Japchae (Korean Glass Noodles Recipe) - Evolving Table (2024)

This easy Korean Japchae recipe is full of vegetables, lean protein, and features the most amazing sauce! Tasty glass noodles are cooked stir-fry style with tender chicken, fresh vegetables, eggs, and the perfect blend of seasonings for an easy dinner on busy weeknights.Once you try this classic Korean recipe, you’ll fall in love and want to make it every week for a healthy dinner!

Korean food wasn’t even on my radar. I had sort of written it off falsely assuming it would be too spicy for my mild-only palate.

But on one of our weekly date nights, we decided to be adventurous and try out Oseyo, now responsible for my massive love of Korean cuisine!

Korean fried chicken, steamed dumplings, a big bowl of Dolsat Bibimbap with a side of kimchi, and then… Korean Japchae.

This dish reminded me of Sesame Noodles, but was loaded with so many other ingredients. Thin strips of eggs, tender chicken, and TONS of vegetables.

The glass noodles had a silky-smooth texture, a chewy bite, and were made out of sweet potatoes, of all things! My mind was COMPLETELY blown, and trying to make it for myself quickly became inevitable.

While there are a few ingredients that you’ll need to gather, it’s actually a pretty simple stir-fry recipe that you can easily throw together on a weeknight.

And the best part? If you have leftovers, the flavors seriously get better with time!

What is Japchae?

Incredible! But more than that, Japchae is a Korean dish made with glass or starch noodles, vegetables, and often meat and egg.

The name literally translates to “mixed vegetable,” which makes sense as it’s a stir-fry dish!

Japchae’s flavor is savory but with a hint of sweet, and it can be enjoyed either hot or cold, which can only mean one thing: a bonus meal from leftovers!

What are Glass Noodles?

The transparent noodles in this Japchae recipe are called glass noodles, also known as cellophane noodles or sweet potato starch noodles. No matter what you call them they’re delicious!

These particular noodles are the Korean variety dangmyeon. They’re made from sweet potato starch and water, and are a little thicker than the Chinese varieties you may have had before.

Glass noodles are often used in stir-fries, but are also sometimes featured in soups or hot pots.

Ingredients

To make this easy Korean Japchae recipe you need:

• Glass Noodles. To make the traditional Korean recipe you should use dangmyeon, but it’s not necessary. In fact, just use what’s easiest to find at your grocery store, which is normallyglass noodles.
• Chicken. This recipe calls for chicken breasts, but you can also use thighs if you prefer.
• Vegetables. Carrots, bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, and garlic are best. You can also use broccoli, bok choy, onions, or whatever else you happen to have on hand!
• Eggs. You’ll need three large eggs for this recipe. Generally organic, pasture-raised eggs are best, but any will do.
• Soy Sauce. Make sure to use a gluten-free soy sauce or tamari to keep this recipe gluten-free, if needed.
• Rice Vinegar. It is important to make sure you use rice vinegar and not seasoned rice vinegar, as it has added sugar. Any fan of Asian cooking should always have rice vinegar on hand, but if you happen to be out, apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar is your best bet for a substitute.
• Oil. Both sesame oil and avocado oil are used in this recipe. The sesame oil really adds a ton of flavor, so make sure you don’t leave this out. The avocado oil can be swapped out with any other high smoke point oil like safflower, peanut, or canola oil. Just make sure it is a high-smoke point oil so it doesn’t burn.
• Brown Sugar. The slightly sweet flavor is achieved with adding in brown sugar. Coconut sugar may also be used.
• Sriracha. This adds a little sweet and spicy kick. You may also use another hot sauce without a sweetener if you are avoiding refined sugar.
• Toasted sesame seeds. These are entirely optional but add such a nice, nutty flavor and delicately crunchy texture.

Note: For more information on how to prepare garlic for this recipe, see How to Mince Garlic.

How to Make Japchae

These are the easy steps for making Korean Japchae:

Cook the Noodles

In a large pot, heat water up to a boil and cook the noodles for 6-8 minutes, or according to the instructions on the package. They should be tender, but not overcooked, and still with a little bit of a bite to them.

When finished boiling, test a noodle for the correct texture – soft, but just slightly chewy – then use a colander to drain the noodles. Be wary if using a colander with large holes, as some noodles may fall through.

Once drained, add the noodles back into the pot and set aside.

Add the Sauce

In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, oil, brown sugar, and sriracha. This sauce can also be prepared ahead of time, if needed!

Pour the sauce into the pot with the cooked glass noodles, and stir to coat them fully. Be careful not to be too rough with them, as they can break apart.

Allow the noodles to sit in the sauce while preparing the rest of the recipe, so that the noodles can soak up all of that amazing flavor!

Prepare the Chicken

Lay out your raw chicken breasts on a cutting board, and use a very sharp knife to slice them into thin strips. Try to keep them a similar width, so that the chicken all cooks evenly.

In a large bowl, combine1 tablespoon of soy sauce, the rice vinegar, and 1 clove of minced garlic. Add the raw chicken strips, and toss them to ensure the chicken is well coated in the marinade.

Set aside, and allow to marinate for 20 minutes while preparing the rest of the ingredients. The marinating process will tenderize the meat and allow it to soak up all of those amazing flavors!

Once finished marinating, stir-fry the chicken in 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes, or just until cooked through.

Keep a close eye on it and make sure you don’t overcook the chicken, otherwise it will turn out too tough.

Cooking the Eggs

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the eggs until they are evenly mixed and have turned light and fluffy.

Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside, then drizzle more oil into the pan, swiping it around to ensure even coverage.

Pour the eggsinto a thin layer that completely coats the bottom of the pan. Do this by swirling the pan around until the eggs reach the edges. Kind of like when making a crepe!

Cook without stirring until done – this should take about 2-3 minutes. Carefully remove the eggs from the pan with a spatula, and cut them into long, thin strips.

Set the cooked, sliced egg aside as well.

Make the Stir Fry

To the large skillet, add a bit more oil and allow it to come up to heat, so as to stir-fry your vegetables.

Start with the carrots, next add the bell pepper, then the mushrooms, and finally the spinach. The harder veggies take longer to cook, so you want to make sure to follow this order.

Addthe chicken, noodles, and egg back into the pan. Cook until everything is heated through, and thoroughly coated in the sauce.

Serve the stir-fry immediately after cooking. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds, if desired, and dig in!

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep-Ahead:This entire recipe can be made ahead of time because the flavors only get better! But if you just want to do a little prep beforehand to make dinnertime easier, you can cut up the veggies and chicken up to 1 day in advance. If you take this route, wait to cook the noodles until just before serving.
• To Store:Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Freezing is not recommended as the textures will will change once thawed.
• To Reheat: For the best results, reheat by adding back into a skillet on medium heat for 5-8 minutes. But remember, this dish is also great cold!

Dietary Modifications

The recipe you’ll find below is already dairy-free as written. Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:

Gluten-Free: Use wheat-free soy sauce such as Tamari or coconut liquid aminos.

Soy-Free: Substitute the soy sauce with coconut liquid aminos.

Vegan: Omit the chicken and eggs.

Vegetarian: Leave out the chicken.

FAQs

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Keep it hot.By cooking at a high temperature, you’ll get the perfect crisp to everything without overcooking.
• Use the right oil. Avocado, safflower, peanut, and canola oil are all high smoke point oils that won’t burn when stir-frying.
• Let the ingredients marinate. The longer the noodles and chicken sit in the sauce, the more flavor they will absorb.
• Cook the eggs thin. This is the most authentic way to cook them, and it adds an amazing texture to the dish.
• Use what you have. This recipe can be made with lots of different ingredients – shiitake mushrooms, beef, green onions, and more!