K-Drama Cravings: Jajangmyeon Or Black Bean Noodles

In a recent episode of "Triangle," Lee Bum Soo offers to buy all the children at his former orphanage some jajangymeon or noodles in black bean sauce. The children had lunch but they are happy to eat this traditional treat. And the detectives in "You're All Surrounded" ate some in the van while on a stakeout.

It's such a favorite dish in Korea that it's often featured in dramas and films.

Preparing jajangmyeon took up much of the plot of the film "Castaway on the Moon." In that film a man tries to commit suicide but winds up stranded on an island in Seoul. Although the island is in the middle of a major city, the castaway can't attract anyone's attention. He decides to make his favorite dish using only the ingredients found on the island.

Jajangymeon is featured prominently in "Coffee Prince" when Yoon Eun Hye proves how much of it she can eat and things get messy. It's also a dish featured in "Fantasy Couple" and "Let's Eat" among other dramas.

Watching k-drama characters eat this occasionally messy but obviously delicious dish can make you hungry enough to try whipping up some for yourself.

But how do you make jajangmyeon?

First you will need to go somewhere they sell Korean ingredients, such as black bean paste or jajang. After that it's easy. Here is one traditional recipe prepared with meat but there are many variations. There are even vegetarian versions that use vegetable stock and more ginger and garlic for extra flavor.

To make two servings you will need:

Ingredients

12+ ounces of Udon noodles

5 tablespoons of black bean paste

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon of sugar

4 ounces pork loin

1 tablespoon of rice wine

½ teaspoon grated ginger

Salt and pepper to taste

6 green onions

4 ounces Napa cabbage shredded

1 small zucchini, diced

1 cup of stock

I tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in a quarter cup of water.

Instructions:

Boil water for the noodles. While the water is boiling, cut the pork into small cubes and marinate in wine, ginger, salt and pepper. Cut the veggies into small bite-size pieces. Head up some oil and sauté bean paste with oil and sugar. Stir-fry for three minutes. In another pan, stir fry pork until cooked through. Add veggies to meat and and cook until soft. Combine with black bean sauce. Pour in stock and cook for a few minutes. Add dissolved starch and stir till sauce thickens. Add more sugar if needed.

Cook noodles and drain. Place noodles in each bowl and pour sauce over them. If you like, garnish the dish with diced cucumbers.

Delicious! Be sure to serve with napkins