Japchae Korean Glass Noodle Stir Fry

It’s a beautiful, stunning and colorful stir fry with chewy, slippery and fun sweet potato glass noodles (dangmyeon), tons of veggies and tender beef strips. The secret to the best tasting Japchae is perfectly balanced sweet and savory japchae sauce. You can make the dish as colorful and meaty as you want, or you can go the vegan way. Learn how to make Korea’s most popular dish in your kitchen. I will tell you all… Do you like stir fries? If answer is yes, I have a very unique and tasty stir fry for you. Korean Japchae. It’s sweet and savory, made with slippery glass noodles and an assortment of perfectly cooked veggies and meat. I personally love all kinds of stir fries and wok them all the time. Check out my collection of favorite Stir Fry Recipes for plenty of ideas. Today’s Korean classic is lot different than your regular stir fries. Let’s see how…

What is Japchae?

Japchae is stir fry with a twist. Traditionally, it’s not stir fried in the wok, but cooked noodles are mixed by hand, along with all the other Japchae fixings. Japchae (잡채 –, or chapchae) is a classic and very popular Korean noodle dish celebrated during festivals, and on special occasions like New Years day and family get togethers. But then, they like it so much that japchae finds it way onto regular weeknight menus all the time. The name “Japchae” means mixed vegetables. It is believes that japchae was a noodle-less dish when invented in the 17th century. Though now a days, those slippery glass noodles are one of the main essences of this dish. This noodle pot is full of different colored veggies cooked to perfection with tender meat, all seasoned with a well balanced sweet and savory Japchae sauce. Traditionally, all the Japchae components, like veggies and meat are prepped and cooked individually before mixing everything with noodles. By doing this, every vegetable is cooked to perfect crunchiness, retaining their individual color, texture and flavor. It takes a little time, but Japchae is such a celebratory meal that it deserves that pampering and perfection. Japchae can be served hot, warm or at room temperature. Often times, it is served as an appetizer or a side dish, or over a bed of rice to make it a main dish. I personally feel it’s a complete meal in itself, with a perfect balance of carb, protein and veggies.

What Are Korean Sweet Potato Glass Noodles (Dangmyeon)?

Korean sweet potato glass noodles are known as dangmyeon (당면) in Korea. They are made from the starch of sweet potatoes. They do not contain any wheat, so they are naturally gluten-free. The noodles are stiff and grayish in color. Once cooked, they become translucent and tender, and a little slippery and bouncy. You might need to cut them in half, or a few times, with kitchen scissors after cooking, as most of the glass noodle brands make them very long. You can find Korean sweet potato glass noodles in most of Asian grocery stores, or buy them online.

Ingredients Needed

Noodles – Use only Korean sweet potato glass noodles. They are iconic in this dish. Substituting them with any other noodles is simply not Japchae. Protein – I am using ribeye (our favorite cut of beef) for this recipe, as it yield beautiful tasty and tender bites. You can use sirloin, flank steak or New York strip too. Beef strips are more traditional, but can be easily replaced with chicken, shrimp or even tofu. You can go vegan by avoiding any meat in Japchae. Marinade – Garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, salt, sesame oil and rice wine. Vegetables – Today I used onion, scallions, red and yellow bell peppers, shiitake mushrooms (you can sub with regular mushrooms), carrots and spinach. Eggs – For making a thin omelette that will be cut into ribbons. It is excellent in this Japchae mix. Japchae sauce – Soy sauce, honey or sugar, sesame oil, sesame seeds and black pepper.

Authentic Japchae Recipe

Japchae can be made with different steps happening at the same time, saving considerable time. For example, when the water is boiling for noodles and blanching the spinach, you can start prepping and cooking veggies. Here’s how I streamline this recipe to save time. The full recipe card below will have exact measurements, but here’s a quick breakdown: I mix up all the marinade ingredients in a bowl and add the beef strips, letting them soak up the flavors while I prep the rest of the dish. If I want to get a head start, I’ll marinate the meat in the morning. Then, I just combine all the sauce ingredients—soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, sesame seeds, and black pepper—in a bowl and set it aside, ready to go. This way, everything’s prepped in no time, and I’m set for the rest of the recipe! Next, I bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the Korean sweet potato glass noodles, cooking them according to the package directions—usually around 6 to 10 minutes. Once they’re cooked, I scoop out the noodles with a big sieve and transfer them to a large serving bowl. I make sure not to discard the water, as I’ll use it to cook the spinach. If it makes mixing easier, sometimes I’ll cut the noodles a bit shorter. Then, I mix about a quarter of the Japchae sauce with the noodles, tossing them well. . This will prevent the noodles from sticking to each other, and allow them to absorb a beautiful color. Using the boiling water from the noodles, I quickly add the spinach and cook it just for 10-15 seconds, enough to wilt it slightly. Then, I transfer it straight to ice water to keep that vibrant color, gently squeezing out any excess water afterward. I place the spinach on a large platter, which will eventually hold all the cooked veggies. While the water is still boiling, I start prepping and cooking the other vegetables, cooking each separately and starting with the light-colored ones, ending with the darker ones. I only cook each for about 3-4 minutes, just enough to keep them crunchy. For the omelette strips, I heat up a little oil, pour in the beaten eggs, and swirl the skillet to create a thin, even layer. After about 2-3 minutes, once it’s set, I flip it over for another quick minute. I plate it, roll it up, and slice it into thin strips for beautiful ribbons. Finally, I heat a bit more oil and add the marinated beef, sautéing until it’s fully cooked, which takes around 5-6 minutes. Once done, I transfer it to the veggie platter, ready for the final assembly! To bring it all together, I add all the stir-fried veggies, cooked beef, and omelette strips on top of the Japchae noodles in my serving bowl. Then, I pour in the remaining Japchae sauce and mix thoroughly until everything is beautifully combined. A quick taste lets me adjust the flavors, adding a touch more soy sauce, honey, or sesame oil if needed. For the final touch, I sprinkle some extra sesame seeds on top, giving it that perfect finishing garnish! You can serve japchae hot, warm or at room temperature.

Storing and Leftovers

Japchae is great as leftovers and can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Since you can serve it warm or at room temperature, you can make this ahead of time and serve it the next day. Simply reheat it in the microwave until the noodles get soft and turn translucent and slippery again. You can also reheat it in a frying pan with some oil and a splash of water until the noodles become translucent.

Can I Cook It the “Quick” Way?

If you ask that question to locals, plain NO is the answer you will get. They like to cook every vegetable individually, to its perfect crunchiness. It takes a little more time than when you stir fry all of the veggies together. After cooking japchae the traditional way, our take is yes, you can cook japchae in stir fry style if you know when to add the veggies and estimate their cooking time so they still retain their perfect crunch. The whole idea is not to overcook them and turn them into mush. So the faster way to cook japchae on busy weeknight is simply make a stir fry of all veggies and beef together, then add the cooked noodles to the stir fry. Faster, yet equally delicious Japchae version!!

Alpana’s Tips

Prep Ahead: Most of the steps happen quick, so get everything chopped and measured before you start cooking. Marination Time: If time allows, marinate for a longer time to allows the flavors to absorb more. We like to marinate the beef in the morning and let it sit in the refrigerator all day. Check the Sauce: Taste the sauce before tossing it in with the noodles, and adjust ingredients according to your personal preference.

There are so many hidden flavors in this world which we are completely unaware of. We love bringing these beautiful tastes right in to your home. You will absolutely fall in love with this Korean glass noodle stir fry once you give this unique recipe a try. We personally can’t have enough of these stunning and fun glass noodles. Make a huge batch. Make it with your friends and family, and get them involved in the whole process of prepping and cooking it together. It’s meant for celebration and togetherness. Bring that slurp on. Get in the JAPCHAE MOOD, like us… Be sure to check our other cracking Asian Recipes on GypsyPlate, and come back again for all the new flavors coming to you.