Chicken Galbi Noodle Salad

Updated May 1, 2024

Chicken Galbi Noodle Salad
Kelly Marshall for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Roscoe Betsill. Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks.
Total Time
40 minutes
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Rating
5(136)
Notes
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This weeknight noodle salad is inspired by Korean galbi, short ribs that are seasoned in a garlic-ginger soy sauce marinade sweetened with sugar, onion and grated Asian pear. Fast-cooking ground chicken simmers in a simplified galbi sauce with garlic, ginger, scallions and sesame oil, quickly soaking in all of the aromatics. Allow the chicken to cook for a minute or two after the sauce has been absorbed, which creates crispy, caramelized bits. Don’t skip out on the basil, which instantly brightens the dish. The salad can be made a few hours ahead and is tasty both warm and at room temperature.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 12ounces Korean sweet potato glass noodles
  • 6tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
  • 2tablespoons turbinado sugar or light brown sugar
  • Black pepper
  • 3tablespoons toasted sesame oil
  • 1tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1tablespoon minced ginger
  • 1pound ground chicken
  • ½cup chopped scallions
  • Salt
  • 1medium yellow or red bell pepper, halved, stemmed, seeded and slivered
  • ½cup chopped fresh basil
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

620 calories; 20 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 6 grams polyunsaturated fat; 80 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 8 grams sugars; 28 grams protein; 994 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a large pot of boiling water, cook noodles until tender and translucent, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a colander to drain, then run under cold water to stop the cooking. Drain well then transfer to a large bowl.

  2. Step 2

    Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine soy sauce, vinegar, sugar and ½ teaspoon pepper.

  3. Step 3

    In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, combine 2 tablespoons of the oil with the garlic and ginger over medium. When it starts sizzling, stir for 30 seconds, then add chicken and scallions. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up the meat until it’s no longer pink, about 5 minutes.

  4. Step 4

    Increase heat to medium-high and add ¼ cup of the sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally, until all of the liquid is absorbed and chicken is lightly caramelized, 5 minutes.

  5. Step 5

    Transfer chicken mixture to the bowl with the noodles. Add bell pepper, basil, remaining sauce and 1 tablespoon oil. Toss with your hands until well incorporated; season with salt and pepper.

  6. Step 6

    Divide among bowls and serve warm or at room temperature.

Ratings

5 out of 5
136 user ratings
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I meant to double the sauce as suggested, but my bottle of gluten free tamari had only 4 tablespoons. I added extra garlic, ginger, carrot and baby bok choi. Used the Thai rice noodles. It was very dry. Next day, armed w a new bottle of tamari, I reheated with a second batch of sauce, some mirin, a bit of sesame oil and topped w gluten free crunchy chow mein noodles. SO MUCH BETTER! Double or triple the sauce because the noodles such it up.

I’ve made this recipe pretty much once a week ever since first coming across it. Simple, quick, healthy, delicious, it’s the perfect WFM lunch! I omit the noodles and use half the quantity of sauce. I like to add 1 c chopped mushrooms with the scallions and 1/4 c roasted cashews with the basil at the end. Aldo great at room temperature as leftovers the next day. Kids loved it for dinner rolled up in lettuce like Korean tacos!

Add cilantro in with the basil Add jalapeno or Bird's eye with bell peppers Do a lot more sauce and make for sugar dissolves into sauce Top with sesame seeds Throw in purple cabbage and lettuce or bok choy too. Toss with fish sauce.

I made this salad as directed, adding corn (2 ears) and shredded cabbage. When I do it again, I will add some chilis. What I won't do again is use the sweet potato glass noodles. I found them unpleasantly chewy and weirdly gelatinous at the same time. Novel once, never to be repeated.

I agree with Becky and RL. The noodles in the photo look like rice noodles not sweet potato glass noodles. I bought the ingredients, but I haven’t made. I will use glass noodles.

This is a good starting point recipe. It needs more. I added shredded cabbage, jalapeno, cilantro, and changed up the noodles. I think the sauce was a little watery as well.

I made this as written for dinner tonight. Really good! When I make it again I think I will add more vegetables, more basil, and maybe a little more sauce.

I shouldn’t rate it since I just riffed on it. Used wheat noodles, added 3 Tbs goguchang to ginger and garlic, added a yellow and an orange bell pepper and a bunch of cut up broccoli to the pan with onions and spices in pan after chicken was done (and set aside in a bowl). But H raved about it. Spicy but flavorful.

The ingredient list calls for ginger and garlic, but the recipe never directs you to add them. I added them to the sauce and a bit of garlic to the chicken while it sautéed, which turned out fine.

This meal was really good. I don't like glass noodles, so I used Thai-style brown rice noodles. These cook in 3–5 minutes and are tasty and chewy.

I was thinking of interchanging the basil with thai basil or coriander. Would that work?

I think you could definitely use thai basil. Coriander would be good too, but different.

Doubled the bell pepper and added shredded carrot and romaine for a fresher and more colorful bowl. Healthy, delicious and easy - I will be making this one a lot.

Planned to make as written but only brought home 3 packages of the noodles which totaled 10.5 oz and frankly that was plenty. (Found them in the Asian section of my normal grocery story - yay.) Definitely could have increased peppers or even decreased noodles as it felt noodle-heavy. Yes to more basil too. Didn't have much sesame oil so did the stir-fry portion in olive oil and used the sesame oil for the end toss. My guess would have been slightly more tasty with only sesame oil throughout.

Another turkey user. Really good - followed others in adding more scallions and basil. Also added jalapeno and matchstick carrots. I might add thinly sliced onion next time. Depending on the type of soy sauce you prefer it may need more salt. Topped with chili crisp!

Made this with ground turkey and rice vermicelli. Excellent. Added an extra red bell pepper (it makes a lot!) and used a whole bunch of basil, probably 1 cup chopped in total. I also omitted the garlic for a low FODMAPs friendly dish, and instead added some more slivered raw green scallions at the end. Will keep making this. Delicious warm or cold.

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