Japchae

Japchae is a Korean noodle main dish or appetizer that our family loves.  It is made with sweet potato noodles with stir fry vegetables added along with the most delicious sauce that brings the dish together.  Even better, it is so simple!  Some recipes include beef, but I like it without.  Whenever I make it at home, we always make a very large batch so we can have leftovers.

Japchae
Printable Recipe
Serves 8 - 10

Ingredients:
18 ounces Korean potato starch noodles
18 - 24 ounces fresh spinach
1 large onion, sliced thin
5 scallions, chopped10 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked, sliced thin
1 large (or 2 small) carrot, julienned
1 tablespoon oil

Sauce:
9 tablespoons soy sauce
8 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons sesame oil
6 teaspoons minced garlic
6 teaspoons roasted sesame seeds

Directions:
1)  Combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a very large bowl and mix until sugar is dissolved.  This bowl must be large enough to toss everything together at the end.  Set aside.
2)  Cook the noodles in boiling water according to the package directions (usually about 8 minutes). Drain well and cut the noodles up a bit as the initial dry strands can be long and doubled over.  Add noodles to the sauce.
3)  Blanch the spinach in boiling water until wilted. Drain and shock with cold water. Squeeze out water and cut into 1-inch portions.  Add spinach to the noodles.
4)  In a saute pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil and stir fry the onion until translucent.  Add the scallions and mushrooms and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.  Add mixture to the noodles.
5)  Stir fry the carrot for 1 to 2 minutes until softened.  Add to the noodles.
6)  Toss all the ingredients in the very large bowl.