Low-Carb Cucumber Noodles with Korean-Style Cold Soup
Yunon is a food content creator based in Japan, sharing easy, high-protein, healthy-ish, and approachable recipes with a global audience. They believe good food should bring people together, so they create recipes that are simple, satisfying, and accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.
- Dinner
Crisp cucumber ribbons in a chilled, tangy Korean-style broth topped with kimchi, lean ham, tomato, and a boiled egg — a 355-calorie dinner for hot nights.
With approximately 355 calories and 21g of protein per serving, this refreshing cucumber noodle bowl is a light and satisfying dinner inspired by Korean cold noodle dishes. Instead of traditional noodles, this recipe uses crisp cucumber ribbons as a veggie-based swap to create a refreshing meal with a lighter texture. The chilled savory broth (topped with kimchi, lean ham, tomato, and boiled egg) brings together bold flavors while keeping the recipe simple and easy to prepare. Make this dish when you’re craving a refreshing, high-protein meal that feels satisfying without being heavy. If you’ve been curious about cucumber noodles, this is the easiest place to start — the only tool you need is a vegetable peeler.
Why This Works
The main nutrition win comes from the cucumber noodles, which add volume and hydration while keeping the dish light compared to traditional noodles. The boiled egg and lean ham do the heavy lifting for protein, helping make this refreshing bowl more satisfying and balanced. The cucumber also adds fiber and crunch, while kimchi brings extra flavor and beneficial fermented ingredients.
Nutrition (per serving)
| Calories | 355 |
|---|---|
| Protein | 21g |
| Carbs | 31g |
| Fat | 5g |
Ingredients
| Cucumbers | 2–3 (depending on size) |
|---|
For the Korean-Style Cold Soup:
| Soy sauce | 2 tbsp |
|---|---|
| Rice vinegar | 2 tbsp |
| Water | ⅔ cup |
| Ice cubes | 5–7 |
| Sugar or honey | 1 tbsp |
| Sesame oil | 2 tsp |
| Chicken stock powder (Ajinomoto) | 2 tsp |
| Grated garlic | 1 tsp |
| Sesame seeds | 1 tsp |
For the Toppings:
| Kimchi | To taste |
|---|---|
| Lean ham | 1 oz |
| Tomato | To taste |
| Boiled egg | 1 |
Step-by-Step Instructions
1 Make the cucumber noodles
Using a vegetable peeler, peel the cucumbers into long, thin ribbons to create “cucumber noodles.”
2 Prep the toppings
Slice the ham and tomato, and cut the boiled egg in half.
3 Mix the cold soup
In a large bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, water, sugar (or honey), sesame oil, chicken stock powder, grated garlic, and sesame seeds until well combined. Add a handful of ice cubes to chill the broth.
4 Assemble
Add the cucumber noodles to a serving bowl, pour the chilled broth over them.
5 Top and serve
Arrange the kimchi, ham, tomato, and boiled egg on top. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes & Tips
- Keep it extra cold: For the most refreshing flavor, chill the broth and toppings in advance, or add plenty of ice cubes before serving.
- Make it lower carb: Replace the sugar with your favorite low-carb sweetener, such as erythritol, monk fruit, or allulose.
- Boost the protein: Add more lean ham, cooked chicken, turkey, shrimp, tofu, or an extra boiled egg for an even higher-protein meal.
- Best enjoyed fresh: Cucumber releases water over time, so assemble and serve right away for the best texture. If making ahead, store the broth and toppings separately and assemble just before serving.
Yunon is a food content creator based in Japan, sharing easy, high-protein, healthy-ish, and approachable recipes with a global audience. They believe good food should bring people together, so they create recipes that are simple, satisfying, and accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.
