Step 1

On a large plate, arrange the peanut butter, gochujang, finely chopped spring onions, basil, cilantro, sesame seeds, chili flakes, grated ginger, and grated garlic. Add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, and sugar if using.

Step 2

Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the udon noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1/4 cup of the noodle cooking water, then drain.

Step 3

In a small pan, heat the neutral oil until hot but not smoking.

Step 4

Carefully pour the hot oil over the ingredients on the plate. The heat will help meld the flavors together.

Step 5

Mix everything on the plate to create a cohesive sauce.

Step 6

Add the cooked noodles to the plate, along with a splash of the reserved noodle water. Toss thoroughly to ensure the noodles are well coated with the sauce.

Step 7

Serve the noodles in bowls, garnished with additional chopped spring onions, sesame seeds, and a drizzle of chili oil.