Japchae is a vegetable stir-fry made from glass noodles (damned 당면), very popular in Korea, especially during the celebrations. While the classic version features meats like beef and pork, and sometimes eggs, we made ours veganwith only herbal ingredients.
Japchae means mixed vegetables, but don’t let the simple name fool you! This recipe is easy to do, but it’s rich, flavorful and so very colourful. It truly deserves to be celebrated and will bring joy to your table (and tummy) as did ours!
The veggies we used are onions, a colorful assortment of peppers, spinach and mushrooms. We followed the advice of Korean cookbooks that suggest frying vegetables separately to preserve their isolated color and flavor. It’s a good tip indeed, but if you’re short on time, feel free to sear it all together.
The other cool thing about this recipe is the glass (cellophane) noodles. We loved them in our glass noodle pad Thai and wanted to use them in a recipe you’ll like too. We think we hit the mark with that!
There are many varieties of glass noodles. We recommend you use the one made from sweet potato starch as it is the one traditionally used in Japchae. We also tried mung bean and arrowroot glass noodles and they were delicious too.
A nice bowl of these Korean Fried Noodles makes for a balanced meal under 500 calories and offers 30% of your RDI for fiber, 34% RDI for proteinsAnd only 8% RDI for saturated fats. Scroll below to discover the other ingredients we used and follow our simple steps to make it happen!
And if you’re craving more tofu stir-fries, check out this Thai Tofu Recipe with Cashews and Peppers – absolutely delicious!
frequently asked Questions
Are Japchae Noodles Low Carb and Keto Friendly?
Almost all pasta dishes, including this japchae recipe, are not low carb. A typical bowl of pasta provides at least 40g of net carbs, meaning it’s not suitable for those following a keto diet, where 50g makes up their total daily carb intake.
Classic noodles are made from flour, either wheat or rice flour, while glass noodles are made from starch derived from potatoes, mung beans or tapioca.
Therefore, if you want to make this skillet keto-friendly, you can substitute low-carb alternatives for pasta, such as:
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Shirataki noodles, a type of Japanese noodle made from konjac yam
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Zucchini Noodles
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Kelp Noodles
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Edamame noodles
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Homemade egg noodles, swap flour for almond flour and add turmeric for color
Can I have japchae pan if I’m vegan?
While the classic japchae recipe includes meats like beef and pork, and sometimes eggs, our recipe is 100% plant-based.
To make it vegan, we replaced meat with tofu, cut into bite-sized cubes and fried until crispy. Tofu, like other soy-based products, is also a source of complete plant-based protein, meaning it provides all nine essential amino acids.
Is the classic japchae recipe gluten-free?
Yes, this Korean-style stir-fry is traditionally made with sweet potato glass noodles, aka damned. Because these pastas are made from potato starch, they are gluten-free, making them suitable for those on a gluten-free diet.
By the way with ours free smart search tool, You can easily filter recipes based on your dietary needs, including food allergies. Check it out here!
Can I reheat fried noodles?
If you have leftover pasta, you can store it in the fridge for up to three days, then reheat for a quick weeknight meal.
They taste even better as the noodles have time to absorb all the flavors. Heat the fried noodles in a non-stick pan with a dash of vegetable oil. Fry them for a few minutes or until warm and fragrant and enjoy.