Sometimes you just get a craving for something light, refreshing but yet filling. Korean cold noodle is just the thing to satisfy that craving. One type of Korean cold noodle is Naengmyeon (냉면). Naengmyeon can be served with a cold broth, in which case the dish will be called Mul naengmyeon (물냉면). Mul naengmyeon is made from a broth made from chicken or beef. Usually mul naengmyeon is garnished with sliced cucumbers and a boiled egg.

Another type of naengmyeon is called bibim naengmyeon (비빔냉면). Bibim naengmyeon is a type of cold noodle without a broth. It’s basically just gochujang (고추장) or red chili paste, and noodles mixed together. Bibim naengmyeon is usually spicier than mul naengmyeon. Sliced cucumbers, a boiled egg cut in half are used to garnish the noodles. Sometimes some sesame seeds are added. Some people optionally add a little vinegar as well.

If you like a little seafood in your naengmyeon, then you’ll like Hoe naengmyeon (회냉면). Hoe naengmyeon is from the city of Hamhung (함흥) in North Korea. Hoe naengmyeon is a type of naengmyeon using raw fish. The fish is marinated with gochujang, seasame oil, vinegar and sugar. The noodles are made from potato starch, which is different from the buckwheat noodles usually made for mul naengmyeon.

Pyeongyang naengmyeon (평양녕면) is also a cold noodle dish that originated from North Korea. The broth of Pyeongyang naengmyeon is made from beef and dongchimi (동치미). Dongchimi is a cabbage, raddish, ginger, pear, spring onion, green chili type of watery kimchi popular in North Korea. Sometimes people add mustard oil to the broth to add some tangy flavor to the broth. Pyeongyang naengmyeon is usually garnished with radish and beef slices with a hard boiled egg.

There’s another type of naengmyeon called Yeolmu naengmyeon (열무냉면). Yeolmu naengmyeon is a variety of naengmyeon garnished with yeolmu kimchi (열부김치), a hard boiled egg, and sliced cucumbers. The yeolmu kimchi is a type of kimchi using only the leaves and stalks of a radish. The yeolmu kimchi contains a bit of hot pepper paste so this variety of naengmyeon can be slightly spicy. That’s why some people prefer to add ice to this cold noodle dish.