Description
Experience the bold and fiery flavors of traditional Korean cuisine with this Spicy Korean Buldak Ramen recipe. Featuring chewy ramen noodles drenched in a rich, spicy-sweet buldak sauce made from gochujang and gochugaru, this dish offers a perfect balance of heat and savory depth. Topped with aromatic green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and optional melted mozzarella cheese and boiled eggs, it’s a comforting yet exciting meal ready in just 22 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 packs ramen noodles
- 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 tablespoon gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 cups water (for boiling noodles)
Garnishes & Optional Toppings
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 50 grams shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)
- 2 pieces boiled eggs, peeled and halved (optional)
Instructions
- Boil noodles: Bring 3 cups of water to a rolling boil in a medium pot. Add the ramen noodles and cook according to package instructions until just tender, typically 3-4 minutes.
- Prepare buldak sauce: While the noodles cook, combine gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, sugar, and 1/2 cup water in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly until smooth and well blended.
- Drain noodles: Drain the cooked noodles, leaving approximately 2 tablespoons of the cooking water in the pot to help with sauce consistency.
- Cook noodles with sauce: Return the pot with noodles to low heat. Pour in the prepared buldak sauce and gently stir to coat the noodles evenly with the sauce and retained water, allowing the flavors to meld for about 1-2 minutes.
- Melt cheese (optional): If using mozzarella cheese, sprinkle it evenly over the noodles in the pot. Cover the pot with a lid and allow the cheese to melt for 1-2 minutes on low heat.
- Serve and garnish: Transfer the buldak ramen to serving bowls. Top with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Garnish with halved boiled eggs if desired for added protein and richness.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of gochujang and gochugaru to control the spiciness according to your heat tolerance.
- The mozzarella cheese adds creaminess but can be omitted for a dairy-free version.
- Using some reserved noodle water helps to achieve a saucier and more flavorful coating.
- Garnishing with boiled eggs adds extra protein and mellows the spicy heat.
- This dish is best consumed immediately for optimal texture and flavor.
