Japchae Noodles makes a hearty meal option when combined with vegetables and tofu. Whipping them in Instant pot is quick and easy. These Japchae noodles are loaded with tons of flavors. Every bite of these luscious, and chewy texture noodles make you want to have more. You will instantly become a fan of this Japchae recipe, which takes very little effort to bring together.
I recently got an opportunity to try these japchae noodles during an outing with some friends. Korean Glass Noodle are actually made with sweet potato starch, and I got so fascinated with the see-through glass like looks of these noodles. That, I decided to give it a try at home. Very quickly this Japchae recipe became our new family favorite.
What is Japchae?
Japchae is a sweet and savory Korean dish of stir-fried noodles and vegetables. It is important to note that the noodles used in this japchae recipe are not just any flour or rice noodles. The noodles used in Japchae are made from sweet potato starch and are know as DANGMYEON. These noodles are more popular as Glass Noodles because upon cooking they become transparent, hence they got the name “Glass Noodles”.
Using these noodles makes this japchae recipe so different. The word Japchae actually translates directly as “Mixed Vegetables”. When it was first introduced around 17th century, it was actually a noodles-less dish.
What are Sweet Potato Glass Noodles?
Very first time when I read the description of the dish on a menu saying sweet potato noodle, I was about to pass. Not a big fan of sweet potato noodles, which you make by spiralizing the sweet potato (that is what I actually imagined). Still, ordered one for myself and got super-duper confuse when the dish arrives.
Thinking how come these japchae noodles are so luscious, clear and transparent? When I make them home, they are nowhere close to this texture and looks. The secret was hidden in the word “starch”. Quickly googled my confusion and got answer to my million questions which were running into my mind.
No doubt, these noodles are made from sweet potato but not by spiralizing it. Instead these are made with the sweet potato starch. Similar to tapioca pearls which are made from cassava starch.
What makes these Japchae noodles so special?
As mentioned above, Sweet Potato noodles are made from the starch of sweet potato. These noodles come in u-shaped super long bundles. They appear stiff and grayish in their dried uncooked version. Once cooked they become transparent glass like see through noodles. Easy to fall in love with the looks as well as chewy and slippery texture. It’s a good idea to cut them into a small strand otherwise twirling them up to make a bite would be a never-ending job. However, kids have so much fun slurping never ending noodles!
Flavors of Japchae
These sweet potato noodles absorb flavors from its sweet and savory sauce. Unlike pasta noodles where noodles get coated with the sauce these noodles absorb all the flavors and stay sauce free. The sauce gets its flavors from tamari or soy sauce, fermented chili paste, sesame oil.
The added brown sugar in the sauce balance out the heat from chili paste and chili flakes. As well as tone down the tang from the fermented chili paste and rice vinegar if used. I have skipped rice vinegar in this japchae recipe, but feel free to add as per your liking. The quantity of each ingredient in the sauce can be easily modified to individuals liking and taste. If you prefer stronger flavor go for dark soy sauce and increase the quantity of fermented chili paste as well.
Tips and trick to work around the Japchae recipe:
- To maintain the texture and crunch of the vegetables I have divided the cooking time into two part. If you are not much concerned about the texture of the vegetable, go ahead and add all the vegetables except greens with the noodles itself.
- To make it gluten free I have used low sodium Tamari. If gluten free is not a must have, then you can use soy sauce also.
- For stronger flavors use dark soy sauce.
- Not able to find korean chili fermented paste? Substitute half of its quantity with miso paste and half with any chili paste like samba oelek.
- In this japchae recipe, I have used Korean chile flakes known as Gochugaru, which you can substitute with regular chili flakes.
- Sesame seeds can be added to the sauce if you want.
- Instead of adding ginger in the sautéing, minced ginger can be added to sauce.
- For extra tang add 1 tbs rice vinegar in the sauce.
- Since we are adding so many sauces, please do not add any salt unless you taste it. If you add it initially there are chances the japchae recipe gets too salty.
- Last but not least, water and noodles ratio. Add 8 fluid oz. or 1 cup of water for every 4 oz of noodles. In this japchae recipe I have used 6 oz of noodles hence I have added 1.5 cup or 12 fluid oz of water.
Some FAQs about Japchae Recipe:
Japchae is a sweet and savory Korean dish of stir-fried noodles and vegetables. The noodles used in Japchae are made from sweet potato starch and are know as DANGMYEON. These noodles are more popular as Glass Noodles because upon cooking they become transparent, hence they got the name “Glass Noodles”.
The glass noodles used for Japchae are gluten free. Make sure all other ingredients are also gluten free to make Japchae recipe gluten free. To make it gluten free I have used low sodium Tamari. If gluten free is not a must have, then you can use soy sauce also.
Whipping them in Instant pot is quick and easy. It is actually easier in instant pot then following the traditional way. Follow the japchae recipe closely.
It can be served both hot and cold depending on your preference.
This really depends on the japchae recipe you use, ingredients and cooking methods. You can balance the nutrition by addint the right quantity of vegetables, moderating the add hoc sauces and not using too much oil.
Sweet Potato noodles are made from the starch of sweet potato. These noodles come in u-shaped super long bundles. They appear stiff and grayish in their dried uncooked version. Once cooked they become transparent glass like see through noodles. Easy to fall in love with the looks as well as chewy and slippery texture.
These sweet potato noodles absorb flavors from its sweet and savory sauce. Unlike pasta noodles where noodles get coated with the sauce these noodles absorb all the flavors and stay sauce free. The sauce gets its flavors from tamari or soy sauce, fermented chili paste, sesame oil.
Can’t wait to eat it? It only takes about 35 minutes. Let’s start now…
Japchae Noodles Recipe – Vegan and Gluten Free
Equipment
Ingredients
Pantry:
Noodles:
- 6 Ounces Sweet Potato Starch Noodles cut into small strands Assi Brand
- 2 Tbs Avocado Oil
Sauce:
- 1/4 cup Low Sodium Tamari for Gluten Free Option use Soya Sauce
- 2 Tbs Sesame Seed Oil
- 1 tsp Korean Fermented Chili Paste Concentrate Gochujang: 1 tsp, if not available substitute with ½ tsp of miso paste + 1 tsp of sambal oelek
- 1/2 tsp Korean Chile Flakes Gochugaru: ½ tsp, if not available substitute it with red chili flakes
- 2 tbsp Brown Sugar substitute with your choice of sweetener
- 1 tbs Rice Vinegar for extra tang, (I skipped it)
- 1 tbsp Sesame seeds add in the sauce or keep it separate and sprinkle from top, either way is fine
Produce:
- 1 oz Ginger Thumb size knob, finely julienned
- 10 oz Red onions 1 cup sliced, 1 medium or ½ large size onion
- 4 oz Cremini Mushrooms 1 cup sliced around 10 pieces
- 6 oz Baby Bok Choy 1 cup chopped – 2 small or 1 medium size, stalk and leaves separated
- 6 oz Carrots 1 cup thick julienned, 2 medium size or 1 large
- 4 oz Green Bell Pepper 1 cup thick julienned, 1 medium size
- 4 oz Red Bell Pepper 1 cup thick julienned, 1 medium size
- 6 oz Broccoli 1 cup, cut into even bite size florets
- 2 oz Baby Spinach 2 cups heaped, 2 handful
Protein:
- 7 oz Tofu Extra Firm – 1 cup cubed
Toppings:
- 2 tbsp Sesame Seed Oil
- 1 tsp Korean Chile Flakes
- 1 tbsp Sesame seeds
Instructions
Prep work Instructions
- Sweet Potato starch noodle come in long u-shaped noodles. Cut them into small strands using a kitchen scissor to fit inside the inner pot of instant Pot.
- Chop all the colorful vegetable into finger size sticks and keep them aside. Once, all the veggies are prepped, this dish comes together really fast.
- Squeeze all the water out from the tofu, cubed and keep it aside.
- Mix all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl, whisk them all together and keep it side.
- Combine the sesame oil and chili flakes for topping and keep it aside.
Cooking Instructions
- Switch on the Instant Pot on Sauté mode on normal heat. Add 2 tbs of avocado oil.
- When it starts displaying hot add julienned ginger and sliced onions.
- Sauté onions for few minutes until become soft and translucent.
- Now add sliced mushrooms and continue to sauté for few minutes.
- After 5 minutes switch off the sauté mode, add 1.5 cup of water and half quantity of the prepared sauce.
- Transfer all the noodles into crisscross pattern in the inner pot.
- Place the Instant pot lid on and cook for 1 minute on low pressure. Let the pressure release naturally.
- Once, pressure is released open the lid and add chopped bok choy stalks, carrots, peppers, broccoli, tofu and the remaining sauce.
- Put the lid back and again cook for 1minute low pressure. To avoid over cooking of vegetables and losing their texture, quick release the pressure once cooking time is over.
- Take the lid off and carefully fold in the spinach and bok choy greens. Cover the pot back and allow the greens to wilt using the steam.
- Remove the pan, transfer to a bowl and topped it with sesame seeds and sesame seeds and chili flakes oil.
Janelle Carss
I made this last night and it was so delicious! I was lucky to happen to have all the ingredients to make it. I love how the glass noodles absorb so much flavour – they’re the best part of the dish in my opinion! 😛 The only challenges I had were 1) the glass noodles are VERY difficult to cut even with sharp scissors and it took me a long time
2) the cooking times in this recipe weren’t long enough for the veggies to cook so I had to add extra minutes. Not a huge deal but it made the overall cooking time longer than hoped. I’d totally make this again, just with a few minor adjustments 😉 Thanks for a very yummy recipe!