Korean Tonight: Noodles With Black Bean Sauce
Cooking Channel host Judy Joo's new cookbook, named for her popular show, is a fresh, spicy collection of Korean recipes you can 100 percent make at home. Craving bulgogi? Can't shake your kimchi craving? Hit the Asian market and get cooking!
Both Korean and Chinese restaurants have a version of this Korean-Chinese dish, with the Korean version being saucier and the Chinese version being drier. Consider yourself warned: The black bean sauce is very messy, and even the most elegant diner will be hard-pressed to stay clean. For even cooking and a nice presentation, cut all the vegetables into half-inch dice. Note: Do not substitute Chinese black bean sauce here, as it is completely different.
Korean Tonight: Noodles With Black Bean Sauce
Prep Time
20
minutes
Cook Time
45
minutes
Servings
4
to 6
Total time: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons potato starch
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 10 ounces skinless pork belly
- 1 1/2 cups diced onions
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon grated, peeled fresh ginger
- 1 1/2 cups diced peeled potatoes
- 1 cup diced zucchini
- 1/2 cup diced daikon radish
- 2/3 cup black bean paste (chunjang)
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 17 ounces fresh Chinese-style wheat noodles (jjajangmyun)
- Large handful of seeded and julienned cucumber
- toasted sesame oil
- roasted sesame seeds
Directions
- In a small bowl, combine the potato starch and 1/4 cup water and set aside. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook, stirring often, until it is browned on all sides and some of its fat has rendered out, 6 to 7 minutes.
- Add the onions, garlic, and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened, about 5 minutes. Add the potatoes, zucchini, and radish and cook, stirring occasionally, until the radish and potato start to turn translucent, 5 to 6 minutes.
- Stir in the black bean paste, brown sugar, salt, and pepper to taste. Add 3 cups water and mix well. Simmer gently for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir the potato starch mixture, add it to the skillet, and mix well. Simmer, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are cooked through and the sauce has thickened, 10 to 12 minutes more.
- Meanwhile, cook the noodles according to the package instructions (usually 5 to 7 minutes), drain, rinse well, and drain again. Divide the noodles among four to six large bowls. Spoon the vegetable mixture on top of the noodles and garnish with the cucumber, sesame oil, and sesame seeds.