Korea | Noodles | Stir Frying

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 Jap Chae Recipe

Jap Chae

(Korean mixed vegetable & noodle stir fry)

Yield: 4 servings


INGREDIENTS PREP AMOUNT
Sweet potato noodles, or cellophane noodles (see variations) 1/2 lb
 
Sesame oil 2 Tbsp
Beef sirloin sliced thinly 1/4 lb
Onion sliced thinly 1 each
Carrot Peels and grated or julienne 1 each
Shiitake or other mushrooms stems removed, sliced thinly 3-4 each
Garlic minced 2-3 cloves
Spinach, fresh 8 oz, about 1/2 bunch
Scallions cut into 1" sections or sliced thinly 2-3 each
Soy sauce 1-2 Tbsp
Sugar 2 tsp
Salt and pepper to taste
Sesame seeds, toasted 1 Tbsp

METHOD

Basic Steps: Soak → Drain → Saute → Season → Toss
  1. Add the noodles to a pot of boiling water and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let set another 5 minutes till soft. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
  2. Heat the sesame oil over medium flame in a wok large saute pan. Add the beef, saute till just cooked through, about 3-4 minutes. Remove to a plate.
  3. Add a little more oil to the wok if necessary and toss in the onions and carrots. Saute until the onion is just translucent. Add the mushrooms and garlic and saute 1-2 minutes more. Finally add the spinach and scallions and saute till the spinach is just wilted.
  4. Add the drained noodles, soy sauce, sugar salt and pepperto the saute pan. Cook, stirring, till heated though. Adjust seasoning, adding more sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar or salt and pepper as needed.
  5. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with the toasted sesame seeds.

VARIATIONS

  • A thinly sliced red pepper can be added with the onions and carrots if you like. Or use up whatever vegetables you may have on hand (cucumbers, daikon, mung bean sprouts).
  • The beef can be eliminated for a vegetarian side dish.
  • Add sliced fishcake if you like. Saute as for the beef before stirring into the noodles. Or try shrimp, squid or even crab meat.
  • Sometimes strips of cooked egg are stirred in. Just make a plain one or two egg omelet, cool and cut into strips before stirring into the noodles.
  • Toasted pine nuts are sometimes used as a garnish for the finished dish..

NOTES

  • Jap chae (chop chae, jabchae), means mixed vegetables and is a common Korean side dish. The sweet potato starch noodles are traditional, but cellophane noodles or mung bean starch vermicelli are easier to find and have much the same texture.