Clear Out Your Fridge! Making Delicious and Abundant Japchae
Clear Out Your Fridge! Making Delicious and Abundant Japchae
A Splendid Japchae Recipe Loved by the Whole Family
Use up those leftover ingredients in your fridge to create a wonderful and hearty Japchae! The chewy glass noodles, crisp vegetables, and savory bacon create a perfect harmony. Make a generous batch for a simple meal, or top it over rice for a delicious Japchae-bap. Adding rehydrated shiitake or wood ear mushrooms when stir-frying will further enhance the texture. One pack of glass noodles (340g) makes about 5 generous servings, perfect for the whole family to enjoy to their heart’s content!
Vegetables and Main Ingredients- Glass noodles 340g
- 1 Onion (medium)
- 1 Carrot (medium)
- 1 bunch Scallions (or chives)
- 300g Bacon
- 1/2 Yellow bell pepper
- 1/2 Red bell pepper
- 1/2 Orange bell pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the star of our Japchae: the glass noodles. In a large pot, bring plenty of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, carefully add the glass noodles. Use chopsticks to gently loosen them, ensuring they don’t clump together.
Step 2
Once the noodles are somewhat softened and cooked through, turn off the heat. Cover the pot with a lid and let them sit for about 10 minutes. This resting period allows the noodles to cook evenly and achieve a delightfully chewy texture.
Step 3
Drain the cooked glass noodles in a colander. To stop the cooking process and maintain their chewy texture, rinse them quickly under cold running water. Once most of the water has drained, toss the noodles with 1-2 tablespoons of cooking oil. This prevents them from sticking together as they cool. Set aside.
Step 4
Now, let’s prepare the vegetables. Wash the carrot and the yellow, red, and orange bell peppers thoroughly. Using a mandoline or a knife, julienne them into thin, uniform strips. The vibrant colors of the bell peppers will make the Japchae visually appealing.
Step 5
Peel the onion and cut it in half, then thinly slice it into strips as well. The sweetness of the onion will add depth to the overall flavor of the Japchae.
Step 6
Wash the fresh scallions (or chives) under running water and pat them dry. Cut them into manageable pieces, about 5 cm (2 inches) in length. These will be added towards the end for a fresh, aromatic finish.
Step 7
Finally, prepare the bacon. Cut it into bite-sized pieces, about 1-2 cm wide. Gather all the prepared vegetables and bacon on a large plate or in a bowl. This makes the next stir-frying steps more organized.
Step 8
Heat 1-2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a large wok or deep pan over medium heat. Add the julienned onion and carrot first. Stir-fry until the onions become translucent and the carrots are tender-crisp, allowing their natural sweetness to release. Keep stirring to prevent sticking.
Step 9
Once the onions and carrots are slightly softened, push them to one side of the pan. Add the colorful bell pepper strips to the empty space and stir-fry briefly until they are slightly tender but still retain a slight crunch. Avoid overcooking, as they can become mushy.
Step 10
Now it’s time to cook the bacon. Add the bacon to the pan and cook until it’s golden brown and slightly crispy. Stir in the minced garlic, mirin, and a pinch of black pepper. Mirin helps to remove any porky odor from the bacon and adds a subtle sweetness. Once the bacon is cooked, transfer it along with the stir-fried vegetables to the large bowl where you set aside the noodles.
Step 11
Let’s make the flavorful sauce for our Japchae! In a large bowl or the same pan, combine the soy sauce (0.7 cup) and corn syrup (1.2 cup). Mix well. Now, add all the pre-cooked glass noodles to this mixture.
Step 12
Gently toss and mix the noodles with the sauce until they are evenly coated. It’s best to do this off the heat to prevent the noodles from becoming mushy and to ensure the sauce coats them beautifully. The noodles should look glossy and well-seasoned.
Step 13
Pour the seasoned noodles into the large bowl containing the stir-fried vegetables and bacon.
Step 14
Wearing disposable gloves, gently toss and mix all the ingredients together by hand. Be careful not to break the noodles. Ensure everything is well combined so the flavors meld together perfectly.
Step 15
Finally, drizzle with 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and sprinkle generously with sesame seeds for garnish. Your delicious, tender, and perfectly seasoned Japchae is ready! Serve generously and enjoy this delightful dish.
