Instant ramen hacks are turning into something of a series here at TFD, with my Korean-inspired Spicy Gochujang Ramen Noodles the latest recipe reel to go viral over on Instagram. After all, there’s lots to love about the nuanced intensity of fiery flavours foiled by a touch of nutty creaminess.
This non-recipe recipe (hence “hack”) is as effortless as you’d expect of your favourite packet of instant ramen. However, it relies crucially on a couple of key steps and staple pantry ingredients.
The stars of the show are Gochujang (a Korean fermented red pepper chilli paste) and Gochugaru (crushed red pepper flakes). While you can sub the Gochugaru for crushed red chilli flakes, the final flavour of the base chilli oil would be subtly different. Peanut butter might appear to be an odd choice of add-in, but it comes tried, tested and exuberantly-recommended for the nutty creaminess it adds, deftly balancing out the flavours of this decievingly-simple dish.
How To Make These Spicy Gochujang Ramen Noodles
Cook your noodles of choice: I often use Nongshim’s classic ramyun (Korean-style instant noodles), but you could very well use any noodles of your choice! In fact, I’ve made this recipe just as successfully with udon noodles (with this rendition crossing 18 million views on Instagram, here)
- Mix together a chilli-garlic sauce as a base: To a heat-proof bowl, add lot of garlic, finely chopped spring onions, sesame seeds and gochugaru . Feel free to adjust any / all of these ingredients as per preference, adding more or less as per your taste. You could also swap out the gochugaru for crushed red chilli flakes if this is what you have at hand (although do not that it would affect the final flavour).
- Pour hot sesame oil on top and let the chilli oil sizzle with the intensity of flavours and warmth infused by the spices.
- Whisk in the remaining ingredients (each is key in balancing the sauce with shades of heat foiled by a creamy undertone).
- Gochujang (fermented Korean red pepper paste)
- Smooth peanut butter
- Rice vinegar
- Light soy sauce
- Lime juice
- Brown sugar
- Mix in your noodles: finally, mix in your ramen noodles along with a splash of the noodle cooking water to loosen up the noodles.
- Garnish, garnish, garnish: serve hot, with a sprinkling of sesame seeds and spring onions on top for pretty measure!
Spicy Korean-Inspired Gochujang Ramen Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 packet instant ramen noodles
- 2-3 tsp finely-minced garlic
- 1 tsp gochugaru (can sub crushed red chilli flakes)
- ½-1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1-2 tbsp chopped spring onions
- 1½ tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp gochujang/ red chilli paste
- 1½ tbsp smooth peanut butter
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tsp brown sugar
Instructions
- Cook ramen noodles/ noodles of choice according to package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving some of the noodle water.
- Add the garlic, gochugaru, sesame seeds and spring onions to a heat-proof bowl.
- Gently heat the sesame oil and and once hot, pour it over the the chilli-garlic mixture. Let it sizzle for a few minutes , then whisk in the remaining ingredients (gochujang, peanut butter, rice vinegar, soy sauce lime juice and brown sugar).
- Taste and adjust according to preference, for instance adding more lime juice for a zing. You could even add a dollop of your favourite hot sauce to amp up the heat.
- Now mix in the noodles along with a splash of the noodle cooking water. Toss until evenly combined and serve with more spring onions for garnish.
Video
Enjoyed These Spicy Noodles?
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Loved the ramen noodle hack recipes Ayushi ,spcly the chilli garlic noodle they turned out so so yumm that it’s become mandatory to be made once every mnth minimum 😍😋😋Thnx for the recipe 🤗
Too spicy
It’s such a talent to be able to create something so simple that tastes as wonderful as it does!
Holy cr*p this is spicey. But it’s good. Unfortunately I didn’t have any lime or brown sugar. So I subbed regular sugar. But despite some much needed acid it still was good. I also tossed in some straps of roast beef. Definitely will make again.
Made this today, but added a bit more of the noodle water than you showed to turn it into a soup. Super delicious, thanks for sharing!
This is so good and so easy. The addition of peanut butter and squeeze of lime is a surprising and delicious twist.
simple but ingenious isn’t it!
It was okay, but the peanut butter was overpowering and took way from the classic instant spicy ramen.
This was absolutely disgusting, the ingredients did not come together at all and instead I just tasted each one individually. Yuck
Perfect !!!!
Hurrah, thank you!
Super delicious! I also used cucumbers as topping – that also takes the heat off, if you can’t handle that much spice like me 🙂
Oh Lord, this is a lifesaver of a recipe! Fast, adaptable to whatever is can be chucked in from the fridge, what noodles I have in the pantry (udons the best) utterly satisfying flavour and clean up is minimal!
I’ve made these so many times now that I don’t need to follow the measurements. Some days I want it spicier, some days less, or more satay vibes with the peanut butter or less and it’s all good. It’s adaptable to personal palate.
My teenage kids are gaga for this and make it themselves too. It’s part of a WEEKLY rota. I’ve shared with friends and they are singing the same tune! Love it!
This recipe is BRILLIANT! Easy to follow with easy to acquire ingredients. This is the first noodle recipe I’ve ever followed & I’m so proud of my result. My husband and I were SATISFIED.
Note* I did double the recipe for a larger amount of pasta, and it was still absolutely phenomenal! The pasta water really helps the sauce stick to the noodles. I also don’t like watery sauces so much, so this was absolutely perfect for both our tastes and preferences.
Husband is already asking when I’ll make this again!
This was delicious! We ended up adding a but more miso, gochujang, lime, & vinegar for a bit more tang and umami! Will def be making this again 🙂
Delicious and flavourful recipe and efficient to make once you have the ingredients. I am definitely adding this to my regular rotation of dinner! I had it again for breakfast because I couldn’t resist haha
Tried it today and oh boy it was amazing!!
Tried it today and its so delicious!this definitely gonna be my favorites recipe 🤩🤩🤩
This recipe was perfect for 2 people and was super easy to make & delicious! We added tofu & veggies (I’d recommend you make more sauce if you’re also adding extras to the noodles). Also if using chilli flakes, you really don’t need much, as gochujang makes it spicy already!
We’ll definitely make this again 🙂
My kids have learned how to make this and will take the time to make the sauce and the dish. It’s absolutely amazing to see my 12 year old in the kitchen making this dish instead of warming up some frozen meal. She makes it less spicy for herself:) at times if her brothers want some she will make another batch just for them.
Such a creative use of ingredients! This will be a staple in our kitchen. I paired with bok choy and shiitakes and used 100% buckwheat soba noodles. Can’t wait to experiment with other combinations! 🥬🧑🍳🔥
So good! So spicy! I’ll reduce the chili a bit next time I make it! 🔥I added shrimp, cilantro and crushed peanuts to make it a meal! Delicious!
So good! So spicy! 🔥I added shrimp, cilantro and crushed peanuts to make it a meal! Delicious!