Super Easy Japchae (Korean Glass Noodle Stir-fry)
Super Easy Japchae (Korean Glass Noodle Stir-fry)
Effortless Japchae Recipe for Everyone!
Craving Japchae but short on time? This super simple recipe is your answer! We’ll stir-fry the vegetables all together and prepare the sauce while they cook. Then, a quick toss with the glass noodles and you’ll have a delicious Japchae ready in no time. Perfect for busy weeknights or spontaneous cravings!
Main Ingredients- Glass noodles (Dangmyeon) 200g
- Carrot 1/2 medium
- Onion 1 medium
- Bell pepper 1/2 (using different colors adds visual appeal)
- Green onion 1/2 stalk
- Dried wood ear mushrooms 1 small handful
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash and thoroughly dry all your vegetables: carrot, onion, bell pepper, and green onion. Slice them all into long, thin julienne strips. Try to keep the thickness consistent for even cooking.
Step 2
Soak the dried wood ear mushrooms in warm water for at least 10 minutes, or until fully rehydrated. While the mushrooms are soaking, you can prepare the vegetables. Once softened, squeeze out excess water and chop them into bite-sized pieces.
Step 3
Heat about 1-2 Tbsp of cooking oil in a preheated pan over medium heat. Add the julienned onions and carrots first and begin to stir-fry. Cooking the onions until translucent will bring out their natural sweetness.
Step 4
Continue stir-frying the onions and carrots for about 2-3 minutes, then add the prepared wood ear mushrooms. Stir-fry for another minute. Sautéing the vegetables separately helps to preserve their individual textures and flavors.
Step 5
While the vegetables are cooking, prepare the sauce by combining the soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, and minced garlic in a small bowl. Whisk everything together until well combined. We’ll add the sesame oil, sesame seeds, and pepper at the very end.
Step 6
Cook the glass noodles in boiling water according to package directions, or for about 8-10 minutes until tender but still slightly chewy. Once cooked, drain the noodles and rinse them quickly under cold running water. This rinsing step is key to achieving a perfectly chewy texture.
Step 7
To the pan with the sautéed vegetables (which have been cooking for about 3-4 minutes), add the rinsed glass noodles, the julienned bell pepper, and green onion. Pour the prepared sauce evenly over everything.
Step 8
Since the noodles have already been boiled, you don’t need to cook them for a long time. Stir-fry everything together over medium-high heat for about 3-4 minutes, tossing constantly to ensure the sauce coats the noodles and vegetables evenly. This quick stir-fry allows the noodles to absorb the delicious flavors.
Step 9
Taste a noodle as you stir-fry and adjust the seasoning if needed. If it’s not salty enough, add a little more soy sauce; if it’s not sweet enough, a touch of sugar or oligosaccharide syrup can be added. Aim for a balanced flavor profile.
Step 10
Once everything is well combined and seasoned to your liking, turn off the heat. Drizzle in the sesame oil and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and a pinch of black pepper. Give it a final quick toss to distribute these aromatic finishing touches. Your delicious Japchae is now ready!
Step 11
Serve the warm Japchae immediately. The delightful aroma of sesame oil will surely whet your appetite. Enjoy your homemade Japchae!
