Refreshing Cold Japchae Made with Leftover Holiday Foods
Creative Recipe: Transforming Leftover Ancestral Rite Foods into Delicious Cold Japchae
Introducing a refreshing and crisp Cold Japchae. Perfect for utilizing leftover ceremonial foods and enjoying a lighter, flavorful dish.
Main Ingredients- 100g glass noodles
- 100g seasoned beef bulgogi or sliced grilled meat (julienned)
- 1/2 cucumber
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- 1/4 pear
Cold Japchae Dressing- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 Tbsp chopped green onion
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce for seasoned dishes (matganjang)
- 1 tsp plum extract (optional)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 Tbsp chopped green onion
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce for seasoned dishes (matganjang)
- 1 tsp plum extract (optional)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, soak the glass noodles in water until softened, then boil them until tender. Immediately rinse the boiled noodles under cold water to remove excess starch and drain them thoroughly. Toss the noodles with a little sesame oil to prevent sticking. Now, let’s prepare the dressing, which is key to the flavor of this cold japchae. Heat cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté the minced garlic and chopped green onion until fragrant, then add the gochugaru and stir-fry briefly. Pour in the oyster sauce, matganjang, sugar, vinegar, and plum extract (if using). Bring to a boil, then let it cool completely.
Step 2
For the protein, you can use seasoned beef bulgogi, or if you have leftover grilled meat from ancestral rites, finely julienne it. Using fruits like pear, apple, or dried jujubes and chestnuts that might have been part of the ceremonial offerings, also thinly julienned, will add depth and texture. For a visually appealing dish, julienne the yellow and red bell peppers. Thinly slice the cucumber as well to add a fresh crunch. It’s important to julienne all ingredients uniformly for easy eating.
Step 3
Arrange the prepared glass noodles on a large serving plate. Artfully arrange the julienned meat, vegetables, and fruits on top, considering color harmony. Finally, drizzle the cooled dressing evenly over the japchae. This completes your delicious Cold Japchae, a wonderful way to reimagine leftover holiday dishes into a vibrant and refreshing meal. Enjoy your culinary creation!
