce a bit lacking, you can enhance store-bought chojang by adding extra sesame oil and gochujang, along with a little more minced garlic for a tasty alternative!)
Step 4
It’s time to cook the Jjolmyeon noodles! Gently separate the noodles from any clumps by rinsing them under cold water. Then, carefully place the noodles into boiling water and cook according to the package instructions. Once cooked, immediately drain the noodles and rinse them again under cold water to remove excess starch and cool them down. Ensure they are well-drained. Transfer the cooked and drained noodles into the bowl with the prepared sauce. Add the julienned carrots, sliced onion, blanched soybean sprouts, and cut lettuce. Now, toss everything together until the noodles and vegetables are evenly coated with the delicious spicy and tangy sauce. Your Jjolmyeon is ready to be enjoyed!
