Japchae: Perfect Stir-Fried Glass Noodles

A no-fail recipe for Japchae, a beloved dish for festive occasions and gatherings.

[4 Servings, Under 60 Minutes, Easy to Make]

Japchae, a classic Korean dish, is perfect for holidays and hosting guests. This recipe ensures the glass noodles are perfectly cooked without burning, guaranteeing compliments every time.

Ingredients:

• [Japchae Ingredients]
  • Glass noodles (Dangmyeon), 300g
  • Pork, 300g
  • Dried shiitake mushrooms, 3
  • Spinach, 1/2 bunch
  • Carrot, 1/2
  • Onion, 1
  • Yellow bell pepper, 1/2
  • Red bell pepper, 1/2
  • Fresh shiitake mushrooms, 3
• [Meat Marinade]
  • Soy sauce, 2 tablespoons (Ts)
  • Cooking sake, 1 tablespoon (Ts)
  • Sugar, 1 tablespoon (Ts)
  • Sesame oil, 1 tablespoon (Ts)
  • Minced garlic, 1 tablespoon (Ts)
  • A pinch of pepper
• [Japchae Seasoning]
  • Soy sauce, 1/3 cup
  • Sugar, 2 tablespoons (Ts)
  • Oligosaccharide, 2 tablespoons (Ts)
  • Cooking oil, 3 tablespoons (Ts)
  • A pinch of pepper
  • Oyster sauce, 1 teaspoon (ts)
  • Water, 1 cup

Instructions:

1. Soak glass noodles and dried shiitake mushrooms separately: noodles for 1 hour, mushrooms for 20 minutes.
2. Slice all vegetables for Japchae. Cut the mushrooms to finger size (ouch!)
3. Marinate pork and shiitake mushrooms with soy sauce, cooking sake, sugar, minced garlic, sesame oil, and pepper.
4. Boil spinach briefly in salted water, rinse with cold water, squeeze out excess water, and season with salt and sesame oil.
5. Prepare Japchae seasoning: mix soy sauce, water, pepper, oligosaccharide, sugar, oyster sauce, and cooking oil in a large bowl.
6. Stir-fry onion, carrot, bell peppers, and shiitake mushrooms in a heated pan with oil. Once slightly cooked, remove from heat and let cool.
7. In the same pan, stir-fry the marinated pork and shiitake mushrooms until cooked. Set aside to cool.
8. Bring the pan to high heat, add Japchae seasoning and bring to a boil. Add the soaked noodles and cook, stirring frequently.
9. Once the noodles are cooked, cut them into edible lengths, keep stirring until the sauce is absorbed, then turn off the heat.
10. Combine the noodles with the prepared vegetables and meat. Mix well with sesame oil.
11. Sprinkle sesame seeds for an added nutty flavor. Serve hot.

Notes:

• The key to perfect Japchae is in the preparation and the right balance of seasoning.
• This method ensures the noodles absorb the flavors without overcooking.