Japchae || Stir-fried Glass Noodles and Vegetables, 什锦炒粉条, チャプチェ, 잡채

Japchae (Korean: 잡채; Hanja: 雜菜) is a savory and slightly sweet dish of stir-fried glass noodles and vegetables that is popular in Korean cuisine. Japchae is typically prepared with dangmyeon (당면, 唐麵), a type of cellophane noodles made from sweet potato starch; the noodles are mixed with assorted vegetables, meat, and mushrooms, and seasoned with soy sauce and sesame oil.

Once a royal dish, japchae is now one of the most popular traditional celebration dishes, often served on special occasions, such as weddings, birthdays (especially dol, the first birthday, and hwangap, the sixtieth), and holidays. It is also popular at banquets, parties, and potlucks, due to the ease of bulk preparation and flexible serving: japchae can be served warm, at room temperature, or cold from the refrigerator, and can be eaten freshly made or the day after.

Japchae is commonly served as a banchan (side dish), though it may also be eaten as a main dish. It is sometimes served on a bed of rice: with rice, it is known as japchae-bap.

Ingredients:

Glass noodles: 100g
Spinach: 100g
Carrot: 50g
Shiitake mushrooms: 3
Beef: 50g
Onion: 50g
Egg: 1
For the seasoning:
- Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
- Sugar: 1 tablespoon
- Chopped green onion and garlic: 1 teaspoon each
- Sesame seeds, black pepper, and sesame oil: as needed

Instructions:

Prepare the vegetables:
- Cut onion and carrot into thin strips.
- Blanch spinach in boiling salted water, then rinse with cold water and squeeze out excess moisture. Season with sesame oil, salt, and sesame seeds.
Prepare the meat and mushrooms:
- Soak shiitake mushrooms in warm water. Slice thinly.
- Marinate beef and mushrooms with soy sauce, sugar, chopped green onion, and garlic.
Sauté the vegetables:
- Sauté onion and carrot in a pan until tender. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté marinated beef and mushrooms until cooked through.
Cook the glass noodles:
- Cook glass noodles in boiling water until tender. Rinse with cold water and drain. Season with soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil.
Combine:
- Combine the cooked glass noodles, sautéed vegetables, and meat. Adjust seasoning with soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and sesame seeds as needed.
- Make a thin egg omelet and cut into strips. Add to the mixture.

Tips:

For a more authentic flavor, use Korean-style glass noodles.
You can add other vegetables like bell peppers or zucchini to the dish.
To make the dish vegetarian, omit the beef and use a vegetable broth for seasoning.

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