Spicy noodles are one of the best ways to prepare ramen. From chili oil to sambal to hot peppers, there are so many ways to add heat to a dish. One of our favorite ways to make spicy ramen is by using Korean ingredients like gochujang and kimchi. Korean food blends flavors beautifully, combining spicy with sweet and tangy.
When you think of ramen, you probably think of the classic Japanese ramen bar style ramen. You can’t beat the classics, but we also love fusion foods and mixing classic flavors with those of other cuisines. In this article, we’re featuring Korean spicy noodles, specifically.
Korean flavors are bold, spicy, savory, and sweet. So what are the most common Korean spices and ingredients?
- Chili pepper paste (gochujang)
- Chili pepper flakes (gochugaru)
- Kimchi
- Sesame oil
- Soybean paste
- Soy sauce
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Scallions
These 7 spicy noodle recipes incorporate a combination of some of these classic Korean ingredients as components of sauces and ramen toppings. Let’s jump into the list.
1.Korean Fire Noodles
Our first recipe uses gochujang, chili oil, and MMG kimchi ramen to bring the heat and Korean spice. There’s a more subtle spice to these noodles, perfectly balanced out by the Kimchi flavor and shredded seaweed topping.
Gochujang, a fundamental ingredient used in Korean cooking, is made from red chile pepper flakes, glutinous rice (aka sticky rice), fermented soybeans, and salt. Traditionally, this sauce is fermented over years in a pot that is kept outdoors, during which time the starches in the rice are converted to sugars - giving the sauce its remarkably unique sweetness.
2.Spicy Korean Beef Ramen
These spicy Korean beef noodles are chock-full of flavor. Chili paste, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, and green onions marry into the perfect sauce to marinate the beef.
This one-pan recipe brings a whole roster of tasty Korean flavors to the table.
3.Korean Spicy Cold Noodles
This recipe is a bit more unique. If you don’t know what cold noodles are, this dish is common on warmer days when hot noodles are, well, too hot. But don’t worry, there’s still some heat from the chili flakes and gochujang to get your tongue tingling.
The spicy chili is balanced by the cold noodles and fresh, cooling cucumber. This is the perfect noodle bowl for a summer day.
4.Spicy Kimchi Noodles
This ramen recipe may be brothless, but it’s still packed full of tasty Korean flavor. Kimchi Ramen meets green onions, a savory sauce, and fresh kimchi.
If you’re a kimchi lover who likes just the right amount of spice, this one is for you.
5.Creamy Spicy Gochujang Ramen
Gochujang is spicy, savory, and lightly sweet. This recipe pairs this classic Korean ingredient with creamy milk and tangy kimchi noodles, making for a creamy & spicy gochujang ramen.
We love how the creamy broth balances with the spicy gochujang and the sweetness of the corn. Plus, who can resist a perfect ramen egg?
6.Rabokki Ramen
Rabokki is actually a shorthand term for an incredibly addicting combination of two very classic noodle dishes, Ramen and tteokbokki. If you’ve never had tteokbokki, it’s a Korean street food traditionally made from Korean rice cakes, fish cakes, soup broth, and gochujang or Korean chili paste.
This spicy powerhouse of a dish featuring rice cakes and gochujang will be your new go-to.
7.Spicy Kimchi Dumpling Ramen
Spicy ramen meets beef & kimchi dumplings in this filling and satisfying noodle bowl. Homemade dumplings are so delicious, and this combination of ground beef, kimchi, and black pepper is *chef’s kiss*. Add some veggies, red chilis, and some chili on top for an extra kick.
This is a longer recipe but trust us: it’s 100% worth it.
Final Thoughts
These spicy Korean noodle recipes pack in the flavor and the heat. From kimchi to tteokbokki to gochujang and gochugaru, there are endless combinations of Korean flavors to use in your ramen.
These recipes are made easy with Mike’s Mighty Good craft ramen. If you want a delicious bowl of healthy ramen, you need to start with the right noodles. Your typical supermarket noodles are usually sub-par. They’re cooked in oil instead of being steamed, which ruins the flavor and texture. They’re also chock full of salt.
Mike’s Mighty Good ramen is a cut above most of the competition. Our noodles are steamed, not fried, so they have the bouncy texture and simple flavor you’d find at a real ramen bar. We also create complex blends of spices and herbs instead of jamming our flavor packets with salt.
Check out our blog for more information, follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest in the fabulous world of ramen noodles, and watch our TikTok videos for recipe inspiration and visual walkthroughs.
Plus, take a look at all our instant ramen recipes on our blog.
