Japchae

Ingredients:

• Beef

  • 1 lb beef thinly sliced

  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • 1 tsp ground white pepper

  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

  • 1 tsp vegetable oil

  • Marinade for at least 30 mins

  Vegetables/Noodles:

  • 1 tbsp sesame oil

  • 8 ounces sweet potato noodles

  • 1 cup packed mixture of hydrated wood ear and shiitake mushrooms (roughly chopped)

  • 1 large onion, sliced

  • 1 large carrot, peeled and shredded into long strips

  • 1 medium-sized yellow or red bell pepper - cut into small strips

  • 1 cup packed raw baby spinach

  Sauce:

  • ¼ cup light soy sauce

  • 1.5 tablespoons white sugar

  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 6 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1 1/2 tbsp sesame oil

  Toppings:

  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

  • Green onion if you wanted - though not traditional

Instructions:

• First, prepare the sauce in a small sauce pot on the heat just enough to melt the sugar and set aside.

• Boil noodles according to the package or about 6-8 mins, rinse in very cold water until noodles have reached room temp. Add 1/2 of the sauce mixture, mix well, and set aside.

• Cook everything separately starting with the marinated beef, to desired doneness, and set aside.

• Next, (in the same pan you cooked the beef) add sesame oil to a medium-high large pan, and add onions, bell peppers, and carrots. Saute for 2-4 mins until vegetables are soft to the desired level.

• Add 1/2 of the sauce mixture and mix well, taste, and adjust accordingly. Add spinach and saute lightly for about 1 min. Remove from heat and set aside.

• Mix the beef, noodles, and vegetable mixtures in a large bowl or plate. Top with sesame seeds/green onions and serve.