If you’ve watched the Oscar winning film “Parasite”, you’ll remember that scene where they make this mouthwatering noodle dish called ram-don using two very popular Korean packaged ramen noodles. I was inspired by those noodles but wanted to create something a bit healthier, using fresh ingredients.
The star in my version here isn’t the noodles but rather the Vidalia onions that I cooked down and caramelized to give the saucy noodles some extra depth. Preparing onions this way isn’t typical in Asian cooking, but I think the caramelized onions give a subtle sweetness that is a great contrast in flavor to the salty black bean sauce and gochujang that coats the noodles.
Recipe:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 vidalia onion, cut in 1 inch chunks
1 zucchini, cut into 1 inch pieces
¼ cup korean black bean paste
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons gochujang (or more depending on how spicy you can take)
3 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon ginger, minced
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup
1 ribeye steak
Salt and pepper to taste
Pat the ribeye steak dry and season it with salt and pepper generously. Set aside.
In a cast iron pan, turn on heat to high. When you start to see it smoking, add meat and sear for 3-4 minutes on each side. This will give you a medium rare - medium steak. If you want it more done, cook it longer. Once done, remove from pan and set aside.
In another pot, boil the noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse to remove any starch. Set aside.
In a large pan, on medium heat, add oil and let it get hot. Once hot, turn the heat down to medium low and add vidalia onions. Saute for 10-15 minutes until it’s nice and soft. You will see a bit of browning on the pan, but we will deglaze this later. Next, add zucchini and continue to cook for another 3 minutes.
Add korean black bean paste, sesame oil, sugar, gochujang, garlic, ginger, and chicken broth. Simmer on medium heat for 5 minutes until it starts bubbling and thickens up slightly. Add the cooked noodles into the sauce and mix well until coated.
Plate the noodles with some sliced ribeye, garnish with sesame seeds and scallions. Enjoy!
This post has been sponsored by the Vidalia Onion Committee. Links featured within, not inclusive of the official Vidalia Onion Committee website or previously sponsored content, are not sanctioned or endorsed by the Vidalia Onion Committee.
