Vegan Japchae (Korean Glass Noodles Stir-fry)

January 31, 2024

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If you’re searching for a gluten-free noodle dish packed stuffed with veggies and taste, this Vegan Japchae will certainly be an ideal selection. This Korean meal consists of Candy potato noodles served with stir-fried greens, crunchy tofu, and a scrumptious and wealthy sauce.

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What’s Japchae?

Japchae is a Korean candy potato starch noodle dish filled with stir-fried veggies, protein, and a scrumptious home made candy soy sauce. The Korean glass noodles made out of candy potato starch are usually gluten-free and actually enjoyable to eat. Chewy, wholesome, and scrumptious!

First time I attempted this recipe in a Korean Restaurant I knew I needed to develop a recipe to have the ability to make it at house utilizing frequent components.

Our recipe is made with tofu as the principle protein supply retaining the dish plant-based. Notice that Japchae is historically made with meat and egg however that is our vegan model of this pretty Korean meal.

Our Vegan Japchae is:

Korean dish
Noodle dish
Household-friendly
A Stir-fry
Umami-packed
Excellent to serve heat or room temperature
Nice dish for meal prep

How one can make Vegan Japchae

Components

Candy Potato Noodles or Korean Vermicelli. Produced from candy potato starch, you could find such a noodles in Asian supermarkets or on-line. When dry, this chewy noodles have a greyish colour. After boiling them in water for a few minutes they’ve a very nice chewy texture that makes this dish so distinctive. They’re actually just like the cellophane noodles used to make Pad Woon Sen.

Shiitake Mushrooms. Dried or recent, shiitake mushrooms are a key ingredient when making Korean Japchae. They add umami and an amazing texture to this meal. If you’re utilizing dried shiitake mushro o ms, they’ll should be left in heat water for not less than half-hour earlier than utilizing them with a purpose to rehydrate the mushrooms.

Protein. Agency tofu is all the time our favourite selection when making Asian-style noodles. For our Vegan Japchae, we air-fry the tofu whereas we cook dinner the remainder of the components utilizing our Ninja Air fryer. You may pan-fry or deep-fry the tofu as properly.

Recent veggies. For our vegetarian Japchae, we use carrots, purple bell peppers, onions, spring onions, and spinach. We prefer to hold it easy, colourful, and flavourful. You may add different veggies equivalent to shallots, inexperienced beans, pak choi, or broccoli.

Candy Soy Sauce. This umami-rich sauce is made utilizing merely three components: tamari or soy sauce, sesame oil, and brown sugar.

Garlic. We love garlic taste so we use uncooked garlic for this recipe, however you’ll be able to select to cook dinner it earlier than including it to the noodle dish.

Sesame seeds. A Korean Japchae isn’t full with out toasted sesame seeds added on high.

Vegan Japchae with tofu serve with chopsticks

Step-by-Step Methodology

Put together the greens by thinly slicing the shiitake mushrooms, spring onions, purple pepper, carrots, and onion. Cook dinner the spinach in boiling water for about 2 minutes or till wilted. Drain and reserve for later.
Cook dinner the tofu. For this recipe, we air-fry the tofu reduce into skinny strips for about 12 minutes at 200C (400F). Earlier than including the tofu to the air fryer, utilizing a brush add slightly olive oil or coconut oil to the tofu strips. You may pan-fry the tofu or deep-fry it to make tofu puffs.
Put together the Japchae sauce. Mix tamari, sesame oil, and maple syrup. You should utilize soy sauce or darkish soy sauce however be aware that the recipe will not be gluten-free. As properly, should you choose to make use of one other sweetener, you need to use sugar, brown sugar, or monk fruit.
Cook dinner the candy potato starch noodles. Carry a big pot of water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook dinner following the packet directions. Drain the water and reserve the noodles for later. To keep away from the noodles from sticking, now you can add a tablespoon of sesame oil and stir properly.
Cook dinner the greens. Korean Japchae is a reasonably easy dish to make at house nevertheless it requires a while because the greens should be cooked individually. Korean meals is all concerning the flavors and should you cook dinner the greens all of sudden, some flavors will overpower others. We like utilizing our Wok or a big skillet for this recipe as every batch of veggies takes simply 2-3 minutes. You may examine a step-by-step methodology for cooking the greens under.
Add the noodles to an enormous serving bowl, and add the tofu, the cooked greens, and the Japchae sauce. Combine properly till all of the components are mixed and coated with the sauce, add some sesame seeds, regulate with salt and pepper, and serve.

Notice: You may add chili paste or toasted sesame chili oil so as to add some spice to the dish.

Cooking the veggies individually – Step by Step

Add some vegetable oil to the wok, warmth over medium excessive warmth, and add the onion finely chopped. Cook dinner for 2-3 minutes and switch to a big mixing bowl or serving bowl.
Grease the wok once more if wanted and add the finely chopped carrot. Cook dinner for one more 2-3 minutes and switch to the plate with the onions.
Repeat the method for the purple bell pepper.
Grease the pan now with slightly sesame oil and add the shiitake along with a tablespoon of tamari, ½ teaspoon of sugar, and a pair of tablespoons of water. cook dinner till many of the liquid is absorbed. Switch to the plate with the remainder of the greens.
Add the inexperienced onions, cook dinner for 1 or 2 minutes and switch to the plate.
For the spinach, mix it with finely chopped or pressed garlic and a teaspoon of sesame oil. Combine properly and add with the cooked greens.

After you have all of the veggies cooked, season generously with salt and pepper.

Serving Recommendations

This vegan Japchae recipe makes for an ideal weekday lunch or dinner. It’s easy to make and you can also make additional to have for the subsequent day. You may serve this dish with different small facet dishes equivalent to this Vegan Kimchi from Minimalist Baker.

As properly, Japchae is usually loved in Korea across the Lunar New 12 months. Very often you could discover this noodle dish at household reunions or particular dinners,or particular events too. Realizing this, now we have began serving this dish at gatherings and each time is successful. Individuals love the simplicity and flavors of this dish and all the time ask for the recipe!

If you’re searching for the right drink to serve this scrumptious noodle dish, you must strive our Selfmade Korean Banana Milk.

Earlier than serving your Japchae, garnish with sesame seeds and should you take pleasure in spicy meals, you’ll be able to add chili flakes, sizzling sesame oil, or one other kind of sizzling sauce you want.

For those who like Korean flavors, undoubtedly strive our Gochujang Pasta subsequent!

Serving Vegan Japchae garnished with sesame seeds

FAQ & Ideas

Can I make Japchae with out candy potato starch noodles? You could find such a noodles in Asian grocery shops or markets, however you could not have any round. You should utilize different varieties of noodles equivalent to cellophane noodles or rice noodles. Cellophane noodles have an analogous texture when cooked and they’ll work rather well.
Is Korean Japchae Gluten-free? Sure. Candy potato noodles are naturally gluten-free however some firms add wheat flour to them. Examine the components on the packet to verify the model you’re shopping for is gluten-free. The opposite ingredient you have to to watch out about when making Japchae gluten-free is soy sauce. Use tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) to guarantee that the meal is freed from gluten. If each of those components are saved gluten-free, Japchae is usually a nice possibility for individuals with gluten allergy symptoms or attempting to scale back the quantity of gluten consumption.
Can I put together this recipe prematurely? Positive. Korean Japchae is the right meal for meal prep. You may carry it as a packed lunch or put together it for a number of days later. You may hold this meal in an hermetic container within the fridge for 2-3 days.
What can I exploit as a substitute of tofu? You may substitute the tofu with soy curls, tempeh, seitan, or one other plant-based protein of your selection.
For those who take pleasure in spicy meals, you’ll be able to add some chili flakes, chili sesame oil, or one other kind of sizzling sauce earlier than serving. We love serving this dish with White Mausu Rayú.
Do you serve Japchae sizzling or chilly? That is one thing I like about this dish you’ll be able to eat it heat, chilled, or at room temperature and it’ll merely style wonderful all the best way!