Japchae Korean noodle stir fry Recipe

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VEGETARIAN JAPCHAE: TOFU OR MEAT RECIPE

Japchae recipe: Jap chae (chop chae, japchae, jabchae), is Korean for "mixed vegetables" and is a common Korean side dish. Sweet potato starch noodles are traditional in making Jap chae. This classic Korean dish is good served hot or cold. You can serve it over rice, if you like — this is called japchae-bap but it’s perfectly satisfying on its own.
 
Japchae (Korean mixed vegetable and noodle stir fry)

10 to 12 oz. dangmyen (sweet-potato-starch vermicelli noodles)
~ Peanut or other vegetable oil for frying
1 medium onion, sliced into strips
1 carrot, sliced into matchsticks
12 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked in boiling water for 30 minutes, stems removed and caps sliced into strips, soaking water reserved
¼ cup Chinese rice wine (shaoxing wine)
2 cloves garlic, diced
1 Tbsp. fresh ginger, diced
1½ cups (about 8 oz.) frozen spinach, soaked in the mushroom water, then drained (see Note)
1 Tbsp. white sesame seeds
2 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
¼ cup soy sauce, plus more as needed
2 Tbsp. sugar
¾ lb. flank steak, pork loin, or extra-firm tofu, sliced into 2-inch-long strips
~ Salt, pepper, soy sauce, chile sauce (preferably gochu-chang, a Korean hot sauce), and kimchi, to taste

Method

1. Cook the noodles: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the noodles in the water for 4 to 6 minutes, then drain and immediately rinse under cold running water. Place the noodles in a large serving bowl and use kitchen shears to snip the noodles into 6-inch lengths.
2. Cook the vegetables: Put the vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet. Over medium to medium-high heat, cook the sliced onion, carrot, and mushrooms until the onion starts to turn translucent and the carrot has softened slightly. Add the rice wine, garlic, and ginger, and cook for a minute or two. Add the spinach, sesame seeds, sesame oil, soy sauce, and sugar, and cook for a few minutes more. Toss with the noodles.
3. Cook the meat: Add a little more oil and soy sauce to the hot pan, then add the slices of meat or tofu. Sear on one side, then turn to cook on the remaining sides. When cooked through, add to the noodles and vegetables. Toss, then serve with the optional condiments.