Vegetarian Japchae (Chap Chae)

A favorite noodle of mine in any weather is Japchae ((Stir-fried veggies & Tofu with Sweet potato Starch noodles/glass noodles). The reason I really love japchae is because it's relatively light, refreshing, tasty, and great as a side-dish or main. Today, a delicious vegetarian Japchae with stir-fried veggies and tofu made for a great meal, that's tasty and easy to prepare.

Vegetarian Japchae (Chap Chae)

(Stir-fried veggies & Tofu with Sweet potato Starch noodles/glass noodles)

Ingredients :

Sweet potato starch Vermicelli - 340 gm

Extra firm Tofu - 340gm 

(small cubes, sautéed in the pan with a tsp of oil and a pinch of salt. Fry them till it turns golden brown on all the sides)

White button mushroom - 7 to 8 (sliced)( you can use any of your fav mushrooms as well)

Spinach or any greens - 2 handful (I used Kale today)

Carrot - 1 (Julienned)

White onion - 1 sliced (small)

Red pepper or your choice of colored pepper - 1 (cut to strips)

Garlic - 2 pod (very finely chopped)

Soy sauce - 3 tbsp 

Sesame oil - 3 tbsp

Green onion(green part , save the white part for noodles) - 1/4 cup sliced

Sesame seeds 

Salt if needed ( Since Soy sauce has enough amount of salt its not necessary)

Sauce ingredients for the Noodles :

Soy  sauce - 3 tbsp

Sesame oil - 1 tbsp

Sugar - 2 tsp (you can add tsp extra if u like little sweeter)

Korean red chili powder (Gochugaru) - 1/2 tbsp

Garlic - 3 minced

Pepper - 1/4 tsp

White part of spring onion

Method for Preparing Noodles :

1. Cook the Noodles as instructed in the package and wash in cold water 2 to 3 times , drain and keep it aside.

2. Heat the pan, add the sauce mixture for the noodles, let it cook for a couple of minutes.

3. Add the cooked noodles, switch off the stove immediately and give it a good mix.  Let it cool down.

Preparing the veggies :

1. Stir-fry Mushroom, Onion, Carrot and peppers separately and keep it aside.

2. Blanch Kale or greens in the boiling water. Drain immediately, squeeze and add dash of soy sauce and sesame oil. Massage and keep it aside.

3. In a bowl add the stir-fried veggies, greens, prepared noodles, tofu and add all other ingredients ( garlic, soy and sesame oil).

4. Give it a good mix. ( You can add more soy or sesame oil if you want)

5. Give it a taste test and add sliced green onion.

6. Serve them as a side or main ... sprinkle sesame seeds on the top while serving.

Note :

1. You can serve this in room temperature or even cold. This tastes so good after an hour,  the more it soaks the better it tastes.

2. You can also add omelette strips to this.

3. You can always reduce the amount of sauce and sesame oil as per your taste and need.