One-Pan Japchae
The ‘One-Pan Japchae’ Recipe: Korean Buffet Favorite Made in Minutes with Just One Pan!
In our busy modern lives, why should japchae always be complicated and time-consuming? Introducing the ‘One-Pan Japchae’ recipe, which lets you create this beloved Korean dish in a flash using just a single pan, without stir-frying each vegetable individually. This recipe will make it easy to enjoy delicious japchae not only for special occasions like birthdays and holidays but also on any regular day.
Main Ingredients- 150g glass noodles (soaked in lukewarm water for 2 hours)
- 100g pork (for japchae)
- 60g carrot (thinly julienned)
- 1 onion (thinly julienned)
- 2 shiitake mushrooms (thinly sliced)
- 60g spinach (trimmed)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/5 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
- 1/3 tablespoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
Seasoning Sauce- 250ml water
- 50ml cola (adds sweetness and depth!)
- 6 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/3 teaspoon MSG (optional, for enhanced flavor)
- 1/2 tablespoon beef bouillon powder (for extra umami!)
- 250ml water
- 50ml cola (adds sweetness and depth!)
- 6 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/3 teaspoon MSG (optional, for enhanced flavor)
- 1/2 tablespoon beef bouillon powder (for extra umami!)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Soak the glass noodles in lukewarm water for at least 2 hours until fully softened. Drain the noodles well and set aside. This ensures the noodles are chewy and absorb the sauce beautifully.
Step 2
Prepare the vegetables. Wash the carrot and onion, then thinly julienne them. Clean the shiitake mushrooms and slice them thinly. Trim the roots from the spinach, wash it thoroughly, and pat it dry.
Step 3
Heat a wide pan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add the pork, season it with a pinch of salt and whole black peppercorns, then stir-fry until it’s lightly browned and separated. Avoid overcrowding the pan.
Step 4
Once the pork is mostly cooked and golden, pour in the prepared seasoning sauce ingredients (water, cola, soy sauce, sugar, oyster sauce, minced garlic, MSG, and beef bouillon powder). Bring the sauce to a rolling boil.
Step 5
When the sauce is boiling, add the julienned carrots, onions, sliced shiitake mushrooms, and the soaked glass noodles to the pan. Increase the heat to high. Continuously stir and mix everything together for about 3-4 minutes to ensure the noodles and vegetables are evenly coated with the sauce and cook quickly.
Step 6
Once the sauce has mostly absorbed into the noodles and vegetables, and there’s little liquid remaining, reduce the heat to low or turn it off. Add the prepared spinach and gently toss everything together using the residual heat until the spinach wilts. This preserves the spinach’s crisp texture and vibrant color.
Step 7
Drizzle 2 tablespoons of sesame oil over the finished japchae for a glossy finish and nutty aroma. Finally, sprinkle with sesame seeds and gently mix everything together. Your delicious One-Pan Japchae is ready to be enjoyed by the whole family! Bon appétit.
