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Vegan Bulgogi Noodles with Jackfruit Kimchi

  • Prep-time: / Ready In:
  • Makes 8 cups bulgogi noodles + 1⅓ cups kimchi
  • Serving size: ¼ of recipe
  • Print/save recipe

This noodle-forward, plant-based take on bulgogi, a classic Korean dish, skips the beef in favor of meaty jackfruit and is guaranteed to spice up your weekly menu! Cooked jackfruit absorbs a ginger-infused soy sauce marinade and tastes divine on top of earthy brown rice pad Thai noodles. A quick cabbage and jackfruit kimchi gets its spicy flavor from Korean chili powder (or sriracha sauce) and adds tang and heat in equal measure. Traditional kimchi requires days to ferment, but we found a cheat using boiling water that takes a fraction of the time. You still need four hours for the flavors in the kimchi to meld, so plan on prepping that earlier in the day or the day before. To finish this vegan bulgogi dish, top with shredded Asian pear (or cooking apple)—the sweet, juicy flavor ties in well—and garnish with thinly sliced scallions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

For more inspiration, check out our collection of jackfruit recipes, or try one of these tasty ideas:

By Laura Marzen, RD, LD,

Ingredients

  • 1½ cups coarsely chopped napa cabbage
  • Boiling water
  • 2 14-oz. cans no-salt-added young jackfruit, rinsed and drained (2½ cups)
  • ⅓ cup slivered sweet or red onion
  • 3 tablespoons brown rice vinegar
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons Korean chili powder (gochugaru red pepper powder or flakes) or sriracha sauce
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon pure cane sugar
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 12 oz. dry brown rice pad Thai noodles
  • 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons gochujang sauce or sriracha sauce
  • 3 scallions
  • 1 Asian pear or cooking apple, peeled and shredded (1 cup)
  • 2 teaspoon sesame seeds, toasted

Instructions

  • For quick kimchi, in a medium heatproof bowl combine cabbage and enough boiling water to cover; let stand 2 minutes. Drain cabbage well. In the bowl toss together cabbage, ½ cup of the jackfruit, and the onion.
  • In a small bowl whisk together rice vinegar, Korean chili powder, 1 clove of the garlic, the sugar, and salt. Pour over cabbage mixture; toss to coat. Cover loosely; let stand at room temperature 4 to 6 hours or chill at least 24 hours, stirring once or twice.
  • In a large pot cook noodles according to package directions; drain and rinse with hot water. Cover.
  • In a large bowl whisk together soy sauce, ginger, gochujang sauce, and the remaining 4 cloves garlic. Coarsely chop any large pieces of the remaining jackfruit. Add the remaining 2 cups jackfruit to the soy sauce mixture; toss to coat.
  • Thinly slice scallions, keeping white and green portions separate. Reserve green tops for garnish. In an extra-large skillet cook marinated jackfruit mixture and white portions of scallions over medium-high 10 minutes or until bubbly and heated through, stirring frequently and adding water, 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, as needed to keep mixture slightly saucy. Add shredded Asian pear.
  • Top noodles with jackfruit mixture and quick kimchi. Garnish with green portions of scallions and the sesame seeds.
Nutritional Information:

Per serving (¼ of recipe): 409 calories, 87 g carbohydrates, 9 g protein, 2 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g cholesterol, 563 mg sodium, 14 g fiber, 9 g sugar

Note: Nutritional information is provided as an estimate only.

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About the Author

Headshot of recipe developer and nutritionist Laura Marzen by Theresa Schumacher Photography

About the Author

Laura Marzen, RD, LD

Laura Marzen, RD, LD, is known for developing approachable recipes using her attention to detail and relying on two decades of experience creating and testing recipes. She created and tested recipes while working in the Better Homes & Gardens test kitchen for over seven years. Since then, she has gone on to develop more than 1,000 recipes for national magazines. In addition to her work developing recipes, Marzen uses her passion for healthy eating to coach women on improving their digestion and health in a way that's practical and sustainable. She has consulted for authors Rocco DiSpirito and Joy Bauer and has appeared on both local and national news and television programs on behalf of Better Homes & Gardens and Living the Country Life. With her work coaching women to improve their health, Marzen has extensive knowledge on the topics of digestion, metabolism, inflammation and IBS. Marzen earned a B.S. degree in dietetics from Iowa State University. She followed that with a dietetic internship and classes in public health at the University of Iowa through the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Learn more on her website. Photo by Theresa Schumacher Photography
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