Taste the perfect balance of heat and richness with this viral Gochujang Buttered Noodles – quick, easy, and bursting with bold flavours!
I’m a little late for this, but this is my take on Gochujang Buttered Noodles. According to the New York Times’, this was the most viral recipe of 2023 – although I’ll be honest, I’ve never heard of this until the article. I may not be the biggest fan of fusion food as a whole, I will always make an exception to noodle or pasta dishes. In fact I’m the biggest advocate of Asian fusion pastas! You just can’t go wrong with using pasta and noodles interchangeably. So you know I have to try this recipe! With just one bite, I immediately understood its (alleged) virality. This fusion dish combines the rich, creamy goodness of butter with the spicy kick of gochujang, with very minimal ingredients required!
Why People Will Love This Recipe
- Flavor Explosion: Experience the perfect balance of savory, spicy, and umami flavors in every bite.
- Quick and Easy: Whipping this up takes just 10 minutes! This is ideal for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
- Minimal Ingredients: This dish has so much depth with very little ingredients used!
- Versatile: Serve it as a standalone meal or as a delicious side dish alongside your favorite proteins or veggies.
Key Ingredients for Gochujang Buttered Noodles
- Noodles: Choose your favorite type of noodles, whether it’s spaghetti, udon, or ramen.
- Butter: Creamy, rich, and oh-so-indulgent, butter adds a luxurious touch to the noodles.
- Garlic: These aromatic ingredients provide depth of flavor and a hint of freshness to the dish.
- Gochujang: The star of the show! This fermented chili paste adds a bold, spicy flavor to the dish.
- Honey: For sweetness.
- Rice Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds a slight tang to complement the overall flavor profile.
Key Steps for Gochujang Buttered Noodles
1. Cook the Noodles
Boil the noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Before draining, scoop some of the pasta water. Drain and set noodles or pasta aside.
2. Make the Garlic Butter
Heat a skillet over medium heat and add butter and garlic.
3. Sauce it Up
Add gochujang, honey and the rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Stir to combine with the garlic butter until a sauce forms. Let the sauce come to a boil.
4. Combine Everything
Once sauce is bubbling, turn off the heat. Immediately add the noodles and a splash of pasta water. Add the last knob of butter. Add salt and pepper to taste (personally I don’t need to add salt; there is sodium in gochujang and pasta water).
5. Toss and Serve
Toss until all of the butter melts and the pasta is well coated with the sauce. Gochujang Buttered Noodles are ready! Top with optional fried egg and garnish with chopped spring onions!
How to Serve
- Serve the Buttered Gochujang Noodles hot, with fried egg for added proteins!
- Pair it with grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu for a complete meal, or enjoy it on its own for a satisfying and flavorful dish that’s sure to become a favorite in your household.
My Thoughts on Gochujang Buttered Noodles
I thought the original recipe was a touch too sweet for me. I would scale back on the honey, and add a splash of soy sauce and sesame oil.
That said, the butter and gochujang combo is CRAZY GOOD! This is rich and spicy, which is always a win for me. This tastes like a lot of effort, with very minimal ingredients. In fact, I dare venture this would be amazing with just butter, garlic and gochujang.
More Recipes Like This
Gochujang Buttered Pasta Noodles
2
servings5
minutes10
minutesKeep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
2 servings pasta
2 tbsp butter, divided
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp gochujang
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper, to taste
spring onions, chopped for garnish
fried egg, to top (optional)
Directions
- Cook pasta or noodles of choice first. Before draining, scoop out about a cup of the pasta water. Drain pasta and set aside.
- Place a pan over medium heat. Add butter and garlic, letting the garlic infuse butter for about 2-3 minutes.
- Once all the butter has melted, add gochujang, honey and vinegar. Stir to combine into a sauce and let boil.
- Once the sauce has come to a bubbly boil, turn off the heat. Immediately add all of the pasta, about 2-3 tablespoons of pasta water for easier tossing, and the remaining butter.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss to combine, until all of the butter has melted. Once well coated, buttered gochujang noodles are ready! Garnish with spring onions. Serve immediately.
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