Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

EASY VEGAN JAPCHAE | Korean Stir Fry Glass Noodles

Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Korean
Keyword: japchae, vegan japchae, vegetarian japchae
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

For the noodles

  • 340 g (one 12 oz bag) Korean sweet potato vermicelli/glass noodles (aka Dangmyeon) (made with 100% sweet potato starch)

For the vegetables

  • 400 g spinach (about 2 medium bunches) chopped into 2-3 inch long pieces
  • 200 g thinly sliced shiitake mushrooms (about 10 mushrooms) 
  • 200 g julienned carrots (about 2 medium carrots)
  • 100 g julienned red bell pepper (about 1 small red bell pepper)
  • Any neutral oil or toasted sesame oil
  • Salt 

For the sauce

  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 7-8 tablespoons tamari (or any other soy sauce of choice) (adjust seasoning accordingly since some soy sauces are saltier than others)
  • 2-3 tablespoons organic brown sugar or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3-4 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
  • 3-4 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. When boiling, add noodles, stir, and par-cook them for about 1 minute or until the noodles are slightly pliable. Remove the noodles from the pot and rinse well in cold water; set aside.
  • In the same pot of boiling water, add spinach, stir, and cook for about 10 seconds. Drain spinach and wash them thoroughly under cold water. Once they are clean, take a handful at a time, and squeeze out all the excess water, then set aside. Season with a pinch of salt.
  • Heat a large pan (preferably one with deep sloping sides; similar to a wok) over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon of oil and julienned shiitake mushrooms. Sauté mushrooms for about 3-5 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  • In the same pan, add 1 teaspoon of oil, julienned carrots, and a pinch of salt. Sauté for 1-2 minutes, and set aside.
  • In the same pan, add 1 teaspoon of oil, julienned red bell peppers, and a pinch of salt. Sauté for 1-2 minutes, and set aside.
  • Whisk together all the sauce ingredients and add them into the same pan (make sure your pan is large enough to fit all the noodles. If not, you can use a pot for this step).
  • Bring your sauce up to a boil, then add the par-cooked noodles. Cook the noodles until most of the sauce has been absorbed into the noodles, stirring constantly. Do not overcook the noodles. They should still maintain their chewiness.
  • Once most of the sauce has been absorbed, turn off the heat, and transfer noodles into a large bowl. Add all the prepared vegetables (spinach, mushrooms, carrots, red bell pepper). Toss to combine everything using tongs and/or your hands.
  • Garnish with some additional sesame seeds if desired. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.