Japchae (Korean Glass Noodle Stir-Fry)
This classic Korean celebration dish is a colorful medley of sweet potato noodles, crisp vegetables, and a savory-sweet sesame sauce. It's surprisingly simple to make at home and perfect for a weeknight dinner or a festive side dish.
Prep time20 min
Cook time15 min
Total time35 min
Servings4 servings
DifficultyMedium
Ingredients
- 200 g sweet potato starch noodles (dangmyeon)
- 150 g beef sirloin or ribeye, thinly sliced
- 1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 large carrot, julienned
- 2 scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 150 g baby spinach
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsp soy sauce, divided
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp sesame oil, divided
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil for frying
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- 1Place the noodles in a large bowl and cover with hot water; soak for 20 minutes, then drain.
- 2In a small bowl, combine the beef with 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp sesame oil, and a pinch of pepper. Set aside.
- 3Blanch spinach in boiling water for 30 seconds, then rinse under cold water. Squeeze out excess water and season with 1 tsp soy sauce and 1 tsp sesame oil.
- 4Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir-fry the beef until just browned, about 2 minutes. Remove to a plate.
- 5In the same skillet, add the onion, carrot, and scallions. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until crisp-tender. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Season with a pinch of salt.
- 6Boil the soaked noodles in salted water for 5-6 minutes until chewy and translucent. Drain and rinse under cold water. Cut with kitchen shears if too long.
- 7In a large bowl, combine the noodles with the remaining soy sauce (about 1.5 tbsp), sugar (about 2 tsp), and sesame oil (about 1.5 tbsp). Mix well.
- 8Add the beef, vegetables, and spinach to the noodles. Toss everything together, then sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Tips
- Don't overcook the noodles – they should be chewy, not mushy. Rinsing them in cold water stops the cooking process.
- Use a large skillet or wok to avoid overcrowding when stir-frying vegetables; this keeps them crisp.
- Feel free to substitute mushrooms (like shiitake) or bell peppers for extra flavor and color.
- Japchae is delicious served at room temperature, making it ideal for potlucks and picnics.
