Lunch / Korean
Bibim Guksu with Cucumber and Pear
Chilled Korean spicy-sweet noodle salad tossed with gochujang sauce, crisp cucumber, and juicy pear.
By Vegetarian Recipes Kitchen · Updated
- Prep
- 20 minutes
- Cook
- 10 minutes
- Total
- 30 minutes
- Serves
- 4
Gather your ingredients
Everything you need.
Allergen notes
- Wheat is commonly present in 8 oz (225 g) somen or thin wheat noodles; check the actual product labels, including any gluten-free replacements.
- Contains soy.
- Contains sesame.
- Yeast extracts, stocks, seasoning blends and fermented sauces can contain additional allergens such as cereals, celery or sulphites; check the actual product labels.
- Check all packaged ingredients and substitutions for allergens; vegetarian or vegan labels do not establish allergen safety.
Check product labels and any substitutions; packaged ingredients can introduce additional allergens.
Let's cook
Step by delicious step.
Tap a step number to mark it complete as you cook.
Cook the noodles according to package directions. Rinse under cold water and drain well. Rinse until the noodles feel cold, then shake the colander well. Excess water weakens the sauce and makes the bowl slippery.
Whisk the gochujang, gochugaru, rice vinegar, tamari, sugar, sesame oil, and garlic into a smooth sauce.
Toss the noodles with the sauce until evenly coated.
Fold in the cucumber, pear, cabbage, and scallions.
Garnish with sesame seeds and serve chilled or at room temperature.
0 of 5 steps complete
A little kitchen know-how
- Rinse noodles thoroughly to keep them springy and cool.
- Add a splash of cold water if the sauce feels too thick.
- Swap in apple if pear is out of season.
Make it yours & keep it well
Use crisp apple matchsticks instead of pear; add them just before serving to retain their texture.
Storage: Keep perishable components covered in the fridge and use within 48 hours, or sooner if a product use-by date requires. Keep noodles, sauce and cut vegetables separate where possible. Toss shortly before eating.
For cooling and reheating, follow the Food Standards Agency’s leftover guidance. Rice has a shorter refrigerated storage limit, as described in its recipe notes.
Estimated nutrition per serving
420 kcal · Protein 11 g · Carbohydrates 73 g · Fat 9 g
Approximate figures; brands, portions and substitutions change the result.
Good things to know
Can I make this less spicy?
Use 2 tablespoons gochujang and omit the gochugaru for a milder version.
How long does it keep?
Refrigerate for up to 2 days; refresh with a splash of vinegar before serving.
How do I loosen tangled noodles?
Use clean tongs to lift and separate them while adding sauce gradually. A small splash of cold water can loosen the sauce without flooding the bowl.
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