If you are a fan of spicy food, you may have heard of buldak noodles, also known as hot chicken flavor ramen or fire noodles. These are a type of instant noodles that are famous for being extremely spicy and delicious. They are produced by Samyang Foods, a South Korean company that specializes in ramen and snacks. Buldak noodles have become a global sensation, thanks to the viral Fire Noodle Challenge, where people film themselves eating these noodles and try to endure the heat. But what are buldak noodles, and how spicy are they? How can you cook them and enjoy their flavor? In this blog post, we will answer these questions and more.
Contents
What are Buldak Noodles?
Buldak noodles are a type of stir-fried noodles that are flavored with buldak sauce, which means “fire chicken” in Korean. Buldak sauce is a spicy sauce that is made with red chili peppers, garlic, soy sauce, sugar, and other seasonings. It is usually used to marinate chicken, but Samyang Foods adapted it to create buldak noodles in 2012. The noodles are cooked in boiling water, then drained and mixed with the sauce and some flakes of seaweed and sesame seeds. The result is a dry and saucy noodle dish that is packed with heat and flavor.
Buldak noodles come in different varieties that vary in spice level and flavor. Some of the most popular ones are:
- Original: The first and classic version of buldak noodles, with a Scoville heat unit (SHU) of 4,404. This is equivalent to eating a jalapeño pepper or a cayenne pepper.
- 2x Spicy: The spiciest version of buldak noodles, with a SHU of 8,808. This is equivalent to eating a habanero pepper or a Scotch bonnet pepper.
- Cheese: A cheesy version of buldak noodles, with a SHU of 2,323. This is equivalent to eating a serrano pepper or a Thai chili pepper.
- Ice: A cold version of buldak noodles, with a SHU of 4,404. This is meant to be eaten after refrigerating or freezing the noodles, which creates a contrast between the cold temperature and the hot spice.
- Stew: A soupy version of buldak noodles, with a SHU of 4,705. This is meant to be eaten with some broth left in the pot, which adds some moisture and dilutes some of the spice.
- Curry: A curry-flavored version of buldak noodles, with a SHU of 3,810. This has a yellow color and a mild curry taste that complements the spice.
- Mala: A Sichuan-style version of buldak noodles, with a SHU of 2,700. This has a red color and a numbing sensation that comes from Sichuan peppercorns.
- Carbonara: A creamy version of buldak noodles, with a SHU of 2,600. This has a white color and a rich carbonara taste that balances the spice.
- Jjajang: A black bean sauce version of buldak noodles, with a SHU of 1,920. This has a black color and a savory jjajangmyeon taste that contrasts the spice.
- Mini: A mini version of buldak noodles, with a SHU of 12,000. This is the smallest and hottest version of buldak noodles, with only 93 grams per pack.
How to Cook Buldak Noodles?
Buldak noodles are easy to cook and can be done in less than 10 minutes. Here are the steps to follow:
- Boil some water in a pot and add the noodles and the flakes that come with the package. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the noodles are soft.
- Drain the water from the noodles, but leave about 8 spoons (120 ml) of water in the pot.
- Add the sauce packet to the noodles and stir-fry for about 30 seconds over low heat.
- Transfer the noodles to a bowl and sprinkle some more flakes on top if you like.
- Enjoy your buldak noodles!
How to Enjoy Buldak Noodles?
Buldak noodles are very spicy and may not be suitable for everyone. If you want to enjoy them without burning your mouth or stomach, here are some tips:
- Drink some milk or yogurt before or after eating buldak noodles. Dairy products can help neutralize the capsaicin, which is the compound that makes chili peppers spicy.
- Eat some bread or rice along with buldak noodles. Starchy foods can help absorb some of the spice and fill you up faster.
- Add some cheese or butter to buldak noodles. Fatty foods can help coat your mouth and reduce the heat sensation.
- Add some vegetables or meat to buldak noodles. Fresh or cooked ingredients can add some texture and flavor to the noodles and make them more satisfying.
- Eat buldak noodles with some friends or family. Sharing the pain and pleasure of eating spicy food can make it more fun and enjoyable.
Conclusion
Buldak noodles are a type of spicy ramen that are made with buldak sauce, which means “fire chicken” in Korean. They are produced by Samyang Foods, a South Korean company that specializes in ramen and snacks. Buldak noodles have become a global sensation, thanks to the viral Fire Noodle Challenge, where people film themselves eating these noodles and try to endure the heat. Buldak noodles come in different varieties that vary in spice level and flavor. They are easy to cook and can be done in less than 10 minutes. They are very spicy and may not be suitable for everyone, but they can be enjoyed with some tips and tricks. Buldak noodles are a delicious and exciting way to spice up your life!
FAQs
- Are buldak noodles vegan or vegetarian?
Buldak noodles are not vegan or vegetarian, as they contain chicken extract and other animal-derived ingredients in the sauce and the flakes. However, there are some vegan or vegetarian alternatives that you can try, such as this one or this one.
- Are buldak noodles gluten-free?
Buldak noodles are not gluten-free, as they contain wheat flour and soy sauce in the noodles and the sauce. However, there are some gluten-free alternatives that you can try, such as this one or [this one].
- Are buldak noodles halal?
Buldak noodles are not halal, as they contain pork extract and alcohol in the sauce. However, there are some halal alternatives that you can try, such as [this one] or [this one].
- Are buldak noodles healthy?
Buldak noodles are not very healthy, as they contain a lot of calories, sodium, fat, sugar, and artificial additives. They may also cause some adverse effects, such as stomach pain, diarrhea, heartburn, or sweating. However, you can make them healthier by adding some vegetables or meat, reducing the amount of sauce, or eating them in moderation.