A Special Request from My Son – Homemade Napolitan
Today, I took a little break from traditional Korean dishes to fulfill a special breakfast-time request from my son. As soon as he woke up this morning, he asked Napolitan Spaghetti for dinner.
He’s been into Japanese anime and webtoons lately, and I’m guessing he probably saw a plate of Napolitan in one of them last night. It’s funny how a quick scene in a cartoon can make you crave something all day long.
Enjoying Napolitan Spaghetti through Japanese Dramas
Thinking about it, I can’t really blame him for wanting it so suddenly. I used to be the exact same way. I remember watching Japanese dramas like Midnight Diner or The Solitary Gourmet and getting so obsessed with the food on screen that I’d end up eating it the very next day.
Goro–san (from The Solitary Gourmet) really has a way of making everything look incredible. Watching him late at night is always dangerous for me!
But instead of just thinking about what to eat the next day, I often find myself thinking, “I just want to hop on a plane to Japan and eat my way through the whole country.” Haha. There’s something about that travel-inspired craving that’s even stronger than just being hungry.
And then there’s Midnight Diner. There’s something so moving about watching the Master quietly prepare a simple meal that somehow heals a customer’s heart. It’s not just about the food; it’s about the comfort and the stories shared over the counter.
It always makes me want to find a quiet little spot in my own neighborhood—a place where I could sit down for a warm meal and a drink to just unwind and feel comforted.
Now, Let’s Get Cooking!
Anyway It might not be the ‘authentic’ Japanese way, but this is how I make a quick and easy plate of Napolitan at home. It’s perfect for those days when you want something tasty without too much effort.
Ingredients
- 2 servings of spaghetti noodles
- 2 sausages
: slice the sausages. - 1/2 onion
: chop the onion) - 1 to 2 cans of tomato sauce
: Originally, Napolitan is made with tomato ketchup, but I personally find the acidity of ketchup a bit too strong. So, I like to use tomato sauce or pasta sauce instead. - 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- A bit of parsley, black pepper, and crushed red pepper
- Parmesan cheese
- Boil the water and cook the spaghetti for about 10 minutes.
- In a heated pan, drizzle some olive oil and sauté the finely chopped onions.
- Once the onions are slightly cooked, add the sliced sausages and stir-fry them together.
- After the ingredients are mostly cooked, pour in 1 to 2 cans of tomato sauce and add 2 tbsp of oyster sauce.
- Season it with some parsley, black pepper, and crushed red pepper to your liking.
- Once the spaghetti is done, add it to the sauce and toss everything together until the noodles are well–coated.
- Transfer to a plate and grate some Parmesan cheese over the top as much as you like.
In our house, we usually make oil-based pasta most often. But every now and then, this Napolitan spaghetti made with tomato sauce and ketchup is such a nice treat.
The Korean ‘Pickle’: Mul-kimchi instead of Pickles!
I would have loved to serve it with pickles, but I realized we were all out. So, I decided to use Mul-kimchi (Korean water kimchi) instead. Surprisingly, the crunchy radish, cabbage, carrots, and cucumbers in the kimchi paired just as well with the pasta as any pickle would!
My son especially loves the refreshing broth of the Mul–kimchi—he actually ended up drinking all of it. It turned out to be a perfectly balanced, cozy dinner.
Talking about the Mul–kimchi makes me realize how versatile it is. In the winter, another favorite treat of ours is adding thin wheat noodles (somyeon) to the cold broth. It’s so refreshing and delicious.
Just thinking about it makes me want to whip up a bowl right now! Well, maybe I’ll save that for another day.
I’d love to share a recipe for Mul-kimchi noodles sometime soon. It’s a real winter delicacy! The only problem is… I don’t actually know how to make kimchi myself. ^^
I’ll have to wait until my mom makes another batch of her amazing Mul–kimchi. It’s definitely worth the wait, though. Once I get my hands on some more, I’ll be sure to share that refreshing noodle recipe with you all!
I’m sure many of you all over the world enjoy making homemade pasta, too!
Sometimes, I watch YouTube videos of Italian nonnas making pasta from scratch. It’s amazing how they create such rich flavors using only a few simple ingredients. Watching them always makes me want to jump into the kitchen and follow along.
I hope that when you see the Korean recipes I share here, you feel that same spark of inspiration.
Now, it’s time for me to wrap up my day. I’ll be back soon with more delicious Korean food stories! Goodbye for now!
From MJay, making Japanese-inspired food in Korea. ^^
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