Spicy & Sweet Whelk Bibim Ramen
Your Go-To Recipe for Lost Appetite: Whelk Bibim Ramen
Feeling a loss of appetite as the weather warms up? Revive your taste buds with this delightful Whelk Bibim Ramen, a perfect harmony of spicy, sweet, and tangy whelk salad mixed with chewy ramen noodles! It offers a distinctively enjoyable texture compared to somyeon (thin noodles).
Main Ingredients- 1 can (400g) canned whelks
- 200g dried pollack strips (Bukkochae)
- 2 cabbage leaves
- 1/2 onion
- 1/3 carrot
- 10 perilla leaves (Kkaennip)
- 1 handful salad greens
- 1/2 green onion
- 1 red chili pepper
- 1 green chili pepper (Cheongyang pepper)
- 1 pack ramen noodles
Spicy & Sweet Seasoning Sauce- 2 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 5 Tbsp vinegar
- 3 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 5 Tbsp vinegar
- 3 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare your vegetables. Thinly slice the cabbage, carrot, and green onion. Finely julienne the perilla leaves. Slice the red and green chili peppers diagonally, removing the seeds. Drain the canned whelks and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Rinse the salad greens and pat them dry.
Step 2
To soften the dried pollack strips, take a small amount of the liquid from the canned whelks and soak the pollack strips in it for about 10 minutes. This step helps the strips become more moist and absorb the seasoning better.
Step 3
In a large bowl, combine all the seasoning sauce ingredients: gochujang, gochugaru, vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and minced garlic. Mix them thoroughly to create a smooth sauce.
Step 4
Add all the prepared ingredients to the bowl: the julienned cabbage, onion, carrot, perilla leaves, green onion, chili peppers, salad greens, the soaked dried pollack strips, and the cut whelks.
Step 5
Pour the prepared seasoning sauce over the ingredients. Gently toss and mix everything with your hands, ‘jumbled-jumbled’ style, ensuring the seasoning is evenly distributed without crushing the vegetables. The key is to maintain the crispness of the vegetables.
Step 6
Now, it’s time to cook the ramen noodles. Bring a generous pot of water to a boil and add the ramen noodles. Cook them for about 1 minute less than the time indicated on the package to ensure a chewy texture, which is crucial for bibim ramen.
Step 7
Immediately after cooking, rinse the ramen noodles under cold running water to stop the cooking process and cool them down. Drain them thoroughly in a colander. Excess water can dilute the seasoning sauce.
Step 8
Place the drained ramen noodles in a serving bowl. Top with your desired amount of the seasoned whelk mixture. You can add all of it or just a portion, according to your preference.
Step 9
Gently mix the ramen noodles with the whelk mixture. Ensure the chewy noodles and the spicy-sweet whelk salad are well combined.
Step 10
Finally, plate your delicious creation attractively. For an extra touch, you can garnish with thinly julienned cucumber or serve with a halved hard-boiled egg. If you prefer a colder dish, consider adding some tomatoes and ice cubes for a refreshing twist!
