Description
Japchae – a delicious Korean stir-fry made with glass noodles, vegetables, and a savory sauce. Perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (about 225g) sweet potato glass noodles (Japchae noodles)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil (for stir-frying)
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 1 medium carrot, julienned
- 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced (red or yellow)
- 1 cup spinach (or other greens)
- 1/2 cup shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced (optional)
- 1/2 cup zucchini, thinly sliced (optional)
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon sugar (or honey)
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (optional for tang)
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, minced (optional)
- 1 tablespoon water (or more, depending on sauce thickness)
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (for topping)
- 1 green onion, chopped (optional)
- Protein of your choice (beef, chicken, tofu, or pork), cooked and sliced thinly (optional)
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil and cook the sweet potato glass noodles according to package instructions, usually 5-7 minutes. Once cooked, drain and rinse the noodles under cold water to remove excess starch. Set them aside.
- While the noodles are cooking, heat a tablespoon of sesame oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, carrots, bell pepper, mushrooms, and zucchini (if using). Stir-fry for about 3-5 minutes until the vegetables are tender but still crisp. Add the spinach last, and cook for an additional minute until wilted. Remove the vegetables from the pan and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger (if using). Taste the sauce and adjust the sweetness or saltiness to your liking by adding more sugar or soy sauce as needed.
- In the same pan, add a little more sesame oil if necessary. Add the cooked noodles and the sauce, tossing to combine. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes, allowing the noodles to absorb the sauce and get coated evenly. Add the cooked vegetables and any protein you’re using (beef, chicken, tofu) to the pan. Toss everything together until well-mixed and heated through.
- Transfer the Japchae to a serving dish and garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Serve warm, or let it cool down and serve as a cold dish.
Notes
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stir-fry
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Japchae, Korean stir-fry, glass noodles, vegetables