Japchae Recipe | 4-Person Batch

5 from 2 votes

Put dried Dangmyeon Noodles (2 large handfuls) into a tray with cold water. Let it soak for at least 30 minutes.
Julienne a piece of carrot (½ a whole) into thin slices.
Julienne 3 Shiitake Mushrooms into thin slices.
Remove the stem portion off 8-10 Wood Ear Mushrooms. Then chop any large pieces into smaller pieces.
Cut 1 whole onion into smaller strips.
Cut stems off your spinach bundles (2 large handfuls). Then thoroughly wash the spinach in water. Place in strainer and let it drip-off excess water.

Take out a bowl and mix together: Soy Sauce (1 Tablespoon), Sesame Oil (1 Tablespoon), Sugar (1 teaspoon!), Minced Garlic (1 teaspoon!), Black Pepper (4-5 cracks).
Pour the marinade over the meat slices. Then thoroughly mix with your hands. Set it aside and let it marinate.
(Note: If you want to make it vegetarian, simply use this "meat marinade" on your mushrooms)

Bring a pot of water to boil. Season it with a few pinches of salt.
Once the water is boiling, add-in the spinach. Use a kitchen tool to get all of the spinach submerged. Then count 10 seconds.
After 10 seconds, turn off heat, drain the pot and cool the spinach down in cold water.
Afterwards, squeeze the water out of the spinach. Then detangle the bundles and place into a bowl.
Next, season it with Sesame oil (1 Tablespoon) and Salt (few pinches). Use your hands to get the spinach tossed & well coated.

Take out a frying pan. Put some vegetable oil in. Then place on medium-heat.
Once it's hot, stir-fry the onions first.
Season the onion slices with a few pinches of salt. Stir-fry for a few minutes - or until the onions start to sweat and turn translucent. Then set aside, onto a tray.
Next, place more cooking oil into the frying pan. Then add in the carrots.
Season them with a few pinches of salt. Stir-fry for a few minutes - or until the carrots start to sweat. Then set aside, onto a tray.
Next, place more cooking oil into the frying pan. Then add in both mushrooms.
Season them with a few pinches of salt. Stir-fry for a few minutes - or until the mushrooms start to sweat and turn soft. Then set aside, onto a tray.
Next, place more cooking oil into the frying pan. Then add in the marinated meat slices.
Stir-fry for a few minutes - or until the meat has cooked through. Then set aside, onto a tray

Bring a pot of water up to boil. Once it's boiling, add in the soaked dangmyeon noodles. Let it boil for 3 minutes.
While it's boiling, give it a periodic stir with your chopsticks - to make sure the noodles are not sticking to the bottom or sides.
After 3 minutes, turn heat off and drain the water. Then cool the noodles down in cold water.
Place the noodles into a strainer and give a few good shakes - we want the noodles to drip-off excess water.
Now take out a large frying pan. We'll build the sauce directly in the pan. Add-in the following: Soy Sauce (3.5 Tablespoons), Sesame Oil (3 Tablespoons), Sugar (1.5 Tablespoons), Minced Garlic (1 teaspoon!), Black Pepper (4-5 cracks)
Place the frying pan on medium heat. Use a wooden utensil and gently mix the ingredients together. Once the mixture comes to a boil, add in the boiled dangmyeon noodles.
Gently toss the noodles in the sauce for 2 minutes.
After 2 minutes, pour the hot, seasoned noodles into a large mixing bowl.

Now it's time to add all toppings into the bowl: stir-fried veggies + mushrooms + spinach + meat.
Use a few kitchen tools to help you toss the noodles (be careful, it's hot!). Then add in a drizzle of Sesame Oil to round out all of the flavors.
Give it a final toss and it's ready!
Bon Appetit!