Best Sweet Potato Noodles Japchae Recipes

KOREAN SWEET POTATO NOODLES (JAPCHAE)

Steps:

• Combine 1/4 cup soy sauce, mirin, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, garlic, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a bowl. Add steak; stir to coat. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.
• Combine 1/4 cup soy sauce, honey, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, and 1 pinch pepper in a large bowl; stir sauce well.
• Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil; stir in noodles and return to a boil. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain. Add noodles to sauce; toss to coat.
• Whisk egg in a bowl. Heat a skillet over medium-low heat; pour in egg. Cook until firm, about 1 minute per side. Slice into strips.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add spinach and cook, uncovered, until just bright green, about 1 minute. Drain in a colander and immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes to stop the cooking process. Drain.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add carrot and onion; saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in steak and marinade; cook until tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in spinach. Add noodles and egg; cook and stir until well combined and heated through, about 2 minutes.

SWEET POTATO NOODLES (JAPCHAE)

Steps:

• Cook the sweet potato noodles in a large pot of boiling water for 4 to 5 minutes. Immediately drain and rinse thoroughly under cold water. Be sure not to overcook the noodles, or they will lose their chewy texture. If you like, cut the noodles with scissors into 6- to 7-inch lengths for easier eating.
• Blanch the spinach in boiling water. Rinse immediately under cold water, squeeze the water from the leaves and form into a ball, and then cut the ball in half. Combine the spinach, half the garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of the sesame oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Set aside to let the flavors soak in.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, the remaining garlic, 1 teaspoon of the soy sauce, and 1 teaspoon of the sesame oil. Stir-fry until the beef is cooked, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the onion, mushrooms, and carrot and cook until the onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the green onions and stir-fry for another minute. Remove from the heat.
• In a large bowl, thoroughly combine the noodles, beef mixture, spinach, remaining 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, and the sugar. Serve warm, sprinkled with sesame seeds.

JAPCHAE (KOREAN SWEET POTATO NOODLES WITH EGG & VEGETABLES)

Steps:

• Soak the shiitake and wood ear mushrooms in cold water for 2 hours, and up to overnight. Soak the noodles in hot water for 30 minutes.
• Drain the shiitake and wood ear mushrooms. Squeeze the water from the shiitakes, and then thickly slice. Tear the wood ear mushrooms into pieces. Cut the king oyster mushrooms into 1/4-inch planks, and then 1/4-inch slices. Halve the onion, remove the root end, and slice with the grain. Cut the bell peppers into 1/4-inch slices. Grate the carrots on a mandoline using the 1/4-inch coarse-toothed blade. Cut the chives into 2-inch lengths. Keep all the vegetables in separate piles on a platter and place near the stove.
• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of the grapeseed oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the king oyster mushrooms, onions, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and cook, stirring with tongs, until softened, for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the pan to a large bowl or platter. Add 2 more tablespoons of the grapeseed oil to the pan, and then the yellow and orange peppers and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Cook, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes. Remove from the pan to the bowl. Add 1 more tablespoon of the grapeseed oil to the pan, and then the red peppers, carrots, and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, and cook, stirring, until softened, for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the pan to the bowl. Add 1 more tablespoon of the grapeseed oil to the pan, and then the shiitake and wood ear mushrooms and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Cook, stirring, until softened, for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the pan to the bowl. Add 3 more tablespoons of the grapeseed oil to the pan, and then the chives and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Cook, stirring, until limp, about 2 minutes. Remove from the pan to the bowl.
• Add the noodles to the boiling water and boil until they turn clear and soften, about 3 minutes. Drain.
• Heat 2 teaspoons of the grapeseed oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the egg whites and tilt and swirl the pan so they cover the bottom in an even layer. Turn the heat to low and cook until the whites set, for 2 minutes. Flip and cook for 30 seconds on the other side. Remove to a cutting board. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons grapeseed oil to the pan and put over medium-high heat. Add the egg yolks and tilt and swirl the pan so they cover the bottom in an even layer. Cook until the yolks are set, for 2 minutes. Flip and cook for 1 minute on the other side. Remove to a cutting board. Fold each egg pancake into thirds and slice into very thin strips.
• Toss the hot noodles with tongs in a large mixing bowl with the sesame oil. Drizzle in the soy sauce and toss, coating the noodles well. Scatter in the garlic and mix well. Then add all the vegetables and mix with the tongs (or your hands if not too hot) to really get the vegetables and noodles integrated. Sprinkle in the scallions, honey, and sesame seeds and toss well. Transfer to a serving bowl and scatter the egg slices on top.

JAPCHAE: SWEET POTATO NOODLES STIR-FRIED WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix yangnyumjang sauce ingredients, whisking well. Set aside. Add 4 tablespoons of the yangnyumjang sauce to the sliced beef and combine well. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add beef, stir-frying until it is no longer red. Remove from the wok. Set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a wok over medium-high flame. When it begins to sizzle, add 5 tablespoons yangnyumjang sauce and 1/4 cup water. Add noodles, stir-frying 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside. Mix shitake with 1 teaspoon each of: soy sauce, sugar and sesame oil, plus dash of pepper. Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in wok over medium heat. Add shitakes, stir-frying about 3 minutes. Set aside. Season oyster mushrooms with 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sesame oil and a dash of pepper. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in wok over medium heat. Add mushrooms, stir-frying 1-2 minutes. Transfer to bowl with shitakes. Add 1 teaspoon of oil to wok over medium heat. When hot, add onion, stirring frequently. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Saute about 3 minutes, adding a little water if onions stick. Remove from heat and transfer to bowl with mushrooms. Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in wok over medium-high heat. Stir-fry cucumber skins, 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and spread on a plate to cool. Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a pan over medium heat. Add carrots and cook 2-3 minutes. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Remove from heat. Spread on plate to cool. Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in wok over medium-high heat. Add red bell pepper with 1-1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir-fry 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons chopped green onion, 1 teaspoon sesame salt * and a dash of pepper, combining well. When all ingredients are cool, toss beef, vegetables and 2 tablespoons of yangnyumjang sauce with the noodles. Serve at room temperature or chilled. *Available from Korean grocers or Asian markets

JAPCHAE (KOREAN STIR-FRIED SWEET POTATO NOODLES)

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the noodles, stir to separate them, and boil until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water until cool. Using scissors, cut the noodles into 6- to 8-inch lengths. With the noodles still in the colander, drizzle with 2 teaspoons of the sesame oil and toss to coat; set aside.
• Mix the soy sauce and sugar together in a small bowl until the sugar has dissolved; set aside.
• Heat the 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the carrots, onion, measured salt, and measured pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion has softened, about 8 minutes. Add the mushrooms and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are tender, about 3 minutes.
• Increase the heat to medium high. Add the spinach and, using tongs, toss to combine. Let cook until slightly wilted, about 1 minute. Add the reserved noodles and soy sauce mixture and toss until heated through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, add the remaining 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil and toss to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with the scallion and sesame seeds. Serve immediately or at room temperature.

SWEET POTATO NOODLES WITH BEEF AND MUSHROOMS (JAPCHAE)

Steps:

• Put the beef in a medium bowl with 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 1 tablespoon minced garlic and mix until the meat is completely coated. Set aside.
• Put the shiitake mushrooms in a small bowl and pour in enough hot water to cover. Set aside to soften for 25 minutes. Remove the softened mushrooms from the liquid, slice thinly and set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons sesame oil in a large skillet. Add 2 tablespoons minced garlic, the shiitake mushrooms, shishito peppers, carrots, onions and red bell peppers and cook until slightly soft but still crunchy, for 3 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons soy sauce and continue to cook for an additional minute. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Set the skillet aside for cooking the beef.
• Prepare a medium bowl of ice water. Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil, and then add the spinach and cook for 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and immediately add to the ice water. Drain the spinach and squeeze with your hands to remove the excess liquid. Roughly chop and set aside.
• In the same pan of boiling water, add the noodles and cook according to the package directions. Drain the noodles in a strainer and rinse thoroughly with cold water. Add 2 tablespoons sesame oil to the noodles and toss with your hands or tongs so they are well coated and do not stick together. Leave the noodles in the strainer and set aside.
• Place the reserved skillet over medium-high heat and cook the beef with the marinade until brown, for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Combine the noodles, vegetables and beef in a large bowl. Add the remaining 7 tablespoons sesame oil, 7 tablespoons soy sauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar, the remaining garlic, the mirin, fish sauce, rice vinegar and black pepper. Mix together, using your hands or tongs, until all the ingredients are incorporated.
• Transfer to a large serving bowl and sprinkle with sesame seeds.