I once tasted Japchae in a restaurant at Nagasaki, during my stay in Japan. I fell in love with it immediately. I have not had Japchae for many years now. After I started blogging, I wanted to make Japchae, and savor the tasty dish again. The main ingredient in Japchae is the sweet potato noodle, for which I searched for in many stores. Finally I got it from Hong Kong Market. It turned out to be cream colored noodles (sweet potato noodles) and not like the Korean vermicelli (sweet potato starch noodles) which I saw in some of the photos of Japchae. At the Hong Kong Market, you will get lot of noodles, but on the cover, only a few have descriptions written in English. So finding what you want is really difficult, since I was not familiar. I have also seen pumpkin noodles there.
In spite of this difficulty, I love to shop there, because I like to shop not knowing what is in it? It started from my stay in Japan. While in Japan I bought a product and used it as body soap for a few months, until one of my Japanese friends told me what it was.
I decide to make a Vegetarian version of Japchae. In addition to the noodles, I added carrot, green onion, green bell pepper, mushroom and Gai- lan (Chinese broccoli). Japchae is usually not served as main dish but as a side dish. According to Wikipedia it originated in 17thcentury. First it was made only with vegetables; the addition of noodles came about at a later date.
There is lot of versions of Japchae; with adding sea food, meat etc. Cooking styles can also vary a lot. You need to cook noodle separately, then stir fry each vegetables separately, sauce is made with soya sauce, salt and sugar. Then gradually mix in noodles with vegetables. Finally it is served with toasted sesame seeds.
I read in an article that Korean People eat noodles for their longevity, “So it is served at birthdays, family gatherings, or any big party.”
I used Gai-lan instead of spinach in the traditional Japchae. In order to save time, I cooked vegetables together. Twisted the sauce too, adding a little bit sweet chili sauce, rice wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce along with soy sauce used sesame seed oil to fry.
I am in hunt for sweet potato starch noodles/ Korean glass noodles, when I find them I will make this recipe again with them. If you are a noodle dish fan, try this one. You are going to make this one more often.
Here goes the recipe.
Gather your ingredients
In a saucepan heat 4 cups of water, when water starts boiling add sweet potato noodle and cook for about 4 minutes. Then wash with running water and set aside.
While noodle is cooking chop vegetables you need
Heat oil in skillet and add ginger, garlic, then onion, carrot and bell pepper, green onion and mushroom. cook everything until the carrot is done. Then wilt gai-lan , add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sweet chili sauce ,Worcestershire sauce, salt and brown sugar. Then add cooked noodles and mixed everything so that
sauce get coated well. Then finally add toasted sesame seeds.
Serve warm.
Print recipe
| Japchae: Korean Sweet Potato Noodles With Gai-lan by Swathi @ Zesty South Indian Kitchen
Ingredients
Variations
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I am linking this delicious Noodle to Favorite recipes : Pasta event hosted here
This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
ziya says
Hi dear,I like the way u post your recipes. Keep up the good work. Only if I am not wrong-it should be---gluten free and vegan too,not vegan-free. But plz,do correct me if I am wrong.
thanks for the recipe.
Turmeric n Spice says
Love the detail step by step pix !! Looks awesome
Sharans Samayalarai :) says
Yummy !! Looks colorful...
New to your space, I am following you 🙂
Do check my blog when you find time...
Cheers,
Sharanya
Sharans Samayalarai
http://www.vigsha.blogspot.com
Sanoli Ghosh says
Looks very delicious and super tempting.
Vineetha says
I love Koran food ,have a close friend who is Korean and loved their sushi rolls ( not the Japanese one with raw fish..yuck) and she has gave me a seaweed sheet to try that out 🙂 I will learn this name and ask her about it ,onu shine cheyyalo..
The Mistress of Spices says
Delicious looking dish (particularly as I am getting to know Korean food better here in Bangkok where there is a big Korean community and thus lots of restaurants)! Also it's my first time to visit your blog...all kinds of great and interesting recipes from many parts of the world...I love it! Please visit mine as well if you have a chance.
Rekha says
wow looks very tempting delicious..
http://www.indiantastyfoodrecipes.com/
Elisabeth says
Wow, Swathi! I just love this dish, so versatile, and delicious; just will have to substitute for rice noodles, since there's no way we can get sweet potato noodles even in our Asian market.
Love the colorful and healthy dish...your step-by-step fab photos, as well:D
Will pin this on my 'pasta love' board, on Pinterest!
Anu says
Looks so authentic Swathi..Delicious noodles..
Green Thickies says
I forgot to leave the link for the vegetable spiralizer if you wanted to have a look at it: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Juiceland-Vegetable-Spiralizer/dp/B003NXR086/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344332975&sr=8-1
Green Thickies says
Wow, what a great idea. I'd never be able to find sweet potato noodles here in the UK but I do have a spiralizer which is an amazing gadget as you can make noodles from courgettes (zucchinis) squash, carrots and loads of other veg. I forgot all about it after I stopped my raw food diet, but you've reminded me about it now. I was just thinking yesterday how I wished there were some other noodles available apart from wheat. This recipe looks gorgeous too. I'll have to save this recipe!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Juiceland-Vegetable-Spiralizer/dp/B003NXR086/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344332975&sr=8-1
Cake Duchess says
I love to make different noodle dishes throughout the week. Tonight you gave me a wonderful recipe idea. I left your blog hungry after all I saw:)
Reeni says
The noodles look and sound delicious Swathi! I'm in love with those sweet potato noodles!
DivyaGCP says
This is new to me. But looks like a healthy and delicious one.
Divya's Culinary Journey
Sobha Shyam says
a new dish to me, looks so yummy n tasty, lovely explanations 🙂
Junglefrog says
That looks delicious but now I also rally want to know what that product really was that you used for body soap! Come on.... Share the secret! 😉
Treatntrick treatntrick says
Healthy combo and looks fabulous!
Beena.stephy says
Tempting dish
Angie's Recipes says
The stir-fry looks so tasty loaded with veggies!
Guru Uru says
These noodles absolutely deliciously with fantastic twists to them!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Shabbu says
tempting and colourful noodles...yummy..
Shabbu's Tasty Kitchen
PT says
never heard about this.. looks amazing..
♥ Priya Ranjit ♥ says
i have never tried Japanese Cuisine... but I am sure it must taste good... lovely pic Swathi
Vijayalakshmi Dharmaraj says
wow superb... tempting me more...
VIRUNTHU UNNA VAANGA
Ashley says
This looks amazing! I can't wait to try it 🙂 I hope my store has sweet potato noodles
Vimitha Anand says
that looks so yummy filled with veggies
Swasthi says
Thank you very much for sharing a vegeterain version of Japchae. looks great and delicious!
Shweta in the Kitchen says
Never tasted Japchae, but it looks really tempting just like chinese noodles. Have to try this. Beautiful clicks
http://shwetainthekitchen.blogspot.com/
Julie says
Totally new dish to me,healthy with all veggies infused..yummy noodles!!
Ongoing Events of Erivum Puliyum @ Spicy Aroma-Curry leaves or Red dry Chillies
Suja Manoj says
Wow this looks so tempting,ugran recipe ketto,hanks for sharing,will try this.