Japchae
Japchae is chewy sweet potato starch noodles stir-fried with colorful vegetables and beef in a sesame-soy sauce. It is served warm or at room temperature.
Polish Korean Cuisine and Culture Exchanges Gradmother’s Recipes 05: korea.net, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Where it comes from
The dish was first made with vegetables and later with noodles, and today it is a fixture at festive family tables. It is a favorite side dish and a satisfying main.
Explore the cuisine of South Korea.
Recipe
Make Japchae at home
Ingredients
- 8 oz sweet potato starch noodles (dangmyeon)
- 6 oz beef, thinly sliced
- 1 carrot, julienned
- 1 onion, sliced
- 8 oz spinach
- 4 shiitake mushrooms, sliced
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- Garlic and toasted sesame seeds
How it's made
- Boil the noodles 6-7 minutes until soft and chewy; drain, rinse and cut into shorter lengths.
- Blanch the spinach, squeeze dry and season with sesame oil.
- Stir-fry the onion, carrot and mushrooms separately in a little oil, seasoning each with a pinch of salt.
- Cook the beef with garlic and a splash of soy sauce.
- Toss noodles with soy sauce, sugar and sesame oil in the pan for a minute.
- Add all the vegetables and beef, mix, and top with sesame seeds.
Variations
- Vegetarian japchae with extra mushrooms
- Japchae with shrimp
- Japchae rice bowl (japchae-bap)
Cook’s tip: Stir-fry each vegetable separately so each keeps its color and crunch.
Related dishes
BibimbapMain dishes · South Korea
BulgogiMain dishes · South Korea
KimchiSalads · South Korea
Chow meinMain dishes · China
Dan dan noodlesStreet food · China
About this page
Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.
Photo credit
- Polish Korean Cuisine and Culture Exchanges Gradmother’s Recipes 05: korea.net, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)