Jajangmyeon (Korean Black Bean Noodles)
Local name: 짜장면
In short: Chewy wheat noodles under a glossy sauce of fried black bean paste, pork, onion and zucchini, finished with crisp cucumber matchsticks. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 670 kcal
Jajangmyeon is a Korean-Chinese noodle dish that has become a favorite of school lunches, takeout orders and moving-day meals. Black bean paste is fried in oil first to take away its bitterness, then cooked with pork, onion and zucchini into a thick, savory-sweet sauce. It is spooned over fresh wheat noodles and topped with cucumber. Nothing in it is spicy, so children love it.
Instructions
- Heat 3 tbsp oil in a wok or large pan over medium heat. Add the black bean paste and fry, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes, until it loosens and smells toasty. Scrape it into a bowl.
- Wipe the pan and heat the remaining oil. Brown the pork with the garlic and ginger for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the onions and potato and stir-fry for 5 minutes, until the onion turns translucent.
- Stir in the zucchini, fried bean paste, sugar and soy sauce. Cook for 1 minute, then pour in the water. Simmer for 10 minutes, until the potato is tender and the pork is cooked through.
- Stir the cornstarch mixture and pour it in. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, until the sauce is thick and glossy. Taste and add a pinch of sugar if needed.
- Boil the noodles following the package directions, drain and rinse briefly under hot water.
- Divide the noodles among bowls, spoon the sauce over the top and add the cucumber. Serve with pickled radish and toss everything together before eating.
Tips
- Frying the paste is the key step, since raw chunjang tastes bitter. If you cannot find it, use Chinese sweet bean paste with 1 tsp dark soy sauce for color.
- For a seafood version, swap the pork for squid and shrimp, adding them in the last 3 minutes of simmering. The sauce also keeps well and is good spooned over rice.
Questions and answers
What is chunjang?
Chunjang is a dark paste made from fermented soybeans, flour and caramel color. It is sold in jars at Asian grocers and must be fried in oil before use.
Is jajangmyeon spicy?
No. It is savory and a little sweet. If you want heat, serve it with raw onion and chili flakes, or add a sliced fresh chili to the sauce.
Can I freeze the jajang sauce?
Yes. Freeze the cooled sauce in portions for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight and reheat in a pan with a splash of water.
How long does it take to make Jajangmyeon (Korean Black Bean Noodles)?
About 55 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Jajangmyeon (Korean Black Bean Noodles)?
About 670 kcal per serving, with 25 g of protein, 84 g of carbohydrates and 26 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 670 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 25 g |
| Carbohydrates | 84 g |
| Fat | 26 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 14 g |
| Sodium | 1400 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
