Korean Buckwheat Noodles in Curry-Tomato Soup with Dumplings, Kale, and Tomatoes

This fusion dish combines the earthy flavors of Korean memil guksu:메밀국수 (buckwheat noodles) with a curry paste-based soup, complemented by sesame-flavored dumplings, fresh kale, and tomatoes. Topped with shredded Chinese red pepper, it’s a wholesome and flavorful meal that’s both hearty and refreshing.

Ingredients

• Soup Base:
  • 1 cup water (reuse the water from boiling buckwheat noodles)
  • 1 tbsp curry paste (made with garam masala, herbs, oil, and tomato paste)
  • 1 tsp chicken extract or bouillon
• Noodles:
  • 1 serving Korean buckwheat noodles (memil guksu)
  • Alternatives: Soba noodles, brown rice noodles, konjac noodles, or gluten-free noodles
• Dumplings:
  • 3 dumplings (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • 1/2 tsp vinegar (rice vinegar preferred)
  　　　　　　　　　　
  • 1 tsp five-spice powder (五香粉) if you like star anise
• Toppings:
  • 1 fresh kale leaf, chopped
  • 1/4 fresh tomato, sliced
  • Shredded Chinese red pepper (or chili threads)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Noodles:
   • Cook the buckwheat noodles according to the package instructions.
   • Reserve 1 cup of the noodle boiling water for the soup.
2. Prepare the Soup Base:
   • In a pot, heat the reserved noodle boiling water.
   • Stir in the curry paste (made from garam masala, herbs, oil, and tomato paste) until fully dissolved.
   • Add chicken extract. Let it simmer for 5-7 minutes to blend the flavors.
3. Cook the Dumplings:
   • Heat a skillet and lightly pan-fry the dumplings with sesame oil until golden on the bottom.
   • Add a splash of water, cover, and let the dumplings steam for 3-5 minutes until cooked through.
   • Drizzle with soy sauce, vinegar and five-spice powder for flavor.
4. Assemble the Bowl:
   • In a large bowl, place the cooked noodles (or alternative noodles if preferred).
   • Pour the curry-tomato soup over the noodles.
   • Arrange the dumplings, kale, and sliced tomatoes around the bowl.
5. Garnish:
   • Top with shredded Chinese red pepper (or chili threads) for a spicy kick.
   • Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips

Adjust the soup’s spice level by adding more or less curry paste, or adding 1 tsp broad bean chili paste (Chinese seasoning:豆板醤). For a vegetarian version, replace chicken extract with vegetable bouillon and use vegetarian dumplings like tofu minced meat.