Kimchi udon noodle stir fry is an easy weeknight meal that can be ready in 15 mins. Key ingredients are bacon, Kimchi, udon noodles and Korean spicy sauce. It’s simply addictive! It will be your new favourite noodle dish!
My Love for Kimchi Udon Noodle Stir Fry
I want to share one of my family’s favourite noodle dishes, namely Kimchi Udon Noodle Stir Fry (김치 우동 볶음, Kimchi Udon Bokkeum).
It’s loaded full of Korean ingredients – Kimchi, gochugaru (Korean chilli flakes), gochujang (Korean chilli paste), and sesame seeds to just name a few!
My sister and I particularly love these Kimchi udon noodles because it’s spicy, savoury, slightly tangy and nutty. We, Koreans, love these complex flavours!
Also, if you’re looking for ways to use some of your ageing Kimchi, this is another great way to do so! 😉
Lastly, it’s easy and quick to make, and the ingredients are cheap and readily available. Who wouldn’t like that?
The cooking style of Kimchi udon noodle stir fry is very similar to Kimchi fried rice. Except that, the former is made with noodles instead of rice.
My husband told me the other day that he actually prefers Kimchi udon noodle stir fry over Kimchi fried rice. He thinks that it tastes better!
What about you? Do/Would you prefer Kimchi fried udon or Kimchi fried rice? Let us know below in the comments! I hope you enjoy my recipe! x
Ingredients for 2 servings
Main
- 2 packs udon noodles (400g/14 ounces)
- 4 rindless short cut bacon slices (120g/ 4.2 ounces), chopped into thumbnail size pieces (*see note)
- 1 cup aged Kimchi, chopped into thumbnail size pieces
- 50g/ 1.8 ounces onion, thinly sliced
- 30g/ 1 ounce green onion, thinly sliced
- Some cooking oil (I used rice bran oil)
Sauce (Mix these in a bowl)
- 1 Tbsp Korean chilli flakes (gochugaru)
- 1/2 Tbsp Korean chilli paste (gochujang)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp raw sugar
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- (optional) 1 tsp rice vinegar – add this if your Kimchi is not aged enough or if you want extra tanginess
Garnish (These are optional, but they certainly enhance the flavour!)
- 2 eggs, soft boiled or pan-fried
- A few sprinkles of ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp roasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp green onion, thinly sliced
- A few strips of Korean roasted seasoned seaweed
*1 Tbsp = 15 ml, 1 Cup = 250 ml
**If you want to learn more about Korean ingredients, check my 30 essential Korean cooking ingredients list!
Steps
1.Boil the udon noodles per manufacturer’s instructions. Drain the water. Set aside. (Ideally, step 1 and step 2 should start at the same time so that you use the fresh, warm and not sticky noodles.)
2. Heat a pan/skillet on medium-high heat and once heated add some cooking oil and spread it thinly. Add the bacon and cook for 2 to 3 mins. Stir occasionally.
3. Add the onion and Kimchi and cook until they are wilted (about 1 to 2 mins). Add the sauce and mix them well.
4. Add the udon noodles and mix them with the rest of the ingredients. Add the green onions and stir lightly.
5. Serve the noodles on a plate and garnish with the egg, ground black pepper, more green onions, sesame seeds, and seaweed strips.
Note
- Kimchi is commonly paired with pork in Korean cooking. However, if you don’t eat bacon/pork, you can substitute it with other types of protein (e.g. tofu, canned tuna or beef).
- 2 packs udon noodles (total 400g)
- 4 slices rindless short cut bacon (chopped into thumbnail size pieces) (*see note above), 120g
- 1 cup aged Kimchi (chopped into thumbnail size pieces)
- 50 g onion thinly sliced
- 30 g green onion thinly sliced
- Some cooking oil (I used rice bran oil)
- 1 Tbsp Korean chilli flakes (gochugaru)
- 1/2 Tbsp Korean chilli paste (gochujang)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp raw sugar
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp rice vinegar (optional) – add this if your Kimchi is not aged enough or if you want extra tanginess
- 2 eggs (soft boiled or pan-fried)
- Few sprinkles ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp roasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp green onion (thinly sliced)
- Few strips Korean roasted seasoned seaweed
-
Boil the udon noodles per manufacturer’s instructions. Drain the water. Set aside. (Ideally, step 1 and step 2 should start at the same time so that you use the fresh, warm and not sticky noodles.)
-
Heat a pan/skillet on medium-high heat and once heated add some cooking oil and spread it thinly. Add the bacon and cook for 2 to 3 mins. Stir occasionally.
-
Add the onion and Kimchi and cook until they are wilted (about 1 to 2 mins). Add the sauce and mix them well.
-
Add the udon noodles and mix them with the rest of the ingredients. Add the green onions and stir lightly.
-
Serve the noodles on a plate and garnish with the egg, ground black pepper, more green onions, sesame seeds, and seaweed strips.
*1 Tbsp = 15 ml, 1 Cup = 250 ml
I made this with the fried egg on top and it was amazing! I then tried it with brown rice instead of noodles, still with fried egg on the top. Just as good. I love finding a new dish to add to the regular rotation! Thanks
That’s great to hear! 🙂
Looks great! What cut of pork is the bacon? Is it cured and/or smoked?
I thought there’s only one kind of bacon! Lol. I normally buy bacon rasher. Based on my quick google search, it’s from loin. Hope this helps!
Thanks! I’m in the US, so the default bacon here is streaky pork belly.
It was great!
Delicious! I did soft boiled eggs ???? Just threw em in the pasta water while the rest finished.
Thanks! I’m very happy to hear that! 🙂
I tried this recipe today, and it was yummylicious. My daughter and sisters had a second serving! Thanks for sharing!!
Great to hear! A second serving is always a good indicator for happy belly. 😉
Made this tonight and it turned out well! The sauce was just right- not overly salty or sweet like other noodle stir fries I’ve made. It was a hearty meal. Thank you for your recipe!
Awesome! 🙂
This was sooo delicious!! Thank you so much! This will become a regular in our house.
Great to hear you enjoyed it! 🙂
Tnk u sue i love ur style to coking and my favorite is korean food.
Awesome! Thanks. 🙂
i made this last night, one of the best meals i have had in ages – such a perfect balance of flavours too! thank you!
Awesome, Lu! I’m happy for you too. 😀
This is an awesome recipe! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks! 🙂
I just made kimchi last week so I can try this recipe before it goes 😀 Thank you for posting it
Enjoy!
We made this today, it was delicious! Greetings from Austria/Europe!
Great! Thanks!
Great recipe. I got my 14year old to make it. Delicious:-)
Awesome! 😉
Sue, thanks for sharing your recipe. It looks tasty and easy. Sylvieann
Thanks. I hope you give this a try soon!
I am guessing that if we have left over bulgogi that it could be used in place of the bacon, right? This sounds so yummy! I think I know my next Korean meal will be!
I might try that too next time. Enjoy! 🙂