Today’s Korean recipe is Japchae (잡채)! As I mentioned in the blog post once, Japchae is a classic Korean dish that’s often served on holidays and special occasions. It’s made with sweet potato glass noodles, colorful vegetables, and a savory-sweet soy sauce blend. While it looks fancy, japchae is actually quite simple to make at home—and incredibly satisfying.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 200g (about 7 oz) sweet potato glass noodles (Dangmyeon 당면)
- 1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1 small carrot, julienned
- 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper (optional), sliced
- 3–4 shiitake mushrooms (or any mushrooms), sliced
- 1 cup spinach or baby spinach
- 1 egg (optional)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2–3 green onions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Sesame seeds (for garnish)
- Salt and pepper to taste
💡 Optional Add-in: Thinly sliced beef or bulgogi for a heartier version.
Instructions
Step 1: Boil the noodles
Cook the glass noodles according to package instructions (usually about 6–7 minutes). Rinse under cold water and drain well. Toss with 1 tsp sesame oil to keep them from sticking.
Step 2: Cook the vegetables separately
In a lightly oiled pan, stir-fry each vegetable (onions, carrots, peppers, mushrooms) with a pinch of salt, one by one. Set them aside.
Step 3: Blanch the spinach
Boil spinach for about 30 seconds, rinse under cold water, squeeze out excess moisture, and chop lightly.
Step 4: Make the egg garnish (optional)
Beat the egg, fry into a thin pancake, and slice into strips for garnish.
Step 5: Combine and season
In a large bowl or pan, mix the noodles with soy sauce, garlic, sugar, and sesame oil. Add in all the cooked vegetables, spinach, and green onions. Stir-fry or toss everything together over medium heat until heated through and well mixed.
Step 6: Serve
Top with sesame seeds and egg garnish. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Final Tips
- Japchae can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for 2–3 days.
- Feel free to get creative with the vegetables—zucchini, cabbage, or even broccoli can work well!
- The key to good japchae is balancing flavor and texture, so don’t skip tasting and adjusting seasoning as you go.
Japchae is one of those dishes that always brings people together. Give this recipe a try and share it with friends or family—they’ll love it!
Let me know how yours turned out!