Bibim-Guksu Recipe: How to Make Cold Kimchi Noodles, the Ultimate Lazy-Girl Summer Dish

Growing up, Bibim-Guksu was such a summer staple in our house that my mom made for those hot and humid summer days when she wanted a dish to throw together in less than 15 minutes and required no real cooking (other than boiling noodles). It’s also kind of perfect for a summer picnic with friends because it’s really easy to make in larger batches for multiple people, too!

In Korean, “bibim” means mixed (this might sound familiar because of the more well-known bibimbap dish, aka mixed rice) “guksu” means noodles, so this simple and delicious dish’s name is actually very accurate to what it is: simply, mixed noodles. It’s SO easy to make and practically foolproof: All you need to be able to do is boil noodles and then mix a few ingredients together.

All the flavor comes from the kimchi, and it’s so refreshing on a hot summer day. A bit tangy and sour, with the refreshingly satisfying bite of the cold noodles with the cucumber, it’s really the ultimate lazy girl summer dish!

I’m wearing the Party in Paris dress in light orange here, and it’s perfect for keeping cool during our hot California summer–but also the color is awesome for hiding the notorious kimchi splatters that will inevitably come with slurping these delicious noodles!

Bibim-Guksu Recipe

Ingredients:

• ½ cup kimchi, chopped into small slices
• ¼ cup kimchi brine (juice from kimchi)
• 1 serving of noodles, about 4-6 oz (I used GF soba, traditionally you use thin wheat noodles like “Somen” or thin buckwheat noodles like “Memil guksu” )
• 1 tablespoon gochujang (fermented Korean chili paste)
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame Oil
• ~⅓ of a cucumber, sliced into matchsticks
• 1 scallion (just the green part), sliced
• 1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds (whole or crushed)
• Optional: 1 hard-boiled egg to top
• Optional: Some people like a bit more sweetness, so they add about 1 tsp of sugar.

Instructions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the noodles, and boil noodles according to the package instructions. *If you are making a hard-boiled egg, do this step now! 
2. While the noodles boil, place the kimchi, kimchi brine, gochujang, and toasted sesame oil in a small mixing bowl, and mix together thoroughly.
3. Drain noodles and rinse under cold water. 
4. Place noodles in a bowl, and top with the kimchi sauce mixture, scallions, and cucumbers, then sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds on top. If you boiled the egg, peel it and slice it in half to garnish. Serve and enjoy!

Did you try this Bibim-Guksu recipe? Show us your cold kimchi noodles on Instagram or TikTok @lulus and use #lovelulus–and head to our Summer Fashion Shop for more delicious styles!

Living in LA with her fiance and corgi, Minna Lee is a content creator who shares about mental health, conscious living, and how we can support each other’s overal well-being.