How To Make Samyang Noodles Less Spicy: ANSWERED!
If you love ramen, you’ve probably heard the hype around Samyang noodles.
Hailing from South Korea, the ‘2x Spicy’ variety has become a cult classic amongst noodle lovers with a penchant for super hot food, and there’s even a viral challenge that’s seen brave foodies try to finish a bowl in one go.
Maybe you’ve bought in bulk to give them a try, and you’re finding that you need to tone them down a little to be able to enjoy them on a more regular basis.
Perhaps you’ve completed the challenge but don’t feel like doing it again, but you don’t want to waste your noodles.
There’s no shame in admitting there’re a little too wild for your tastebuds!
Though I absolutely adore spicy food – the hotter the better – I’m not ashamed to share that I found it pretty difficult to munch my way through an entire packet.
If that sounds like you too, I’ve got you covered. We’re going to take a look at various options for how to make Samyang noodles less spicy.
How hot are Samyang 2x Spicy noodles?
These noodles are seriously HOT!
They were first released in 2017 as a limited edition celebration for the year of the Fire Rooster.
8 million packets were sold during just 4 months, before they disappeared from the shelves.
Due to popular demand though, it wasn’t long before the super spicy noodles were relaunched and were made available once more.
Interestingly, the original release wasn’t quite as hot.
The original Samyang 2x Spicy Noodles had a Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) of 8,808, but the later and current version comes in at 10,000.
To put this heat level into perspective, jalapenos’ SHU typically comes somewhere between 2,000 – 8,000 SHU.
Meanwhile, Tabasco Sauce ranges from 7,000 – 8,000 SHU.
In other words, eating a bowl of these noodles can be compared to eating a whole chilli pepper, or drinking hot sauce straight from the bottle!
How can you make Samyang ramen noodles less spicy?
If you’re in a rush, here’s the short answer…
The easiest way to make Samyang noodles less spicy is to simply use less of the spice packet. Using just half or a quarter will make a big difference to the spice levels, and you can experiment to find what works best for you.
Another good solution is to dilute the sauce packet with 2-4 cups of chicken broth.
This will preserve the spicy flavour, but make it less intense.
The result will be more like a soup for your noodles, as you’ll have less liquid.
Finally, you may want to consider adding extra ingredients to your Samyang noodles.
Let’s explore this option a little more, and look at some of the best choices…
- Add a dairy product to neutralise some of the heat
Dairy is one of the easiest ways to tone down the spiciness of noodle based dishes.
Just add a dollop of heavy cream or soured cream, or even cream cheese, and stir through.
Taste, and add more dairy if you feel like you need to.
Cheese also works in a similar way, and if you don’t eat dairy, you can use coconut milk instead.
- Add lime juice
Acidic ingredients such as lime juice can also neutralise spice.
Lemon juice can have the same effect, as can vinegars.
- Add peanut butter
When you add a spoonful of peanut butter to Samyang noodles whilst they’re still hot, it’ll quickly melt into the sauce.
It tempers the heat, and it also adds a delicious satay style element to the overall flavour.
You can also use cashew or almond butter if you prefer, or tahini.
- Add eggs
Adding eggs to your Samyang noodles will help to tone down that spiciness, but it’ll also create a more balanced meal with an extra serving of protein.
You’ve got various options here.
You can make a crispy fried egg, or even a simply boiled egg.
Either way, make sure that the yolk is runny for maximum satisfaction!
- Add meat and veggies
A bowl of instant noodles can be transformed into an exciting meal by simply adding meat and veggies.
This will also help to tone down the spice.
Just be sure that your chosen meat and veggies aren’t spiced!
Good choices for meat include shredded leftover chicken, prawns, and chunks of grilled pork.
In terms of veggies, grated carrots, mushrooms, peppers, and onion all work well.
Final thoughts on making Buldak ramen less spicy
If you find Buldak ramen noodles too spicy, you’re definitely not alone!
They can be a challenge, even for dedicated heat lovers. But as you can see, there are plenty of options for toning them down to make them more enjoyable.
From using less of the sauce packet, to adding extra ingredients like dairy or meat and veggies, you can experiment until you find the exact taste and level of spice that you desire.
Love Korean food? Check out the best sides for bulgogi and what to serve with Korean fried chicken for more inspiration and meal planning ideas.
