Can I make this dish less spicy?

Absolutely! Reduce the amount of gochujang to 1 tablespoon and skip the chili oil topping. You'll still get all the wonderful flavor without too much heat. You can also balance the spice by adding a bit more brown sugar or even a splash of coconut milk to the sauce.

I can't find gochujang. What can I substitute?

While nothing perfectly replicates gochujang's unique flavor profile, you can make a substitute by mixing 2 tablespoons of miso paste with 1 tablespoon each of sriracha and honey. It won't be authentic, but it will give you similar sweet-spicy-umami notes.

Can I prepare any components of this dish ahead of time?

Yes! The sauce can be made up to 5 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator. You can also cook the chicken in advance. When ready to eat, just cook the noodles fresh, reheat the chicken, and combine everything with the sauce and fresh spinach.

How can I make this dish gluten-free?

Use tamari instead of soy sauce, check that your gochujang is gluten-free (some brands contain wheat), and substitute rice noodles or gluten-free ramen for regular wheat noodles. The rest of the ingredients are naturally gluten-free.

Saucy Gochujang Noodles with Chicken Recipe

Name: Saucy Gochujang Noodles with Chicken Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Korean-inspired
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons soy sauce; 2–3 tablespoons gochujang sauce; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 2 tablespoons peanut butter; 2 tablespoons water; 1–2 tablespoons brown sugar; 1 tablespoon sesame oil; 1 clove minced garlic; 1–2 cups broth or water for thinning the sauce; 1 pound ground chicken (can substitute pork); 1/2 teaspoon salt; Freshly ground black pepper; 2 packets ramen or stir fry noodles (just the noodles); 1–2 cups fresh spinach; 1/4 cup chives, scallions, cilantro, basil, or your preferred herbs for topping; Salt to taste; 1 tablespoon chili oil for finishing; 1 tablespoon sesame seeds for finishing

Description

A savory and spicy noodle recipe featuring gochujang sauce, ground chicken, fresh spinach, and herbs. Perfect for a quick and delicious meal in just 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Gochujang Sauce:

3 tablespoons soy sauce
2–3 tablespoons gochujang sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons peanut butter
2 tablespoons water
1–2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 clove minced garlic
1–2 cups broth or water for thinning the sauce

Ramen:

1 pound ground chicken (can substitute pork)
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 packets ramen or stir fry noodles (just the noodles)
1–2 cups fresh spinach
1/4 cup chives, scallions, cilantro, basil, or your preferred herbs for topping
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon chili oil for finishing
1 tablespoon sesame seeds for finishing

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Instructions

Prepare the Sauce: Whisk together the sauce ingredients (except the extra broth) in a small bowl or shake them in a jar. The mixture should form a thick sauce.
Cook the Protein: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground chicken. Season it generously with salt and black pepper to taste.
Prepare the Noodles: Boil the noodles for a few minutes until they soften. Drain them and set aside.
Combine Ingredients: Once the chicken is cooked, add the fresh spinach, cooked noodles, and prepared sauce to the skillet. Keep it over medium-high heat and toss everything together. Heat until the spinach is wilted.
Adjust the Sauce: Gradually add extra water or broth to thin the sauce to your desired consistency. Start with small amounts and add approximately 1 1/2 cups in total.
Serve: Plate the noodles and top with fresh herbs, scallions, chili oil, sesame seeds, or your preferred garnishes. Enjoy!

Notes

For a vegetarian option, omit the chicken and substitute with tofu or extra vegetables.
Adjust the gochujang amount based on your spice preference.
You can use any type of noodles you prefer, such as udon or rice noodles, if ramen is not available.
Chili oil and herbs can be customized based on your taste preference.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 400
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 800mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 42g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 22g
Cholesterol: 70mg