spicy vegan gochujang noodles

Easy Asian Recipes: Spicy Vegan Gochujang Noodles

Elevate your next Asian fix with these spicy vegan Gochujang noodles, served with a side of healthy leafy greens. As you might have guessed, Gochujang – a staple Korean chilli paste – is the hero ingredient in this simple but fiery and flavour-packed recipe, imparting shades of heat complemented by a kick of umami. As far as one-bowl recipes, go, this one comes together in less than half an hour. Yes, really!


WHAT IS GOCHUJANG SAUCE ANYWAYS?

An age-old staple condiment in Korean cooking, Gochujang sauce is made with a fermented hot pepper paste (gochujang paste). With its deep red colour and smooth consistency, it is used to enhance the flavour across dishes from soups and stews to marinated meats, tofu and vegetables. Not only does it add shades of heat, it’s spiciness is complemented by a nuanced intensity of flavour that is part sweet, part nutty and high in umami.

Gochujang is also the starring ingredient in traditional Korean bibimbaps.

Vegetarian Bibimbap Bowl
A vegetarian take on the classic Korean rice bowl, assembled with a vibrant medley of mushrooms, greens and veggies. To finish, it is drizzled with a fiery-red Gochujang sauce which adds shades of heat and a potent depth of flavour.
GET THIS RECIPE
vegetarian bibimbap bowl recipe

How To Make These Spicy Vegan Gochujang Noodles

spicy vegan gochujang noodles

Cook your noodles of choice

Rice noodles would work well for this recipe; here we have used Udon for its thick and chewy texture, which holds up the silky-smooth sauce. Drain the noodles once cooked and immediately pour cold water on top to stop the noodles from cooking any further with the residual heat.

Prepare the Gochujang sauce

In addition to the Gochujang paste, key ingredients for the spicy sauce span a handful of staple Asian condiments and cooking ingredients; peanut butter (to foil the fiery punch of the sauce with a creamy nuttiness); Sriracha (to dial up the heat a tad bit more) and Yuzu (optional, but recommended for a zing factor).

More specifically, the long list of ingredients required to make the spicy Gochujang sauce for these vegan noodles include:

  • Gochujang paste
  • Smooth peanut butter
  • Soy sauce
  • Rice vinegar
  • Sesame oil
  • Brown sugar
  • Sriracha
  • Water
  • Lime juice
  • Garlic
  • Yuzu (optional)

Stir-fry the greens

A side of sautéed bok choy (stir-fried with sesame oil and garlic) balances this dish with a dose of healthy leafy greens. Spinach would work just as well, but we like bok choy for its juicy and crunchy texture!

Assemble everything

Toss together the noodles with the spicy Gochujang sauce. Plate it in your favourite bowl, adding the stir-fried greens on the side and a sprinkle of toasted black sesame seeds on top as garnish.


spicy vegan gochujang noodles

Spicy Gochujang Noodles

Ayushi Gupta-Mehra | The Foodie Diaries
Elevate your next Asian fix with this simple but fiery and flavour-packed noodle bowl, complete with a side of healthy greens. The red hot Korean chilli paste – Gochujang – imparts shades of heat to this vegan recipe, complemented by its part sweet, part savoury and umami-rich profile.
4 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Asian, Korean
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 225 gm uncooked noodles

For the sauce

  • tbsp Gochujang paste (we get our's from Urban Platter)
  • 2 tbsp smooth peanut butter
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 2 tsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp Sriracha (optional; omit if you want to cut down on the spiciness)
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 2 tsp Yuzu (optional, we get our's from Sprig)

For assembly

  • 1 large bunch bok choy
  • 2 small garlic cloves
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • black sesame seeds, toasted

Instructions
 

Cook the noodles

  • Cook the noodles according to the instructions on the packet. Drain and shock with cold water.

Prepare the Gochujang sauce

  • Whisk together the ingredients for the Gochujang sauce: the gochujang paste, peanut butter, rice vinegar, soy sauce, water, sugar, lime juice, sesame oil, chopped garlic, Sriracha and Yuzu (if adding)
  • Taste and adjust according to preference, for instance adding more lime juice for a zing, more peanut butter for a creamy nuttiness etc

Cook the bok choy

  • Heat a tbsp of sesame oil on medium heat in a non-stick skillet.
  • Add the garlic, sautéing until fragrant. Then add the stems first, stir-frying until the stems start to become pale-green in colour.
  • Add the bok choy leaves only once the stems are almost cooked, sautéeing until the leaves have wilted. Remove from heat.

Assemble everything

  • Toss the noodles with Gochujang sauce until evenly combined.
  • Serve in a bowl with bok choy on the side and toasted black sesame seeds on top.
    spicy vegan gochujang noodles

Notes

  • If you have leftover sauce, store it in airtight container in your refrigerator. It should stay for up to a week.
Keyword easy asian recipes, gochujang recipes, simple vegan recipes, vegan spicy noodles

You May Also Like To Browse…

Sesame Noodles With Wilted Greens
The simplicity of this classic Chinese-American dish is deceiving, as the sesame sauce has a rich depth of layers and flavours.  Part nutty, with shades of heat, a kick of umami and a punch from something you can’t quite put a pin on… black tea!
GET THIS RECIPE
sesame noodles
Vegan Dan Dan Noodles
This fiery Szechuan noodle in vegetable broth is classically served with minced meat. But, the earthy umami-packed mushrooms in this recipe are a good vegan substitute too, while chillies and ground Sichuan peppers impart shades of heat to the rich broth which is at the heart of this comforting dish.
GET THIS RECIPE


We’d love to hear from you! Do let us know if you try this recipe – you can leave a comment below and/ or tag us in your delicious creations on Instagram @the_foodiediaries.

Latest Instagram Posts

Browse More Recipes


Get the latest reviews, recipes & recommendations, delivered straight to your inbox:

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

Follow Us

Sign up for our Newsletter

Get the latest reviews, recipes & recommendations, delivered straight to your inbox:

Copyright The Foodies Diaries® 2020. All rights reserved.

5 Comments

  1. Charissa

    4 stars
    My first dish with Gochujang and I can tell there will be many more following.

    I added shiitake mushrooms and some beansprouts for extra veggies. Very tasty and definitely a ‘spicier-by-the-bite’ situation.

Leave a Reply

Recipe Rating