Japchae (잡채)

Prep time: 25 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Total time: 40 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Country of Origin

Korea

A beloved festive Korean dish made from chewy sweet potato glass noodles stir-fried with thinly sliced beef and an array of colorful sautéed vegetables in a savory-sweet garlic and soy glaze.

Presentation & How It's Eaten

Piled high on a platter, often garnished with toasted sesame seeds and egg ribbons. Served warm or at room temperature as a main dish or side dish (banchan) eaten with chopsticks.

Ingredients

• 250g (8.8 oz) Dangmyeon (sweet potato starch glass noodles)

• 150g (5 oz) beef sirloin, thinly sliced into strips

• 1 bunch spinach

• 1 medium carrot, julienned

• 1/2 yellow onion, sliced

• 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced

• 4 wood ear or shiitake mushrooms, sliced

• Vegetable oil for stir-frying

Japchae Sauce:

• 4 tbsp soy sauce

• 2 tbsp dark brown sugar

• 2 tbsp sesame oil

• 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Marinate Beef & Mushrooms: Combine sliced beef and mushrooms with 1 tbsp of the sauce mixture. Let sit for 10 minutes.

2. Boil & Season Noodles: Cook noodles in boiling water for 6–7 minutes until tender. Drain, rinse under cool water, cut into shorter lengths, and toss with 1 tbsp sesame oil and 1 tbsp soy sauce.

3. Sauté Vegetables: Blanch spinach in boiling water for 30 seconds, drain, squeeze dry, and season with salt and sesame oil. Stir-fry onions, carrots, bell peppers, and marinated beef/mushrooms separately over medium-high heat until tender.

4. Combine & Toss: In a large bowl, combine cooked noodles, sautéed vegetables, and beef. Pour remaining sauce over everything and mix thoroughly using gloved hands until coated.

Cooking Tips

• Cook Ingredients Separately: Sautéing vegetables individually keeps their distinct colors, textures, and crispness sharp without bleeding into each other.

Nutrition Facts

(Estimated per serving)

• Calories: ~430 kcal

• Total Fat: 14g

• Saturated Fat: 2.5g

• Cholesterol: 25mg

• Sodium: ~850mg

• Total Carbohydrates: 66g

• Dietary Fiber: 4g

• Sugars: 12g

• Protein: 11g