Description
Japchae is a classic Korean dish made with stir-fried glass noodles, thinly sliced beef, and a medley of colorful vegetables. This savory and slightly sweet dish features chewy sweet potato noodles combined with tender beef, carrots, onions, spinach, and green onions, all flavored with soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil. Japchae is commonly served warm as a main or side dish and is celebrated for its delightful texture and balanced flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 2 lb thin-sliced beef (or chicken, tofu, or shrimp)
Noodles
- 1 lb Korean sweet potato noodles (glass noodles)
Vegetables
- 3 medium carrots, julienned
- 1 large white onion, thinly sliced
- ½ bunch green onions, chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ lb spinach leaves
Oils & Sauces
- 4 tbsp sesame oil
- 6 tbsp soy sauce
- Olive oil (quantity not specified, approximately 2 tbsp for cooking)
Instructions
- Cook Noodles: Bring a large pot of boiling water to a boil and add the sweet potato noodles along with a splash of olive oil to prevent sticking. Cook for 5-6 minutes until the noodles are tender but still chewy. Drain the noodles well and set aside.
- Cook Beef: Heat a skillet over high heat. Add half of the sesame oil and half of the soy sauce. Add the thinly sliced beef and stir-fry until browned and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes. Remove the beef from heat and set aside.
- Stir-fry Vegetables: In another skillet, heat some olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the julienned carrots and sliced onions and stir-fry until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining soy sauce, remaining sesame oil, minced garlic, and chopped green onions. Cook for an additional minute to combine the flavors.
- Add Spinach and Combine: Add the spinach leaves to the vegetable skillet and stir until they wilt, about 1-2 minutes. Transfer the cooked beef and vegetables into a large mixing bowl with the drained noodles. Toss everything together thoroughly to combine all flavors evenly.
- Serve: Serve the japchae warm, garnished with extra chopped green onions if desired for added freshness and color.
Notes
- Feel free to substitute beef with chicken, tofu, or shrimp to suit dietary preferences.
- To prevent noodles from sticking, tossing them with a little olive oil after draining is recommended.
- Adjust soy sauce quantity according to taste or dietary sodium restrictions.
- Japchae can be served warm or at room temperature.
- For added texture and flavor, you can garnish with toasted sesame seeds or sliced mushrooms.
