Recipes: Noodles

japchae

Article by Gil "hannaone" © Copyright 2007-2026. All rights reserved.
Image by hannaone: Japchae

Japchae  Stir-fried Clear Noodles


잡채 | Japchae  

Japchae is built around Korean glass noodles, dangmyeon (당면)—springy, translucent noodles made from sweet potato starch. Their naturally chewy texture makes them the perfect base for a colorful stir‑fry of meat and vegetables tossed in a savory‑sweet sauce.
A popular dish enjoyed by our customers.

For the Royal Version Click Here or scroll down

Servings: 4
Recipe Type: Noodle, stir fry

Ingredients
1 12 ounce package Korean Starch Noodle (Korean vermicelli, sweet potato starch)
4 ounces of Beef, thinly sliced (lean)
2 medium white mushrooms, sliced
1 bunch fresh Spinach (approximately 3 ounces)
2 Green or Spring onion, cut into 1 inch sections
1/2 medium white or yellow onion, sliced
1 small Carrot, grated
1 teaspoon roasted Sesame seed
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons blended sesame oil
1 teaspoon Soy sauce
1 tablespoon Sugar
Pepper
Salt

Marinade:
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon pure sesame oil
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
pepper
salt

Directions

Prepare the starch noodle:
Soak in cool water for about one hour. Pour off excess water then rinse in cold water. Drain thoroughly. Cut noodle into 3 inch lengths.
Alternate Method: In a soup pot, bring 1 quart of water to a full boil. Add noodles and boil until soft. Remove from heat and rinse in cold water. Drain thoroughly. Cut noodle into 3 inch lengths.

Make the Marinade:
In a medium mixing bowl add 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 1 tablespoon sugar, crushed garlic, and a light sprinkling of salt and pepper. Mix well.

Prepare the beef:
Cut the beef into approximately 1/2 inch by 2 inch strips. Place beef in marinade and roll or mix until beef is completely covered. Let stand at least 15 minutes.

Prepare spinach:
In a soup pot, bring 3 cups of water to full boil. Wash spinach in cold water, then completely immerse it in the boiling water. Remove from heat after 30 seconds and rinse immediately in cold water. Squeeze excess water from spinach.

Cooking:
Spread 2 tablespoon sesame oil in a stir fry pan and place over medium heat.
Add beef mixture to hot pan and brown.
Quickly add mushrooms, onion, green onion, and carrot. Stir fry approximately 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
Add water, noodles, spinach, sesame seed, sugar, and soy sauce.
Stir constantly until liquid is gone.

Final
Remove from heat and serve with an array of Korean banchan dishes and steamed rice.


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Story Time

Some History

Japchae, a popular Korean stir fry dish, is renowned for its combination of sweet potato starch noodles, mushrooms, meat, and vegetables. It can be enjoyed as a main dish, side dish, or standalone meal.

🥢Japchae’s story begins in the early 17th century, during the reign of King Gwanghaegun of the Joseon Dynasty. Surprisingly, the original version contained no noodles at all. It was simply a stir‑fried mix of vegetables—typically cucumbers, radishes, and mushrooms—created by a court official named Yi Chung for a royal banquet. The king loved it so much that Yi Chung was promoted to a high government post.
At that time, vegetables dominated Korean cuisine due to Buddhist influence and restrictions on slaughtering cattle, so japchae fit perfectly into the royal palate.
📌 Evolution into the Dish We Know Today
- Noodles were added much later, after sweet potato starch noodles (dangmyeon) were introduced to Korea from China in the early 20th century. The first sweet‑potato noodle factory opened in 1919 in what is now North Korea.
- As dangmyeon became popular, they were incorporated into japchae, transforming it into the chewy, glossy noodle dish we recognize today.
- Beef and other meats were also later additions, becoming more common after Mongol influence increased cattle ranching and meat consumption in Korea.
🎉 Japchae as a Celebration Dish
Once a royal delicacy, japchae eventually spread to the general population and became a staple for holidays, weddings, birthdays, and banquets. Its flexibility—served warm, room temperature, or cold—made it ideal for large gatherings. 

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