Perfectly Balanced Japchae
The Only Japchae Recipe You’ll Ever Need
I’m sharing a secret, ultra-simple Japchae recipe that nobody tells you about! I confidently claim this is the best Japchae recipe out there. Get ready to impress with this foolproof method.
Main Ingredients- 500g Dangmyeon (Korean sweet potato noodles)
- 300g Beef sirloin
- 2 Onions
- 2 Carrots
- 1 bunch Spinach
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- A pinch of black pepper
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Noodle Simmering Sauce- 4.5 Cups water
- 0.5 Cup soy sauce (jin-ganjang)
- 0.5 Cup sugar
- 0.5 Cup cooking oil
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 4.5 Cups water
- 0.5 Cup soy sauce (jin-ganjang)
- 0.5 Cup sugar
- 0.5 Cup cooking oil
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start with the foundational elements of Japchae. First, thoroughly wash the spinach and blanch it briefly. Squeeze out excess water. Thinly slice the carrots and onions. Slice the shiitake mushrooms (commonly used, though not listed in the original input) and beef sirloin into bite-sized pieces. Stir-fry these ingredients separately. For the beef, marinating it with minced garlic and black pepper will add a deeper flavor. This preparation stage is similar to most Japchae recipes.
Step 2
Now, for the secret to perfectly cooked noodles! In a deep pot, combine 4.5 cups of water, 0.5 cup of soy sauce, 0.5 cup of sugar, and 0.5 cup of cooking oil. Stir well to dissolve the sugar. Add the 500g of uncooked dangmyeon (sweet potato noodles) directly into this flavorful sauce. The magic is about to happen!
Step 3
Crucial step: Simmer the noodles over low heat, covered, for about 5 to 7 minutes. This allows the noodles to absorb the sauce and cook beautifully. It’s essential to stir occasionally to prevent the noodles from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Patience is key here!
Step 4
The noodles are ready when the sauce has mostly evaporated and the noodles are translucent and delightfully chewy. This method of simmering in the sauce, rather than just boiling, ensures the noodles remain perfectly ‘al dente’ and never mushy. Once the noodles are cooked, combine them with the prepared vegetables and beef. Finish by tossing with 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds for a truly exquisite Japchae.
