Ingredients:
- 12 oz noodle (Dang Myeon)
- 10 oz beef – julienned*
- 5 oz shiitake mushrooms or Chinese black mushrooms
- 2 medium carrots – julienned
- 1 large OR 2 small onions – julienned
- 6 oz spinach
- 2 tbs oil (I used olive oil)
- 2 tbs sesame seed oil
- 4 tbs soy sauce – might need additional soy sauce for seasoning
- 3 scallions, cut into 1-inch lengths
- 1 egg
- green or red bell peppers- julienned
- Salt & black pepper (pinch)
- Sesame seed (pinch)
- 3 cloves of garlic minced
- 2 tsp of minced ginger
*Julienning is a method of food preparation in which the food item is cut into long thin strips
Directions:
Cook noodles according to package directions. Usually, you drop noodles into boiling water and keep them there for 10 minutes. Take them out and rinse them in cold water immediately. Cut the noodles with kitchen shears to small pieces. This makes them easier to mix with other ingredients.
Noodles
If you are using dry shiitakes, soak them in cold water for 30 minutes and rinse well afterward. You can leave the mushrooms as they are but I like them cut in smaller pieces.
If you are using dry shiitakes, soak them in cold water for 30 minutes and rinse well afterward. You can leave the mushrooms as they are but I like them cut in smaller pieces.
Meat
Tenderloin or sirloin is best for this dish. You can also marinate the meat for 30 minutes using 2 tbs of sesame oil+2 tbs soy sauce+2 cloves of garlic, minced+ 2 tbs minced ginger. By doing this you should cut ingredients listed in half IF you are stir frying everything together. If you are frying every ingredient separately, you should first make the sauce out of sesame oil+soy sauce+garlic+ginger. Use half for marinating the meat and the other half use as a dressing at the end (adding salt and black pepper to taste). Either way, do not forget to julien the meat
Tenderloin or sirloin is best for this dish. You can also marinate the meat for 30 minutes using 2 tbs of sesame oil+2 tbs soy sauce+2 cloves of garlic, minced+ 2 tbs minced ginger. By doing this you should cut ingredients listed in half IF you are stir frying everything together. If you are frying every ingredient separately, you should first make the sauce out of sesame oil+soy sauce+garlic+ginger. Use half for marinating the meat and the other half use as a dressing at the end (adding salt and black pepper to taste). Either way, do not forget to julien the meat
Spinach
There are multiple ways of dealing with spinach.
1. You can add spinach while all the ingredients are being slightly stir fried. 2. You can add them during mixing process after the vegetables are stir fried.
3. You can put spinach in a hot water for couple of minutes. Drain them, and then add it during mixing process OR
4. You can stir fry ready noodles with spinach in a 1 Tbsp of sesame oil.
I chose the first method.
There are multiple ways of dealing with spinach.
1. You can add spinach while all the ingredients are being slightly stir fried. 2. You can add them during mixing process after the vegetables are stir fried.
3. You can put spinach in a hot water for couple of minutes. Drain them, and then add it during mixing process OR
4. You can stir fry ready noodles with spinach in a 1 Tbsp of sesame oil.
I chose the first method.
Eggs
Beat the egg, make an omelet. Julien and use as a topping for the dish.
Beat the egg, make an omelet. Julien and use as a topping for the dish.
In a large pan heat sesame oil+olive oil and start stir frying julienned beef for couple of minutes in medium high heat. Add onions, carrots, mushrooms, bell peppers, scallions, garlic, salt, pepper. Let cook for a few minutes, stirring, until the vegetables are cooked but still a little crisp. Turn down the heat to medium low. Add noodles, spinach soy sauce and ginger. Stir for couple of minutes. Turn off the heat and add sesame seeds. Toss well and your dish is ready to serve. It can be served hot or room temperature. Frankly, I loved it hot!
What is good about this dish, is that most of the ingredients are optional. So, use your imagination and create something you love out of vegetables you love.
http://lola-elise.com/recipes/japchae-korean-dish
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