Japchae (Korean Glass Noodle Stir-Fry)

Korea’s most festive noodle dish — chewy sweet potato glass noodles with vegetables and beef.

Ingredients

• 8 oz dangmyeon (sweet potato glass noodles)
• 1/2 lb beef sirloin, thinly sliced
• 2 cups spinach, blanched and squeezed dry
• 1 carrot, julienned
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 6 shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 3 eggs, fried and julienned (jidan)
• Seasoning: 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp sesame oil, 1 tbsp sugar, 3 cloves garlic
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• Sesame seeds

Directions

1. Soak noodles in cold water 30 minutes. Boil 6 minutes until tender. Drain and toss with 1 tbsp soy sauce + 1 tbsp sesame oil.
2. Season beef with 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1 clove garlic. Stir-fry quickly in hot oil. Remove.
3. Sauté each vegetable separately (carrot, onion, mushrooms) with a pinch of salt. Remove.
4. Combine noodles with beef and all vegetables in a large bowl.
5. Season with remaining soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar. Toss well.
6. Taste and adjust seasoning. Top with egg ribbons and sesame seeds.

Notes

Sautéing each component separately maintains individual textures and flavors. This is traditional and worth the extra pans.