Kalguksu (Korean Knife-Cut Noodle Soup)

Kalguksu means knife-cut noodles, and that is exactly how they are made: the dough is rolled thin, folded and sliced by hand, which gives irregular edges that hold the broth far better than anything extruded.

The flour clinging to the noodles is deliberate. It clouds the stock very slightly and thickens it into something between a soup and a sauce, which is what separates kalguksu from a clear noodle soup.

Servings
4
Prep Time
25
mins
Cook Time
25
mins
Ingredients
13
Total Time
50
mins

Ingredients

  • 300g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 1/2 tsp fine salt
  • 150ml cold water
  • 1 tbsp neutral oil
  • 2 litres anchovy and kelp stock
  • 400g chicken thigh fillets, sliced
  • 1 courgette, cut into matchsticks
  • 1 potato, thinly sliced
  • 1 brown onion, sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely grated
  • 2 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 4 spring onions, sliced
  • Kimchi and gochugaru, to serve

Instructions

  1. Mix the flour and salt, add the cold water and oil and knead for 8 minutes until smooth. Wrap and rest for 30 minutes. The dough should be firm, not soft.
  2. Roll the dough out as thin as you can on a well-floured bench, dust the surface generously, fold it over on itself several times and cut across into 5mm noodles with a sharp knife.
  3. Shake the noodles loose in plenty of extra flour and set aside. That loose flour is what thickens the broth later, so do not rinse it off.
  4. Bring the stock to a boil with the chicken, potato and onion and simmer for 10 minutes.
  5. Add the noodles and courgette and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring so they do not stick, until the noodles are tender and the broth has thickened slightly.
  6. Season with the garlic and soy, scatter with spring onion and serve with kimchi and a pinch of gochugaru.

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