Bibim Guksu 비빔국수

Hey guys, so it has been a while since I have last posted hasn't it? Well the school term is almost over so there have been exams so I have been busy studying and haven't really had the opportunity to blog. But I do have some time today so I will be blogging again, finally.

Today I will be introducing you to the Korean dish "Bibim Guksu". Sounds sort of familiar right? Remember bibimbap? Kong Guksu? Well this dish is like a combination of the two. It is just mixed cold noodles really...simple and delicious. Perfect for a hot summers day when you don't want to do to much.

Bibim guksu is made with very thin wheat flour noodles called somyeon with added flavorings and is one of the most popular traditional noodle dishes in Korean cuisine. It is also called guksu bibim or goldong myeon, all of which literally mean "stirred noodles" or "mixed noodles". The dish is especially popular during summer, perfect for those of you in the Northern hemisphere now.

There are many kinds of cold noodle dishes in Korea however, spicy cold noodles have historically been appreciated by spice-loving people in Korea and recognized internationally. This dish is distinct from other cold noodle dishes from different cultures due to its strong spicy flavor produced from the combination of red pepper powder, gochujang, and minced garlic, along with a sweet-and-sour flavor created by vinegar and sugar. Most spicy cold noodles are prepared with a slight touch of sesame oil to enhance the richness of its flavor.

Typically the dish would be prepared by stir frying diced beef, julienned pickled cucumbers, and mushrooms in sesame oil, which is all mixed together with the cooked noodles, soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds and sugar. Garnishes placed on top and around the spicy noodles include hard-boiled eggs, pickled mu (radish), dried gim strips (laver), sliced cucumbers, and sometimes sliced Korean pear or tomato.

Now, that is enough background, it is about time that I shared the recipe for it....

Ingredients
200g somyeon noodles or soba noodles
1 tablespoon gochujang (adjust to taste)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon corn syrup (use honey or more sugar if unavailable)
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons rice or apple vinegar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Optional
Hard boil egg
Julienned cucumber
Julienned carrot
Julienned red cabbage
Julienned lettuce

Method
1. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil.
2. Add the sauce ingredients and mix well.
3. Add the noodles to the pot of boiling water. Cook the noodles according to the package instructions (3 - 4 minutes). Drain quickly and shock in cold water to stop cooking. Drain and rinse in cold water again. Repeat until the noodles become cold. Drain well.
4. Combine the noodles with the sauce, and toss everything until the noodles are evenly coated with the sauce. Taste and adjust the seasoning to taste, if necessary. Garnish with your choice of the optional vegetables and serve cold.
NOTE: You can also try adding a bit of crushed ice to the noodles as you mix the sauce, this will make the dish extra refreshing and fun as as you also bite into ice.




And there you have it, a simple dish to serve up during the summer heat to keep you cool and refreshed.

This is it from me today, I will try and post more in the upcoming weeks, but I will have exams in about a month so I may not be able to post a frequently. I will try my best to keep on posting even though there will be major events going on such as uni entrance exams, but if I am missing it just means I am studying and I will be back sooner or later.

So until next time, remember to stay healthy, happy and warm if you are in the southern hemisphere and cool if you are in the northern hemisphere.