Super Simple Japchae: A Deliciously Easy Recipe for a Festive Dish
Easy Homemade Japchae
Think Japchae is too much work? Think again! This recipe makes it incredibly simple and quick, even with fewer ingredients. Perfect for special occasions or just a delightful meal any day of the week.
Main Ingredients- 300g glass noodles
- 300g pork strips (tenderloin or sirloin)
- 1/4 carrot (thinly julienned)
- 2 onions (thinly sliced)
- 1 red bell pepper (thinly julienned)
- 1 green bell pepper (thinly julienned)
- 5 dried wood ear mushrooms (rehydrated)
Pork Marinade- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp sesame seeds
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp grated ginger
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp sesame seeds
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp grated ginger
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the glass noodles and wood ear mushrooms. Soak the glass noodles in lukewarm water for about 30 minutes until pliable. Then, blanch them in boiling water for just 1 minute until softened, being careful not to overcook. Immediately rinse the noodles under cold water to remove excess starch and drain well. For the wood ear mushrooms, rehydrate them in lukewarm water until soft. Trim off any tough parts and then tear the soft mushrooms into bite-sized pieces by hand.
Step 2
Now, let’s prepare the delicious marinade for the pork. In a bowl, combine 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp sesame oil, 1 tsp minced garlic, 1/2 tsp sesame seeds, a pinch of black pepper, and 1/2 tsp grated ginger. Mix these ingredients thoroughly.
Step 3
Add the pork strips to the prepared marinade and mix well to ensure each piece is coated. Let the pork marinate for about 20 minutes. This step is key to tender and flavorful pork.
Step 4
It’s time to julienne the vegetables for the Japchae. Thinly slice the carrot, onions, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper into matchsticks. Aim for uniform thickness for even cooking and a beautiful presentation.
Step 5
Lightly season the prepared wood ear mushrooms with a little soy sauce and a touch of sesame oil. This simple seasoning will enhance their subtle earthy flavor.
Step 6
To maintain the best texture and flavor of each ingredient, it’s best to sauté them separately. First, sauté the onions, carrots, and bell peppers in a lightly oiled pan until they are just tender but still retain a slight crispness. Next, stir-fry the marinated pork and seasoned wood ear mushrooms over high heat until cooked through. Avoid overcooking the pork to keep it tender. It’s important that the vegetables maintain their vibrant colors.
Step 7
Now, let’s make the main seasoning sauce. In a wide, deep pan, combine 8 Tbsp soy sauce, 4 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp sesame oil, and 1 Tbsp sesame seeds. Place the pan over low heat and gently warm the mixture just until the sugar dissolves. Do not boil.
Step 8
Before the sauce starts to bubble, add the blanched glass noodles to the pan. Over low heat, use a spatula to quickly toss the noodles, ensuring they are evenly coated with the seasoning. Continue mixing until the noodles have absorbed the sauce beautifully.
Step 9
Once the noodles are well-seasoned, add all the sautéed vegetables, pork, and wood ear mushrooms to the pan. Gently combine everything together, making sure not to clump the noodles or vegetables.
Step 10
After mixing all the ingredients, turn off the heat. This helps prevent the vegetables from overcooking and losing their color, and also stops the noodles from clumping together. Enjoy your delicious, harmoniously flavored Japchae!
