Simple Homemade Japchae
Simple Homemade Japchae
Easy Japchae Made with Ingredients from Your Fridge
Enjoy everyone’s favorite festive dish, Japchae, easily at home! Even if it’s not a holiday or a special occasion, you can whip up a hearty and delicious Japchae using just the leftover ingredients in your fridge. This recipe is so simple that anyone can succeed by following along step-by-step. Here’s a magical recipe that’s foolproof!
Main Ingredients- 1 fistful of dangmyeon (glass noodles, pre-soaked)
- 2 onions
- 4 imitation crab sticks
- 6 sheets of fish cakes (eomuk)
- 1 fistful of chives
- 100g pork
- 100g mushrooms (shiitake, king oyster, etc.)
Japchae Seasoning & Marinade- A pinch of sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- A pinch of black pepper
- 3 Tbsp sesame oil
- A little cooking wine or mirin (for pork odor removal)
- A pinch of sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- A pinch of black pepper
- 3 Tbsp sesame oil
- A little cooking wine or mirin (for pork odor removal)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, slice the pork into bite-sized pieces. Place the pork in a bowl and marinate it with a pinch of black pepper, ½ Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp sesame oil, ½ Tbsp soy sauce, and a little cooking wine (or mirin). Let it marinate for at least 10 minutes for tender and flavorful pork.
Step 2
Cut the fish cakes into long, thin strips. Cutting them to a consistent length will make the Japchae look visually appealing when mixed.
Step 3
Wash the chives thoroughly and drain them. Cut them into approximately 4-5cm lengths. Chives are best lightly stir-fried or blanched at the end to maintain their crisp texture.
Step 4
Shred the imitation crab sticks lengthwise or cut them into long strips. If you have carrots, thinly julienning them would also be a great addition. Imitation crab is soft, loved by children, and adds a lovely color.
Step 5
Peel and thinly julienne the onions. Lightly oil a pan and sauté the julienned onions over medium-low heat until translucent. Pre-sautéing the onions brings out their natural sweetness and prevents excess moisture.
Step 6
Clean the mushrooms and pat them dry. Slice them into manageable, bite-sized pieces. Heat a little olive oil (or cooking oil) in a pan, add the mushrooms, and stir-fry. Add ½ Tbsp minced garlic and a pinch of salt, then stir-fry briefly. The mushrooms will release their moisture, enhancing their umami flavor.
Step 7
Now, stir-fry the cut fish cakes in the pan. Add ½ Tbsp soy sauce and ½ Tbsp sugar to lightly braise them, which will greatly improve their flavor. Once they turn slightly brown, remove them from the heat and set aside with the other ingredients.
Step 8
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the prepared chives and blanch them very briefly, for about 1 minute. Be careful not to overcook them, as they will become mushy. Drain the blanched chives and rinse them under cold water, then squeeze out any excess moisture.
Step 9
It’s time to cook the marinated pork. Stir-fry the pork over medium heat until it’s completely cooked through. Make sure to break it up and stir it well so it doesn’t clump together.
Step 10
Alright, all the components for the Japchae are now ready! Gather the sautéed onions, fish cakes, mushrooms, blanched chives, cooked pork, and sliced imitation crab sticks in one bowl.
Step 11
Now, let’s cook the soaked dangmyeon. In a pot, combine 2 cups of water, 0.5 cups of soy sauce, and 1 Tbsp of sugar, mixing well. (Adjust water and soy sauce quantities based on the amount of dangmyeon.) Bring to a boil over high heat, then add the dangmyeon. Let it simmer for about 5-10 minutes until the liquid is reduced and the noodles are tender and have absorbed the sauce. This step ensures the noodles are cooked through and flavored.
Step 12
Once the cooked dangmyeon turns a slightly golden hue and most of the liquid has evaporated, turn off the heat. Quickly rinse the noodles under cold water to remove excess starch, then drain them in a colander. Rinsing the noodles helps prevent them from becoming overly sticky, resulting in a cleaner texture.
Step 13
Now it’s time to combine everything! In a large bowl, add the cooked dangmyeon, sautéed vegetables, fish cakes, pork, and imitation crab sticks. Gently toss and mix everything together until the seasoning is evenly distributed. Be careful not to break the noodles while mixing.
Step 14
Finally, add the finishing touches for enhanced flavor. Add 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, a pinch of black pepper, and 2 Tbsp sesame oil to the bowl. Mix gently once more. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds for a nutty aroma, and your delicious Japchae is ready! Enjoy it while it’s warm.
