While egg and beef often top this dish, this version skips it for a no-fuss vegan meal.
For a more satisfying meal, top it with slices of fried or grilled tofu.
It’s best to eat this dish immediately.
Photo: Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman
The noodles become stiff and hard to mix the longer they sit.
Comfort foods often come steaming hot.
Soups and casseroles come to mind.
For me, bibim naengmyeon was the star.
I associate it with food courts attached to Korean supermarkets, but also with kitchen tables.
It’s an unfussy dish, in multiple ways.
Vigorously mixing together the ingredients just before eating makes for a delightfully messy dish.
(“Bibim” means “mixed,” as in bibimbap, or mixed rice.)
Bibim naengmyeon lends itself to long, leisurely conversations on sticky days.
There’s no worry about it melting or cooling, and thus no pressure to eat it quickly.
This dish also doesn’t demand much time in a hot kitchen.
The noodles cook quickly, while the sauce can be assembled in a matter of minutes.
No doubt, though, the shipping costs sometimes exceeded the value of the goods.
But whatever the distance, bibim naengmyeon has accompanied me in some form throughout.
So in my own journeying, I’ve made nontraditional versions of this dish nearly everywhere I’ve lived.
But a standard Korean pantry would already have all the ingredients, making special grocery runs unnecessary.
In lieu of naengmyeon noodles, soba noodles would work.
Purists might be horrified, but for me the beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity and versatility.
Like this heaping pile of noodles, my family is bibim indeed.
And it’s a comfort no matter the weather.
Add noodles and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Drain the noodles and rinse with cold water to cool; drain completely.
(you might add ice cubes to the colander for colder noodles.)
Divide the noodles among 6 bowls.
Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Mix well just before eating.
Note
Naengmyeon are Korean-style buckwheat noodles.
Look for them at Asian markets or online.
They sometimes come with a seasoning packet, which you might discard or save for another use.
- Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient.
