Japchae (Korean Glass Noodles)

Japchae is a common Korean dish consisting of glass noodles (sweet potato noodles) and vegetables, flavored with soy sauce and other seasonings. Sometimes beef is added to the dish. It can be served cold or hot, and can be eaten either as a side dish or a main. Japchae is flavorful and filling. The glass noodles are very chewy and springy. My recipe of japchae includes beef and will make a well-balanced main dish for one.

Ingredients:

45-50g sweet potato noodles
100g beef*
4 – 5 dried shiitake mushrooms
40g carrots
50g onions
20g scallions
1/2tsb minced garlic
1-2 tbs soy sauce
2g sugar
1/2tsb sesame oil
1tsb cooking wine
sesame seeds to garnish

*I used thinly sliced ribeye, you may use stripped sirloin

Instructions:

Reconstitute dried shiitake mushrooms by soaking with warm water. Save mushroom-soaking water for later use. Drain the reconstituted mushrooms, discard the stems, cut into slices.
For the sauce: combine about 60ml mushroom-soaking water with soy sauce, sugar and sesame oil.
Boil sweet potato noodles until almost well cooked. Drain and let stand in cold water.
Heat about 1/2tsb oil in a pan, add sliced onions，scallions and minced garlic, saute.
Add beef and cooking wine once the onions become soft and appear translucent.
Add sliced carrots and mushrooms once the beef changes color, saute for 1 min.
Add drained noodles and the prepared sauce.
Saute until sauce is reduced, add sesame seeds and stir well.