Summer Korean Spicy Cold Noodle Meal for 2
If you’re not sure what to make for a hot summer day, there’s nothing more refreshing than this Summer Korean Spicy Cold Noodle Meal. Made for 2, this meal comes with a delicious pan-fried pork, with a spicy cucumber. It all comes together in under 30 minutes, using super simple ingredients. Don’t let the heat ruin your appetite, make this easy summer Korean meal today!
Korean Cold Noodles with Pork Belly and Cucumber
Now that summer is just around the corner, nothing is more satisfying on a hot day than cold noodles paired with savory pan-fried meat! So, today’s meal includes 3 dishes: crispy soy-glazed pork belly, spicy Korean cold noodles, and spicy cucumber salad. Sometimes, when the heat gets too intense, it’s hard to have a proper appetite. But, slurping up a spicy, tart cold noodle is the perfect way to cool down in this weather. I’m choosing pork belly for our protein today, because it’s delicious, but also adds some rich flavors into the otherwise light and refreshing meal. It’s a great balance of flavors that comes together quickly and affordably!
Spicy Kimchi Cold Noodles
First, let’s make the 10-minute spicy Korean cold noodles. I make this on repeat during the summer, it is super quick and easy! The sauce uses kimchi and its juices as a base to get a deep tart flavor. Then, we add to the spiciness with gochujang and gochugaru. Balance it out with sweetener, sesame oil, garlic, sesame seeds, and some vinegar, and you get the perfect amount of sweet, savory, tart, and fragrant. Lastly, add a little cooked noodle water so the sauce will stick better to the noodles. I like making this dish first, so the noodles have some time to soak up all the flavors in the sauce.
- 2 servings Noodles
- 5 ounces kimchi chopped
- 1/4 cup kimchi juice optional
- 2 tbsp Korean red chili paste gochujang
- 1 tbsp korean red chili flakes gochugoru
- 0.5 tbsp sweetener optional, I like to use plum extract or you can swap for sugar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 0.5 tbsp sesame seeds
- 0.5 tbsp minced garlic
- 0.5 tbsp rice vinegar optional
- 1 tbsp noodle water
- 1 cup cucumber sliced
- 2 soft boiled eggs
- Sesame seeds to garnish
Spicy Cucumber Salad
Next, is my spicy korean cucumber salad. I’ve made this so many times on my channel. Eating a lot of pork belly can sometimes be too much, but that’s not the case when you have this side dish. This cucumber makes it so easy to always have some form of veggie in every meal. Trust me, you have to make it in bulk, because this salad is so addicting & tastes amazing with everything! And, all you have to do is chopping and mixing!
- 2 Cucumbers whole
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- 0.5 Onion thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp Korean Chilli Paste
- 0.5 tbsp Korean Chilli Flakes
- 1.5 tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 tbsp Sesame Seeds Grounded
- 1.5 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Salt
Garlic Soy Glazed Pork Belly
Now, all we have to do is make the garlic soy glazed pork belly. This pork belly is pan fried until nice, crispy, and golden brown. Then, cut into bite side pieces and tossed with whole garlic cloves. Definitely don’t sleep on cooking with the whole clove, because that subtle, aromatic nuttiness is surprisingly addicting. Finished the dish by seasoning with soy sauce and mirin. Trust me, by now, the house will be smelling AMAZING, and you’ll be ready to eat.
If you want to be super efficient, you can also marinade the pork belly first. Then, move on to your other dishes, and pan fry after. This way, the pork belly has more time to absorb the flavor.
Optional Toppings
- green onion
- Sesame seeds
- Kimchi
More Full Meal Ideas To Make For Dinner
Hello! I’d love to try this but I don’t eat pork. Is there another meat that would be a good substitute ?
Thanks!
Hi Naima, if you don’t eat pork, you can try the same recipe with chicken thighs or beef (sliced short ribs, or even well marbled steak) instead. The cooking time may need to be adjusted depending on what protein you end up choosing, but the basic steps remain the same. Enjoy!
Tiffy