Spicy Buldak Ramen Recipe

Fiery Korean Buldak Ramen Recipe: Ignite Your Taste Buds!

When hunger strikes with a fierce intensity, few dishes can match the fiery allure of spicy buldak ramen that sets taste buds ablaze.

Korean street food culture birthed this legendary noodle sensation that challenges even the bravest spice lovers.

The scorching heat of gochugaru and gochujang creates a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate.

Each steaming bowl promises an explosive culinary adventure that tingles and thrills with every bite.

Layers of rich umami and burning chili peppers transform simple noodles into an unforgettable meal.

Chicken, noodles, and a volcanic sauce combine to deliver a punch of heat that leaves you craving more.

Prepare to embark on a spicy journey that will redefine your understanding of comfort food.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 7 minutes

Total Time: 12 minutes

Calories: 450 kcal

Servings: 3

Ingredients for Bold Buldak Ramen

For Base Ingredients:
  • Ramen Noodles: Select fresh or packaged noodles with good texture and minimal preservatives for authentic flavor.
  • Water: Essential for cooking noodles and creating perfect sauce consistency.
For Spicy Sauce Components:
  • Gochujang: Korean red chili paste that delivers intense, complex heat and deep umami flavor.
  • Soy Sauce: Adds rich, salty undertones and enhances overall seasoning profile.
  • Brown Sugar: Balances spiciness with subtle sweetness and helps sauce caramelize.
  • Sesame Oil: Introduces nutty, aromatic dimension and traditional Korean cooking essence.
  • Buldak Flavor Packet: Concentrated spice mix that amplifies traditional fire chicken ramen intensity.
For Finishing Touches:
  • Mozzarella Cheese: Provides creamy, melty contrast to spicy sauce, creating signature buldak ramen experience.

Tools to Cook This Spicy Ramen at Home

  • Medium pot: Essential for cooking ramen noodles and mixing ingredients.
  • Small mixing bowl: Perfect for combining sauce ingredients.
  • Wooden spoon or spatula: Helps stir noodles and mix sauce smoothly.
  • Measuring spoons: Ensures accurate sauce ingredient quantities.
  • Cheese grater (optional): Useful if using block mozzarella instead of pre-shredded.
  • Pot lid: Needed to cover and melt cheese on top of noodles.

How to Make Buldak Ramen from Scratch

  • Boil Noodles Quickly

Drop ramen into boiling water and cook until perfectly tender. Keep a small amount of water in the pot for creating a rich sauce base.

  • Whip Up Spicy Sauce

In a small bowl, blend gochujang, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and water until smooth and glossy.

  • Combine and Coat

Pour the spicy sauce over cooked noodles and mix thoroughly, allowing the flavors to meld together over low heat.

  • Melt Cheese Topping

Sprinkle mozzarella cheese generously over the hot noodles, covering the pot to let the cheese become wonderfully gooey and melted.

Adjusting Heat Level & Extras for the Dish

  • Let the residual heat gently melt the mozzarella for a creamy, stretchy texture without overcooking.
  • Adjust gochujang quantity to personalize heat levels – less for mild, more for fiery enthusiasts seeking a tongue-tingling experience.
  • Enhance nutritional value by adding grilled chicken, tofu, or soft-boiled egg for extra protein and complexity.
  • Toss in fresh green onions, spinach, or mushrooms for added nutrition, color, and textural contrast to the creamy noodles.
  • Replace mozzarella with nutritional yeast or vegan cheese alternatives to make the dish suitable for plant-based diets while maintaining rich, cheesy flavor profile.

Serve It with Egg, Veggies, or Noodles

  • Cheese Lover's Dream: Top the spicy noodles with extra mozzarella shreds and let them melt into gooey goodness right at the table.
  • Cool and Creamy Contrast: Serve alongside a small dollop of sour cream or plain yogurt to balance the intense heat of the buldak sauce.
  • Fresh Crunch Topping: Sprinkle finely chopped green onions, toasted sesame seeds, or crispy fried shallots for added texture and a pop of freshness.
  • Quick Protein Boost: Add a soft-boiled egg or sliced grilled chicken to transform this dish into a more substantial meal that satisfies bigger appetites.

Save Leftovers Without Losing Kick

  • Store leftover buldak ramen in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Cool completely before sealing to prevent soggy noodles and maintain texture.
  • Splash a little water when microwaving to revive noodles' moisture. Stir frequently and heat in 30-second intervals to prevent cheese from becoming rubbery.
  • Keep cheese separate from noodles when storing to maintain crispness. Add fresh cheese when reheating for the best melting experience.
  • Add a drizzle of sesame oil or sprinkle of green onions after reheating to refresh the dish's original vibrant taste and aroma.
Print
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Spicy Buldak Ramen Recipe

Spicy Buldak Ramen Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 16 reviews

  • Total Time: 12 minutes
  • Yield: 3 1x

Description

Fiery Korean buldak ramen delivers an explosive taste adventure straight from Seoul’s spiciest street cuisine. Sizzling noodles drenched in scorching sauce promise a thrilling culinary challenge you’ll crave again and again.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pack spicy ramen (like Samyang Buldak Ramen)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) soy sauce
  • ½ tbsp (7.5 ml) gochujang (Korean chili paste)
  • 2 tbsps (30 ml) water (extra, for the sauce)
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) sesame oil
  • 1 green onion, chopped (for garnish)
  • Optional: 1 boiled or fried egg
  • Optional: sesame seeds
  • Optional: crushed seaweed for topping

Instructions

  1. Noodle Preparation: Boil ramen noodles, reserving a small amount of cooking water to create a rich, flavorful base for the sauce.
  2. Sauce Crafting: Whisk together gochujang, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and water in a mixing bowl to develop a complex, spicy-sweet fusion.
  3. Flavor Infusion: Return drained noodles to the pot, incorporating the sauce and buldak flavor packet, gently simmering to allow the ingredients to meld and intensify.
  4. Cheese Melting Finale: Remove from heat, generously top with mozzarella cheese, and cover briefly to create a molten, creamy layer that blankets the fiery noodles.

Notes

  • Adjust gochujang quantity to control heat intensity, perfect for those with different spice tolerances.
  • Let mozzarella sit covered off heat for precisely 1-2 minutes to achieve perfect creamy, stretchy texture without burning.
  • Stir sauce mixture constantly over low heat to prevent burning and ensure even coating of noodles.
  • Use gluten-free noodles and tamari instead of soy sauce for a gluten-sensitive version of this spicy dish.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 7 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
  • Method: Sautéing
  • Cuisine: Korean

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 3
  • Calories: 450 kcal
  • Sugar: 5 g
  • Sodium: 1500 mg
  • Fat: 15 g
  • Saturated Fat: 7 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 60 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 12 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson

Founder & Culinary Director

Expertise

Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine

Education

Southwestern Oregon Community College

  • Program: Culinary Arts, Associate of Applied Science
  • Focus: Emphasis on mastering core culinary competencies, like safety and sanitation, hot, cold, and pastry techniques, while cultivating appreciation of global cuisines and developing operational skills in nutrition, menu design, costing, purchasing, and supervisory management.

Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care. 

After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.

Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.

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