Maneuljjong Japchae (Stir Fried Glass Noodles Garlic Scapes)

Ingredients

• You can use pork or beef instead of fish cake, or prepare mushrooms, carrots, or whatever you have in the fridge.

Steps

1. Prepare the ingredients

   

   The ingredients are simple.

   Sweet potato glass noodles, garlic scapes, square fish cake, onion, and 3 colors of bell peppers.

   You can use pork or beef instead of fish cake. You can also prepare mushrooms, carrots, or whatever you have in your fridge.

2. Slice the ingredients

   

   

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   Split the garlic scapes in half lengthwise; they split easily if you slide a knife right through them.

   Since this is for japchae, do not cut them too short, and match their length to the other ingredients.

   

   

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   Thinly julienne the square fish cake, onion, and bell peppers.

3. Stir-fry the ingredients

   

   

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   Heat oil in a hot pan, add the garlic scapes, and stir-fry until tender.

   Add the bell peppers, season with a little salt, and stir-fry briefly so they retain their crisp texture.

   

   Spread them out on a plate to cool.

   

   

   

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   Heat oil in a pan, add the onion, season with a little salt, and stir-fry briefly first.

   Add the fish cake, stir-fry while keeping the overall texture crisp, and transfer to a plate to cool.

   When stir-frying ingredients that have no seasoning, lightly seasoning them with a bit of salt prevents flavor gaps in the finished dish, bringing everything together so it tastes much better.

4. Boil the sweet potato glass noodles

   

   

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   Add the sweet potato glass noodles to rolling boiling water and cook them.

   Cooking times vary by product brand, so refer to the package instructions as a guide.

   Since you will be stir-frying them in a pan with the seasoning later, aim to cook them 1 to 2 minutes less than suggested.

   

   

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   Rinse in cold water, drain thoroughly, and cut into comfortable bite-sized lengths.

5. Season the sweet potato glass noodles

   

   

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   Generously coat a heated pan with oil, add the sweet potato glass noodles, gently untangle them while stir-frying briefly, and then add 2 tbsp regular soy sauce, 1 tbsp oyster sauce, and 1 tbsp sugar.

   

   Stir-fry diligently while mixing so the color and flavor of the seasoning coat the noodles evenly.

   Stir-frying the noodles like this fully cooks any slightly undercooked parts, keeping them springy without becoming soggy.

6. Season the japchae

   

   

   

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   Add the noodles and all the stir-fried ingredients to a large bowl, mix well, and taste.

   It felt slightly underseasoned, so I adjusted it by adding 1 tbsp regular soy sauce, and finished with toasted sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds.

7. Finish

   

   The japchae with garlic scapes is complete.

   The gentle hint of garlic enhances the flavor, and the vibrant green color looks wonderfully fresh and appetizing.

Ppunwife's tips

• When stir-frying ingredients that have no seasoning, lightly seasoning them with a bit of salt prevents flavor gaps in the finished dish, bringing everything together so it tastes much better.
• Since you will be stir-frying them in a pan with the seasoning later, aim to cook them 1 to 2 minutes less than suggested.
• Stir-frying the noodles like this fully cooks any slightly undercooked parts, keeping them springy without becoming soggy.

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