Japchae

I first tasted it in 2006 when i was on holiday in Seoul with my family. My friend ordered it for dinner and i didn't know what it was called until much later when i came across it on Youtube under the Korean food section. The potato noodles are chewy and springy, unlike our usual rice noodles. It has definitely superceed bee hoon and hor fun as my favourite noodles dish.

The great thing about this dish is that you can add as many ingredients into it as you like. I personally like lots of vegetables and mushroom in it, occassionally i'll add in some sliced beef or fish cake into it. In Korea, they would usually put in chinese mushrooms, squid and some meat in it.  

Prep Time : 5 - 10 mins

Cooking Time : 15 mins

Yield : Serves 3 - 4
 

Ingredients :

• 200 - 250 g potato noodles
• 1/2 carrot, cut into matchsticks
• 100 g cai sim, cut into 5 cm sections
• 6 chinese mushroom, soaked and sliced
• 1/2 white onion, sliced finely
• sliced beef or fish cake (optional)
• 3 - 4 cloves garlic
• 2 - 3 chilli padi (optional)

Sauce :

• 6 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 5 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• dash of pepper

Method :

1. Cook potato noodles according to packaging instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat some oil in a non-stick pan and add in the garlic when oil starts to sizzle.
3. Add in onion, mushrooms and carrots into the pan and stir-fry for 30 seconds before adding in the cai sim.
4. You can then add in the potato noodles once the ingredients starts to soften. Stir and mix everything evenly.
5. Add the sauce mixture slowly and stir the noodles constantly to ensure all is coated.
6. Served alone with as a side dish with rice.