설날

Hello and...

새해 복 많이 받으세요!

Given that today is the Korean New Year, I thought I would share my Japchae recipe with you during this celebration. Enjoy!

Korean glass/starch noodles

Japchae
1 small onion
3 medium carrots
3 cup shitake mushrooms
1 bunch spinach
4 oz fried fish cakes (optional)
2 eggs
1 lb. Korean glass/starch noodles
1/2 lbs sirloin beef
2 clove garlic

Japchae Sauce:
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup sugar
2 tbsp. Sesame Oil
1 tbsp Sesame Seeds
Salt
Pepper

Directions:
Prepare Japchae Sauce: Mix 1/3 cup of soy sauce, 1/3 cup sugar, 2 tbsp. sesame oil, 1 tbsp sesame seeds, and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside for use later.

Prepare beef: slice beef into very thing strips and set aside. Take 1 clove garlic and mince. Mix garlic in with sliced beef. Add 2-3 tbsp of Japchae sauce mixture and let marinate while preparing other ingredients.

Prepare vegetables and eggs: Slice onion, carrots, mushrooms, and fish cakes into thin strips. Crack 2 eggs and mix with a pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside vegetables and eggs for cooking separately.

1. Coat pan with vegetable oil and place over medium-high heat. Add eggs and swirl onto pan to create a very thin layer. Cook for about 1 minute or until set. Gently flip over and cook on opposite side for 1 minute. Gently place on a plate and set aside.

2. If needed again coat bottom of the same pan with oil and place over medium-high heat. Add in sliced onion. Season with salt and pepper and sauté for about 5 minutes and set aside.

3. In the same pan, coat bottom with oil if needed and place over medium-high heat. Add in sliced carrots. Season with salt and pepper and sauté for about 3-4 minutes and set aside.

4. Next, take sliced fish cakes and fry in oil for about 3 minutes. Set aside and keep warm.

(Note: This is completely optional, but I love them!)

*For reference: Be sure to check you local Asian market in the frozen foods section for packages of Fried Fish Cakes.

5. In the same pan, coat bottom with oil if needed and place in sliced shitake mushrooms. Add salt and pepper to taste and cook for about 2 minutes then set aside.

6. In a pot, bring salted water up to a boil. Add uncooked spinach and cook for about 10-12 seconds or until a bright green color. Remove from boiling water and place into ice water immediately. Carefully squeeze out excess water from the spinach. Add in 1 clove of minced garlic, salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Enjoy!

7. In a pan, coat the bottom with oil and add in beef mixture. Cook for about 7 minutes or until meat is cooked throughout.

8. In a large pot, bring water to a boil and place in Korean glass noodles. Cook as directed on package or for about 7-10 minutes. Drain noodles and set aside. If necessary, you may need to cut noodles to make them easier to manage when eating.

9. While the noodles cool, take the cooked egg and roll up into a cylinider shape. Slice egg into thin strips and set aside.

10. Once the noodles have cooled a bit, mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Add in the Japchae sauce mixutre and combine. Get your hands in there and mix everything really well.  Add in more sesame seeds to top off your dish and your done!

Until next time...