Simple Stir-Fried Leek and Fish Cake Japchae
Easy Japchae Recipe for Single Households: Stir-Fried Leek and Fish Cake Edition
I absolutely adore Japchae! However, it typically requires a lot of effort and numerous ingredients, making it a bit challenging for me to whip up frequently as someone living alone. That’s why I’ve developed a go-to recipe: a simple stir-fried Japchae using leeks and fish cakes. It’s a quick and easy way to enjoy the deliciousness of Japchae without the fuss. Give this simplified version a try for a satisfying meal!
Main Ingredients- 50g Glass noodles (dried)
- 1 sheet Fish cake
- 1 Leek
- 1/2 Onion
- 150ml Water (for boiling and stir-frying)
- 2 Tbsp Cooking oil
- 1/2 Tbsp Minced garlic
Japchae Seasoning- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 2.5 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 2.5 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the glass noodles. Boil them in plenty of water until they are about 80% cooked. Since they will be stir-fried later, avoid overcooking them, as you want to maintain a pleasant chewiness.
Step 2
Once the glass noodles are partially cooked, immediately rinse them under cold running water. This stops the cooking process from residual heat and helps keep them delightfully firm and separate. Drain them well and set them aside.
Step 3
Now, let’s prepare the vegetables. Slice the leek thinly on an angle or chop it into bite-sized pieces. It will release a wonderful sweetness as it cooks.
Step 4
Slice the onion into thin strips. You don’t need to make them super thin; a moderate thickness is perfect.
Step 5
Roll up the fish cake and slice it into strips roughly the same thickness as the glass noodles. This way, the textures will harmonize beautifully when eaten together. With that, all our prep work is done!
Step 6
Let’s start stir-frying! Heat your pan over medium-high heat and add the cooking oil. Add the sliced leeks and stir-fry them until they become fragrant. Cooking the leeks first releases their aromatic oils, adding depth to the entire dish.
Step 7
Once the leeks start to release their sweet aroma, add the sliced onion to the pan. Continue to stir-fry until the onion begins to turn translucent.
Step 8
When the onions are slightly softened, add the sliced fish cake. Stir-fry everything together until the onions become pale white. The fish cake will become pleasantly chewy and add a savory note.
Step 9
Once all the vegetables are nicely sautéed, add the prepared glass noodles. Gently loosen the noodles to prevent them from clumping together as you stir-fry.
Step 10
Pour in the 150ml of water. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently. Allow the glass noodles to absorb the liquid and cook through completely. This step is crucial for the noodles to soak up all the delicious flavors.
Step 11
When the glass noodles have absorbed all the liquid and are fully cooked, add the minced garlic. Turn the heat up to high and stir-fry quickly for about 1 minute. This will briefly toast the garlic and combine everything.
Step 12
After 1 minute of stir-frying, turn off the heat. It’s time to add the seasonings. Turning off the heat before adding seasonings prevents them from burning and ensures even coating.
Step 13
First, add the sugar. Adjust the sweetness to your liking.
Step 14
Next, pour in the soy sauce. This adds a savory depth and saltiness. Taste as you go and adjust the amount if needed.
Step 15
Finally, drizzle in the sesame oil for that wonderful nutty aroma. Adding sesame oil off the heat preserves its fragrance.
Step 16
Using the residual heat from the pan, gently toss everything together to ensure the sauce evenly coats the glass noodles and other ingredients. Be careful not to break the noodles as you mix.
Step 17
And there you have it – delicious Stir-Fried Leek and Fish Cake Japchae is ready! It tastes best served warm. Enjoy this simple yet wonderfully flavorful dish!
