Japchae(Korean Glass Noodle Stir-Fry, 잡채)
Japchae is a quintessential Korean dish often served during holidays and celebrations, such as weddings, birthdays, and other festive occasions. While it may seem labor-intensive, you’ll soon realize how manageable it is after trying it a few times.
The beauty of japchae lies in its versatility—you can make it with whatever ingredients you have. Only mushrooms? No problem! Just noodles and mushrooms are enough. Only meat? That works too! Today, I’ll show you the traditional version, but it’s easy to adapt to a vegan-friendly recipe with just glass noodles and vegetables.
In Korea, the dish’s vibrant colors are part of its appeal: red (carrots or red bell peppers), green (spinach or green bell peppers), white (onions), and brown (mushrooms or meat). Even with just a few vegetables, japchae can look and taste amazing!
Instructions
Prepare the ingredients: Slice all vegetables and meat into long, thin strips to match the shape of the glass noodles.
Cook the meat: Heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a pan. Add the sliced meat, 0.5 teaspoon of salt, minced garlic, and a pinch of black pepper. Stir-fry until the meat changes color.
Add onions and cook vegetables: Add the sliced onions to the pan and stir-fry for about 1 minute. Add the remaining vegetables, season lightly with salt, and stir-fry everything together for about 3 minutes. Set aside.
Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, corn syrup, brown sugar, and 1 1/3 tablespoons cooking oil.
Cook the noodles: Boil 1 liter of water in a pot, then add the glass noodles. Once the water boils again, cook for 11 minutes. Drain the noodles, keeping them hot, and return them to the pot. Add the prepared sauce to the noodles and mix thoroughly using a silicone spatula or wooden spoon to coat them evenly.
Combine everything: Add the stir-fried vegetables to the noodles and mix well.
Finish and serve: Drizzle with 1 1/3 tablespoons of sesame oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Toss everything gently to combine.
Your delicious japchae is ready! Enjoy it as a side dish, or even as the main star of your meal. 😊
