‘My Love from the Star’ lead Jun Ji-hyun’s noodle recipe that won’t ruin your diet

Choi Hwa-jung shares Jun Ji-hyun's recipe for cold tomato noodles. Captured from Choi's YouTube channel

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A noodle recipe said to be enjoyed by actress Jun Ji-hyun is drawing attention online.

While noodles are often seen as a food that can lead to weight gain, this dish boosts health and beauty benefits by pairing them with tomatoes and perilla oil as the main ingredients.

Actress Choi Hwa-jung, 65, recently shared the recipe for her cold tomato noodles on her YouTube channel. “I directly asked Jun Ji-hyun, who lives in the same apartment building," she said.

The recipe is simple: Freeze tomatoes before cutting them into pieces, and mix with perilla oil, tsuyu sauce, white balsamic vinegar and water to make the broth. Add precooked thin wheat noodles, then finish with perilla leaves — though Choi substituted basil instead.

Tomatoes are rich in nutrients. According to the Rural Development Administration’s National Standard Food Composition Table, 100 grams of ripe tomatoes contain 5.5-8 milligrams of lycopene, 2.6 grams of dietary fiber, 561 milligrams of amino acids, 32 micrograms of vitamin A, 380 micrograms of beta-carotene, 13 micrograms of vitamin B1, 37 micrograms of vitamin B2 and 14.2 milligrams of vitamin C.

Lycopene, an antioxidant, helps protect the skin from ultraviolet damage and slows aging. A study by researchers at Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences found that mice fed tomato powder daily for 35 weeks had a 50 percent lower incidence of skin cancer after UV exposure compared to those that did not consume tomatoes.

In addition to lycopene, vitamin C and beta-carotene in tomatoes help maintain healthy skin by aiding hydration and brightening. Tomatoes are also known to boost immunity. The Rural Development Administration notes that lycopene helps prevent certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases, while vitamins and organic acids in tomatoes reduce inflammation.

Cold tomato noodles / Captured from Choi Hwa-jung's YouTube channel

Perilla oil for heart health — rich in omega-3s that fight inflammation

Omega-3 fatty acids, often associated with fish like mackerel, are also abundant in perilla oil. They help reduce inflammation, clear arteries and lower cholesterol, which in turn helps prevent cardiovascular diseases. Omega-3s also produce anti-inflammatory compounds that suppress chronic inflammation. While omega-3 supplements are available, consuming them through food is considered best.

However, perilla oil is prone to oxidation. When exposed to air, it can quickly turn rancid, and consuming spoiled oil can increase reactive oxygen species in the body and disrupt the immune system. To prevent this, opened perilla oil should be tightly sealed, stored in the refrigerator and consumed as quickly as possible.

This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.