Japchae-Style Sweet Potato Glass Noodles with Beef and Vegetables

Ingredients

Tick the ingredients as you go

Beef (choose one)

• 600 g / 1.2 lb bone-in beef short ribs (yields about 300g / 10 oz boneless), or
• 300 g / 10 oz boneless beef short ribs, or
• 300 g / 10 oz boneless rib eye or other steak (tenderizing recommended; see notes)

Beef marinade

• 2 tsp soy sauce (all-purpose or light)
• 2 tsp white sugar
• 2 tsp finely minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Noodle dressing

• 1/4 cup soy sauce (all-purpose or light)
• 2 tsp white sugar
• 1/2 tsp finely minced garlic
• 1 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
• 1/2 tsp cooking/kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Noodles and vegetables

• 250 g / 8 oz dried sweet potato noodles (dangmyeon)
• 4 tbsp vegetable oil (or other neutral oil), divided
• 1 tsp cooking/kosher salt, divided
• 1 onion, peeled, halved, and cut into 6 mm / 1/4" wedges
• 3 green onions, cut into 5 cm / 2" lengths, white and green parts separated
• 200 g / 7 oz fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, sliced 5 mm thick
• 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 3 mm / 1/8" matchsticks
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced 0.5 cm / 1/5" thick
• 4 1/2 cups baby spinach, tightly packed
• 2 tbsp white sesame seeds

Instructions

1. 1

   Slice the beef into strips about 5 mm thick, 1 cm wide, and 5 cm long. For short ribs, trim off excess fat, cut the meat from the bone, split it lengthwise into two thinner pieces, then slice.

2. 2

   Marinate

   Toss the beef with the marinade ingredients and leave for about 15-20 minutes while you prep everything else.

3. 3

   Dressing

   Stir the dressing ingredients together in a very large bowl.

4. 4

   Noodles

   Cook the noodles according to the packet (usually about 8 minutes). Drain, rinse briefly, shake off the water, and pile them into the bowl on top of the dressing without mixing.

   
5. 5

   First vegetables

   Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large 30 cm / 12" non-stick pan over high heat. Add the onion, green onion whites, shiitake, and 1/2 tsp salt and stir constantly for 2.5-3 minutes, until just softened but not browned. Add to the noodle bowl without mixing.

   
7. 6

   Second vegetables

   Add 1 tbsp oil to the same pan over high heat. Stir-fry the carrot and bell pepper for 1.5 minutes, then add the spinach, green onion greens, and remaining 1/2 tsp salt and cook 1.5 minutes until the spinach wilts. Add to the bowl.

8. 7

   Beef

   Heat the last 1 tbsp oil in the pan over high heat and cook the beef for about 1.5 minutes, until lightly golden and cooked through. Add it to the bowl.

   
9. 8

   Toss

   Add most of the sesame seeds, saving a pinch, and toss everything together thoroughly.

   
10. 9

    Serve

    Transfer to a platter, sprinkle with the remaining sesame seeds, and serve warm rather than piping hot.