Spicy, Savory Squid Japchae (Stir-Fried Glass Noodles with Squid)
A spicy Squid japchae (stir-fried glass noodles with squid) stir-fried quickly over high heat, flavored with savory oyster sauce and hot chili peppers.
Translated from Korean by AI and not yet checked by a native speaker. Amounts and numbers are taken directly from the original recipe. Read the Korean original →
Score the squid body and stir-fry it quickly over high heat with vegetables so no liquid draws out. Adding oyster sauce creates a deeper, spicier flavor than typical meat japchae. It is wonderful as a drinking snack or a special side dish.
- Servings
- about 2–3 servings
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Spiciness
- Spicy
Ingredients
Squid japchae ingredients
- Squid1 whole (body)
- Onion1/4
- Squash1/4
- Spicy red chili pepper2-3
- Bell pepper1/2
- Crayfish meat6
- Sweet potato glass noodles (dangmyeon)100 g
Squid and vegetable seasoning
- Soy sauce1 tbsp
- Oyster sauce1 tbsp
- Sugar0.5 tsp
- Mirin (cooking rice wine)1 tbsp
- Garlic1 tsp
- Ground black peppera little
Noodle seasoning
- Soy sauce2 tbsp
- Sugar1 tsp
- Toasted sesame oil1 tbsp
- Toasted sesame seeds
Squid patty ingredients
- Squid tentacles
- Tofu
- Onion
- Cheongyang chili pepper (hot green chili)
- Red chili pepper
Seasoning
- Salt0.5 tsp
- Garlic1 tsp
- Flour3 tbsp
- Toasted sesame oil1 tsp
- Mirin (cooking rice wine)a little of each
- Ground black peppera little of each
- You can leave out the spicy chili peppers so kids can enjoy it too.
Steps
1. First, peel the squid skin, score the skin side in a crisscross pattern, and cut it into suitable strips.
Cut the rest of the vegetables into similar thickness and length as the squid.
2. Add 1 tsp of garlic to an oiled frying pan and stir-fry it.
3. Add the squid, crayfish meat, and all the vegetables, and stir-fry over high heat.
When all ingredients are somewhat cooked, add all of the squid and vegetable seasoning and stir-fry until cooked through.
You must stir-fry quickly over high heat so liquid does not pool. Once finished stir-frying, set aside on a plate.
4. Parboil the glass noodles in advance so they are only halfway cooked. Drain them and cut them to a manageable length with kitchen shears.
In a pan, bring the noodle seasoning of soy sauce and sugar to a boil, then add the noodles and stir-fry.
5. Toss the glass noodles together with the stir-fried squid and vegetables.
Drizzle toasted sesame oil and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds to finish!
Squid patty ingredients: squid tentacles, tofu, onion, Cheongyang chili pepper, red chili pepper. Finely mince the squid. You can use a blender, but I minced it by hand because I like the chewy texture. Finely mince the peppers and onion, and mash the tofu, squeezing out all moisture completely. Add the egg and flour along with all the seasonings (0.5 tsp salt, 1 tsp garlic, 3 tbsp flour, 1 tsp toasted sesame oil, a little mirin, a little ground black pepper) and mix the batter.
If the squid tentacles are minced too coarsely, they will fall apart while pan-frying.
It takes effort, but please mince them very finely.
Coat a frying pan with oil and pan-fry round patties.
If the ingredients hold too much moisture, they will not pan-fry well.
Ppunwife's tips
- You must stir-fry quickly over high heat so liquid does not pool.
- If the squid tentacles are minced too coarsely, they will fall apart while pan-frying. It takes effort, but please mince them very finely.
- If the ingredients hold too much moisture, they will not pan-fry well.
FAQ
How do I prevent liquid from pooling when stir-frying the squid and vegetables?
Stir-fry the ingredients and sauce quickly over high heat so liquid does not form.
How can I adjust the seasoning to eat with children?
Leave out the spicy red chili peppers and Cheongyang chili peppers, and children can enjoy it without the heat.
What should I keep in mind to keep the patties from breaking apart while pan-frying?
If the squid tentacles are cut too large, the batter will fall apart during pan-frying, so mince them finely, and thoroughly squeeze moisture from the tofu so the batter is not overly wet.
What can I do if I don't have crayfish meat for the japchae? AI-generated
Typically, you can replace the crayfish meat with cocktail shrimp or simply increase the amount of squid body.
