Japchae: Korean Glass Noodle Stir-Fry with Beef and Vegetables Recipe
Japchae is a classic Korean dish featuring sweet potato glass noodles stir-fried with tender beef and a colorful array of vegetables. This savory and slightly sweet noodle stir-fry is flavored with soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, and brown sugar for a perfect balance of taste and texture. It’s a flavorful and nutritious meal that can easily be adapted to include chicken, tofu, or shrimp for different protein options.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Korean
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 2 lb thin-sliced beef (or substitute with chicken, tofu, or shrimp)
Noodles
- 1 lb Korean sweet potato noodles (glass noodles)
Vegetables
- 3 medium carrots, julienned
- 1 large white onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 bunch green onions, chopped
- 1/2 lb spinach leaves
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
Oils and Sauces
- 4 tbsp sesame oil (divided)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 6 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
- Cook the noodles: Bring a large pot of water to a boil with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking. Add the sweet potato noodles and cook for 5-6 minutes until tender but still chewy. Drain well and set aside.
- Prepare the beef: Heat a skillet over high heat and cook the thinly sliced beef until browned. While cooking, season with half of the soy sauce, half of the sesame oil, and half of the brown sugar to infuse flavor. Once cooked through, set the beef aside.
- Sauté the vegetables: In another skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the julienned carrots and sliced white onion, cooking until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Then add the remaining soy sauce, sesame oil, and brown sugar, stirring to coat the vegetables evenly. Add minced garlic and chopped green onions, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
- Wilt the spinach: Add the spinach leaves to the vegetables and stir until wilted, which should take about 1-2 minutes.
- Combine all ingredients: Transfer the cooked noodles, beef, and sautéed vegetables into a large mixing bowl. Toss everything together thoroughly to combine all flavors and distribute the ingredients evenly.
- Serve: Serve the japchae warm, garnished with additional chopped green onions if desired for extra freshness and presentation.
Notes
- For a gluten-free option, substitute soy sauce with tamari.
- Feel free to swap beef with chicken, tofu, or shrimp as preferred.
- Adjust brown sugar amount to taste for sweetness variation.
- To enhance flavor, you can garnish with toasted sesame seeds.
- Make sure not to overcook the noodles; they should remain chewy.
Keywords: Japchae, Korean noodles, sweet potato noodles, beef stir-fry, Korean recipe, glass noodles, vegetable stir-fry, sesame oil noodles
