Mom's Japchae Noodle

Step 1

Bring a pot of water to boil. Grab a big handful of Dangmyeon Noodles (as much as you can hold in one hand - that should be roughly 200 grams). Place it into the boiling water for 8 minutes. Afterwards, drain the noodles through a strainer and let it drip off any excess water. (Note: Do NOT wash the noodles under cold water!). Simply set it aside for later.

Step 2

Julienne 1/2 of a whole carrot into thin slices. Then chop 5-6 Shiitake Mushrooms into thin slices. Dice 1 whole onion into slices as well. Finally, clean and separate a handful of oyster mushrooms as well (optional).

Step 3

Next, we'll mince about 6-8 cloves of garlic - we want to have 2 Tablespoons of Minced Garlic for the recipe. Set this aside for later.

Step 4

Bring a pot of water to boil. Drop in 1 teaspoon of salt. Once the water is boiling, place in 3 large handfuls of spinach. Blanche the spinach for about 10 seconds. After 10 seconds, immediately drain the water and cool it down in cold water. Afterwards, use your hands and squeeze the water out of the spinach. Give the ball of spinach a few good squeezes - we want to get as much water out as possible.

Step 5

Carrot & Onion: Place a large frying pan on medium heat. Once it feels hot, reduce the frying pan to a LOW heat - we will cook on a low heat to prevent the veggies from burning or charring. Add-in Sesame Oil (1 teaspoon). Place-in the julienned Carrots and Onions. Season it with a few shakes of salt. Then stir-fry the veggies around for 4-5 minutes (be patient - as we want the carrot and onions to turn soft and translucent). Set it aside. Clean out the frying pan with a paper towel.

Step 6

Mushrooms: Keep the frying pan on low heat. Drop in some Sesame Oil (1 teaspoon) into the frying pan. Then add-in the mushroom slices. Season it with a few shakes of salt. Stir-fry it around for a few minutes. You will start to hear the mushrooms sizzle loud - that's the mushrooms releasing their moisture into the pan. Continue stirring them around until they turn very soft.

Step 7

Spinach: Keep the frying pan on low heat. Drop in some sesame oil (1 teaspoon) into the frying pan. Before adding them to the frying pan, give the spinach one extra squeeze - to make sure all of the water is out. Then add it to the frying pan. De-tangle them with your hands. Then season it with a few shakes of salt. Also add-in 1 teaspoon of minced garlic. Stir-fry everything around for 1-2 minutes. Then set it aside.

Step 8

Place the cooked noodles in a large wok or mixing bowl. (No heat is needed - just a large mixing space). Then place in the Soy Sauce (5 Tablespoons) and Sesame Oil (1 Tablespoon). Place on some kitchen gloves and mix it together - make sure to get the noodles rehydrated. Now, add in some Honey (1 Tablespoon). Mix it again.

Step 9

Now add in all of the sautéed vegetables. As well as the remaining minced garlic (~1.5 Tablespoons). Be gentle and give everything a good mix. Garnish with Sesame Seeds (1 Tablespoon)