| By: Isaac Yoo|
Japchae [잡채], a sweet stir-fried noodle dish, consisting of dangmyeon [당면] (chewy glass noodles made from sweet potato starch), a choice of meat, and a variety of vegetables. Once considered a luxurious dish in the royal court cuisine of the Joseon Dynasty, it is now widely enjoyed worldwide. Japchae is most commonly found at large gatherings, potlucks, and celebratory events because of its ease in bulk preparation.
Ingredients
Yield: 4 servings
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 25-30 minutes
Dangmyeon (당면) / Cellophane noodles, 250 g
2 medium carrots, sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
2 small red bell papers, sliced
1 small yellow bell pepper, sliced
Scallions, 4 stems
Spinach, 1 bunch
Marinated beef, 150 g
Soy sauce
Sesame oil
Sesame seeds
Cooking oil
Cooking Instructions
Boil the cellophane noodles in hot water for a few minutes.
Drain hot water. Fill with cold water. Drain cold water. Set aside.
Briefly blanch spinach in boiling water.
Stir-fry the following vegetables separately! Add sugar and soy sauce to your liking as you stir-fry. Once you finish stir-frying each vegetable, set aside.
Carrots
Onions
Red bell peppers
Yellow bell peppers
Cook marinated beef with scallions.
Combine noodles, spinach, stir-fried vegetables, and marinated beef into the pot. Mix with sesame oil and keep over the fire for a bit longer.
Taste test! If lacking in sugar and/or soy sauce, add more.
Finishing touch: Add sesame seeds over the japchae!
Notes
You may additionally use mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, and soybean sprouts.
You may substitute marinated beef for pork.
Japchae can be eaten hot off the stove, at room temperature, or cold, straight out of the refrigerator. Don’t worry if you can’t finish everything in one sitting – just make sure to put it in the refrigerator!
The specific amount of noodles, vegetables, meat, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sesame seeds can be adjusted to your preferences. As my family eats japchae as a side dish, we made four servings, which is plenty for two days of meals.
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