Best 4 Japchae Noodles Recipes

SPRING VEGETABLE JAPCHAE (KOREAN GLASS NOODLES)

Steps:

• Make the sauce: In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, garlic, sugar, sesame oil and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• In a large pot of boiling water, cook noodles until tender and translucent, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a colander and run under cold water to stop the cooking. Drain well and transfer to a large bowl. Add half of the sauce (about 3 tablespoons) and toss to evenly coat.
• In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons safflower oil over medium. Add onion and carrots, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes.
• Add mushrooms and half the remaining sauce (about 1 1/2 tablespoons) and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and lightly golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the bowl with the noodles.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon safflower oil and the bell pepper to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Add snap peas and asparagus, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Add the spinach to the skillet and stir until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture into the bowl with the noodles. Add the remaining sauce and toss until well combined. Season with salt and pepper.
• Divide japchae among bowls and garnish with sesame seeds. Serve warm or at room temperature.

VEGETARIAN KOREAN NOODLES (JAPCHAE)

Steps:

• For the sauce: Combine the sugar, tamari, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil and ginger in a small bowl. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
• For the noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the noodles and stir to help submerge them. Cook until the noodles are just barely cooked, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Using kitchen shears or a clean pair of scissors, cut the noodles into approximately 8-inch lengths. Set aside.
• Heat the grapeseed oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the oyster and shiitake mushrooms and cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon, for about 5 minutes, or until the mushrooms are beginning to brown. Add the shallots and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook until fragrant, another 2 minutes. Add the red pepper, garlic and scallions to the pan, reduce the heat to medium-high and cook for an additional 3 minutes, or until the peppers are beginning to soften. Add the kale and the cooked noodles and saute another 3 minutes, stirring often to coat the noodles in the oil and to wilt the kale. Add the sauce and toss to coat. Top with sesame seeds if desired.

VEGAN JAPCHAE KOREAN NOODLES

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil; stir in noodles and return to a boil. Cook noodles uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 5 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
• Toss noodles with 2 teaspoons sesame oil. Cut into shorter pieces using kitchen shears.
• Combine soy sauce and sugar in a bowl.
• Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute carrots and onion until soft, about 1 minute. Add mushrooms, green onions, and garlic. Saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the noodles, soy sauce mixture, and spinach. Cook and stir until noodles are heated through, 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from heat. Toss in remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil and sesame seeds.

JAPCHAE: SWEET POTATO NOODLES STIR-FRIED WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix yangnyumjang sauce ingredients, whisking well. Set aside. Add 4 tablespoons of the yangnyumjang sauce to the sliced beef and combine well. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add beef, stir-frying until it is no longer red. Remove from the wok. Set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a wok over medium-high flame. When it begins to sizzle, add 5 tablespoons yangnyumjang sauce and 1/4 cup water. Add noodles, stir-frying 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside. Mix shitake with 1 teaspoon each of: soy sauce, sugar and sesame oil, plus dash of pepper. Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in wok over medium heat. Add shitakes, stir-frying about 3 minutes. Set aside. Season oyster mushrooms with 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sesame oil and a dash of pepper. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in wok over medium heat. Add mushrooms, stir-frying 1-2 minutes. Transfer to bowl with shitakes. Add 1 teaspoon of oil to wok over medium heat. When hot, add onion, stirring frequently. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Saute about 3 minutes, adding a little water if onions stick. Remove from heat and transfer to bowl with mushrooms. Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in wok over medium-high heat. Stir-fry cucumber skins, 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and spread on a plate to cool. Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a pan over medium heat. Add carrots and cook 2-3 minutes. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Remove from heat. Spread on plate to cool. Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in wok over medium-high heat. Add red bell pepper with 1-1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir-fry 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons chopped green onion, 1 teaspoon sesame salt * and a dash of pepper, combining well. When all ingredients are cool, toss beef, vegetables and 2 tablespoons of yangnyumjang sauce with the noodles. Serve at room temperature or chilled. *Available from Korean grocers or Asian markets