Jap Chae and Gamja Jorim: Part 1

This morning I was sitting at the kitchen table with my coffee trying to figure out what I was going to conjure up for diner. Then it hit me, I had just remembered my favorite Korean meal! Jap Chae and Gamja Jorim. Jap Chae is really great noodle stir fry, lots of flavour and texture and the noodles are out of this world. They're called glass noodles or sweet potato starch noodles. You should be able to find them in any Asian grocery store.

here's why they're called glass noodles:

They become clear and very stretchy when cooked and it only takes about 5 minutes so check them often or you'll end up with a pile of mushy noodles.

Jap Chae

1 bunch of glass noodles, about 85gr. uncooked
1/2 bag of fresh spinach, about 120gr. once cooked, rinsed and squeezed out
1 tbs. canola oil, divided
1/2 carrot cut into thin matchsticks, about 60gr.
6 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked for about 1 hour, squeezed out and sliced
8 white button mushrooms, sliced, about 80gr.
2 green onions, cut to 2" diagonally, about 40gr.
1 small onion sliced thinly, about 60gr.
1 tbs. sugar
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbs soy sauce
3 cloves garlic

Start by cooking the noodles as described above. Drain and empty into a large bowl, sprinkle about 1/3 of the soy sauce and 1/3 of the sesame oil and toss. Using a fork, pick up the noodles and cut them up with scissors.

Meanwhile cook your spinach for just a minute or two and immediately rinse in cold water. Squeeze them out and cut into 1" pieces.

Arrange the spinach over the noodles.

Heat 1 tsp. of the canola oil in a wok or non stick pan, add carrot sticks and saute for about 3 minutes, arrange over spinach and sprinkle with 1/2 the sugar.

Heat another tsp of canola oil and cook the onions until softened and translucent, add the button mushrooms and cook until done, add the garlic and cook for another 2 minutes.

Add to the noodles and sprinkle with 1/3 of the sesame oil and 1/3 of the soy sauce.

Add the remaining tsp. of canola oil to the pan and add the green onions and shiitake mushrooms, saute for about 3 minutes and add to the noodles. Sprinkle with remaining sesame oil, sugar and soy sauce.
Toss and enjoy!

Tomorrow I'll post the Gamja Jorim, the best potatoes you'll ever have!! YUM!!!