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Noodles

Chewy Spicy Noodles

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jjol-myeon

Chewy cold noodles mixed with vegetables and spicy-sweet sauce.

Easy20 min2 servings🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️★ 66VegetarianContains glutenContains soyContains sesameContains egg
Chewy Spicy Noodles

History & culture

Chewy jjolmyeon is often linked to Incheon from the 1980s, when Chinese-style cold noodles met Korea’s sweet-spicy sauce culture. Tradition holds that extra-chewy texture and bold dressing suited factory districts and youth snack stalls. The dish spread through bunsik chains and school-zone shops into a nationwide summer favorite. It is widely cited as an example of port-city fusion shaping modern Korean fast noodles.

Servings
2

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Ingredients & steps

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Ingredients

  • Green cabbage
    1 cup, shredded
  • Cucumber
    1/2 julienned
  • Toasted sesame seeds
    1 tsp
  • Water
    6 cups, for boiling
  • Egg
    1 boiled, sliced
  • Korean wheat noodles (somyun/guksu)

    Substitutethin spaghetti or somen

    300 g, chewy jjolmyeon

Seasonings

  • Gochujang (Korean chili paste)

    Substitutemiso + chili paste (approximate)

    3 tbsp
  • Korean chili flakes (gochugaru)

    Substitutecoarse red pepper flakes (adjust heat)

    1 tbsp
  • Soy sauce

    SubstituteTsuyu (diluted) 2 tsp (2 tsp per 1 tbsp) or Tamari 1 tbsp

    1 tbsp
  • Toasted sesame oil

    Substitutea small amount of olive oil (flavor differs)

    1 tbsp
  • Sugar
    2 tbsp
  • Rice wine (mirim / cooking wine)

    Substitutedry sherry or water + pinch of sugar

    1 tbsp

Steps

  1. 11 min

    Mix gochujang, gochugaru, sugar, soy sauce, rice wine and sesame oil into a spicy-sweet sauce.

    • Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
    • Korean chili flakes (gochugaru)
    • Sugar
    • Soy sauce
    • Rice wine (mirim / cooking wine)
    • Toasted sesame oil
  2. 2High heat5 min

    Boil chewy wheat noodles 4–5 minutes. Rinse in cold water and drain.

    • Korean wheat noodles (somyun/guksu)
    • Water
  3. 32 min

    Toss noodles with sauce, cabbage and cucumber until well coated.

    • Korean wheat noodles (somyun/guksu)
    • Green cabbage
    • Cucumber
  4. 4

    Top with egg and sesame seeds. Serve cold.

    • Egg
    • Toasted sesame seeds

Storage & reheating

Best fresh. Refrigerate 1 day; toss again with extra sauce before eating.

Troubleshooting

  • ⚠️ Noodles too soft

    → Use jjolmyeon-specific noodles; do not overcook; rinse in ice water.

  • ⚠️ Sauce separates

    → Toss vigorously just before serving; add 1 tbsp water to loosen.