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A simple, easy recipe for vegetarian Japchae, also known as Korean glass noodles with stir fried vegetables. It’s made with sweet potato starch noodles, colorful vegetables, and tossed in a savory sauce!
Japchae is a traditional Korean glass noodle dish made with sweet potato starch noodles, stir fried colorful vegetables, protein, and toss together with a sweet and savory soy based sauce.
This is a simple, easy version of vegetarian japchae that cuts down a lot of the prep and cook time. It’s ready in under 30 minutes and tastes delicious!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s quick and easy! Traditionally, japchae takes a long time because each vegetable is stir fried separately. But this is a simplified, easy recipe that will be ready in under 30 minutes, and it still tastes amazing!
- The Korean glass noodles have a really nice chewy and soft texture. They’re great at absorbing sauces and flavors.
- This vegetarian japchae is full of healthy crunchy, colorful vegetables! The carrots, peppers, and onions are stir fried quickly to keep their crunch and add amazing texture to this dish! A great way to get in veggies!
- The japchae sauce is a sweet and savory sauce made of brown sugar, dark soy sauce, and sesame oil. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
- You can make this ahead and serve it the next day. Simply reheat it in the microwave. You can also serve this at room temperature, serve it warm, or even cold. It’s very versatile!
Ingredients you’ll need
- Korean glass noodles – also known as dangmyeon, sweet potato starch noodles, or japchae noodles. These noodles are slightly chewy and turn translucent when cooked. A must have for making this recipe.
- Shiitake mushrooms – it gives this vegetarian dish a meaty flavor
- Colorful vegetables – red and yellow bell pepper, carrots, spinach
- Soy sauce – a must have for the japchae sauce
- Brown sugar – adds the perfect amount of sweetness
- Dark soy sauce – gives it a deeper color that contrasts beautifully with the colorful veggies
Step by step instructions
- First mix the japchae sauce together in a small bowl and set it aside.
- Boil the Korean glass noodles according to the directions. Be careful not to overcook them. Drain the water and add the sauce to the hot noodles. All the sauce will get absorbed by the noodles after several minutes.
- Cook the egg whites and egg yolks separately in a flat plan. Cut them into strips and set it aside.
- Heat a pan over medium high heat and start stir frying the mushrooms and onions together. Next add the garlic, carrots, and peppers and stir fry for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Be careful not to overcook the vegetables. They should still have a bit of crunch.
- Finally, add the baby spinach and toss it together until they wilt.
- By now, the noodles should have absorbed all of the japchae sauce and should be a rich, deep color.
- Add the stir fried vegetables to the glass noodles and toss them to combine. Garnish with sesame seeds and scallions.
- Serve immediately or store it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Expert tips & tricks
- Don’t overcook the glass noodles – the noodles should have a chewy, al dente texture. Overcooking the noodles also prevents it from absorbing all of the japchae sauce so keep an eye on the timer.
- Don’t overcook the vegetables – the vegetables should be crisp and crunchy to contrast with the chewy texture of the noodles. Add the vegetables in at different times according to their cook time. Vegetables that take longer should be added first while the ones that take shorter (like spinach) should be added last.
- Add the sauce while the noodles are hot – this helps the noodles absorb all the sauce and prevents them from sticking together. I prefer not to rinse the noodles as it makes them too watery for me and they absorb flavors better when they’re hot.
Ingredient substitutions & variations
- Other vegetables – broccoli, zucchini, green beans, sugar snap peas, cabbage
- Other vegetarian proteins – fried tofu, edamame, tempeh
- Non-vegetarian proteins – pork, chicken, beef
- Make it spicy – add a tablespoon of Korean red pepper flakes (gochugaru) to the sauce
Storing & reheating leftovers
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- You can make this ahead the day before and serve it the next day.
- The noodles will harden and turn opaque when cold.
- Reheat it in the microwave until the noodles get soft and turn translucent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is japchae?
Japchae (pronounced ‘chop chay’) is a traditional Korean glass noodle dish made with sweet potato starch noodles, stir fried colorful vegetables, protein, and toss together with a sweet and savory soy based sauce.
The literal translation of japchae means mixed vegetables. But overtime, Koreans started adding sweet potato starch noodles to this dish.
It’s served during special occasions and holidays but can also be enjoyed as a regular side dish or entree. It’s popular because of its versatility and ability to make ahead.
Are japchae noodles healthy?
The noodles are made with sweet potato starch noodles and are naturally low in fat and calories. They are also gluten free but as always check the packaging for details for your specific brand.
Is it served hot or cold?
This recipe can be serve both hot and cold. It tastes just as good served at room temperature or heated up. It’s a popular dish in Korea for gatherings because of this reason.
Can I make this spicy?
Absolutely! My favorite way to make this spicy is adding Korean red pepper flakes (gochugaru) to the sauce. You can find it in most Asian grocery stores.
Recipes to serve with japchae:
- Korean Shiitake Mushroom Side Dish
- Korean Soybean Sprout Side Dish
- Spicy Korean Radish Salad
- Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim)
- Stir Fried Garlic Scapes
- Korean Dried Zucchini Side Dish
More noodle recipes:
- Yaki Udon (Stir Fried Udon Noodles)
- Spicy Szechuan Noodles with Garlic Chili Oil
- 15 Minute Vegan Thai Peanut Noodles
- Pad See Ew Thai Noodles
- 15 Minute Asian Chicken Noodle Soup
Easy Japchae (Korean glass noodle stir fry)
A simple, easy recipe for Japchae, also known as Korean glass noodles with stir fried vegetables. It's made with sweet potato starch noodles, colorful vegetables and tossed in a savory sauce!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 oz Korean glass noodles, – japchae noodles, sweet potato starch noodles, or dangmyeon
- 2 large eggs, – whites and eggs separated
- 2 Tablespoons avocado oil
- 6 large shiitake mushrooms, – sliced ⅓ inch thick
- ⅓ large yellow onion, – sliced ⅓ inch thick
- ½ large red bell pepper , – julienned ¼ inch thick
- ½ large yellow bell pepper, – julienned ¼ inch thick
- ½ large carrot, – julienned ⅛ inch thick
- 3 cups baby spinach, – packed
- 3 cloves garlic, – minced
- 2 stalks scallions, – chopped, for garnish
- 2 teaspoons toasted white sesame seeds, – for garnish
Sauce:
- 3 Tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar, – packed
- 1 Tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 ½ Tablespoons sesame oil
Instructions
- These japchae noodles come together quickly so prep all your ingredients ahead of time.
- Mix all the sauce ingredients together in small bowl until the sugar dissolves. Set it aside.
- Cook the Korean glass noodles according to the directions. Be sure not to over cook them as they can get soggy. Drain the water and add the hot noodles to a large bowl.
- Add the sauce to noodles and toss to combine. Let sit on the counter for the noodles to absorb the flavors of the sauce. Any excess sauce will be absorbed by the noodles.
- Cook the egg whites and egg yolks separately in a flat pan and cut them into strips. Set it aside.
- Heat a pan over medium high heat and add the mushrooms and the onions. Stir fry them for 2 minutes.
- Next, add the red and yellow bell peppers, carrots, and minced garlic to the pan. Stir fry for 1 – 2 more minutes. Be careful not to overcook the vegetables, they should still be crunchy.
- Add the spinach and toss everything together until the spinach starts to wilt. Add a pinch of salt to season the vegetables and remove it from the heat.
- Add the stir fried vegetables and egg to the seasoned glass noodles. Toss everything to combine and garnish with sesame seeds and chopped scallions.
Notes
- Leftovers – store in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- You can make this ahead the day before and serve it the next day. The noodles will harden and turn opaque when cold but will get soft and turn translucent once reheated.
- Try not to overcook the glass noodles – they should have a chewy, al dente texture. It also prevents them from absorbing all of the sauce so keep an eye on the timer.
- Try not to overcook the vegetables – they should be crisp. Add the vegetables in at different times according to their cook time. Vegetables that take longer should be added first while the ones that take shorter (like spinach) should be added last.
- Add the sauce while the noodles are hot – this helps the noodles absorb all the sauce and prevents them from sticking together.
Nutrition
Calories: 419kcal, Carbohydrates: 61g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 93mg, Sodium: 469mg, Potassium: 476mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 4497IU, Vitamin C: 78mg, Calcium: 74mg, Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
I’ve been searching for a somewhat easy vegetarian japchae recipe and this one looks perfect. Thanks for the step by step instructions – very helpful. I can’t wait to make this recipe tonight.
I love that this japchae is ready in less than 30 minutes! My kind of meal!
I LOVE this recipe.
I used to live next door to an amazing Korean restaurant, and since relocating, have missed their Japchae so much.
How exciting to now be able to create it at home. Your recipe is so easy to follow, and the flavours are amazing.
I really like your process photos – it helps to know what the dish should look like, especially the first time you are cooking it!
I love Korean glass noodles! This noodle stir fry looks amazing and I can’t wait to make it for dinner soon!
This vegetarian japchae looks incredibly delicious. I wish this were in front of me right now! I love how you’ve simplified the steps and made this easy to make!
These Korean noodles look amazingly delicious. I love how simple this recipe is and that japchae sauce sounds so flavorful. Saving to try later!
Thanks Deseree! Do give it a try, you’ll love it! 🙂
This japchae was an easy and nutritious meal! I never made Korean glass noodles, but it came out so tasty! Saving the recipe for make again!
Thanks Veronika! I love how easy it is to make this too! So happy you liked it!
This looks absolutely delicious and easy to make! My friend requested for this so I’ll be trying it out. Thank you!
I’ve only ever had japchae in Korean restaurants and never made it myself until today. Wow!! It turned out even better than expected and it was so flavorful. I threw in extra vegetables I had in the fridge which went great with the glass noodles.
Thank you Leslie! I’m so happy you loved it! I think extra vegetables make a big difference when making vegetarian japchae. It adds so much flavor and texture. 🙂
This japchae was such a fresh, delicious and quick dinner! And loved the colorful vegetables and the way of cooking the eggs – going to do this for all my stir fries! It was super flavorful and even better than what we get at the Korean restaurant!
This was sooooooo good. Reminded me of the japchae I had growing up. The flavors were spot on.
Thanks Jennifer! This is how my mom made it, vegetarian japchae with lots and lots of colorful vegetables!
This came out so bright and colorful and even better than I get at the Korean restaurant. The sweet potato noodles had the perfect texture too.
Thanks Marta! I find restaurant style japchae could use more vegetables so added more for this recipe. So happy you enjoyed it! 🙂
About two weeks ago, I tried Japchae for the first time in my local Korean restaurant. I was really impressed with the delicious flavors and the texture of the glass noodles. I had been wanting to make a vegetarian japchae at home, when I came across your recipe. This was even better than the restaurant version, and much easier to make than I would have thought. Works well as leftovers the next day!
Thank you Norah! I’m so glad you like this vegetarian japchae! It’s one of my favorite meat free Korean dishes to make. 🙂
I am loving this japchae! It’s healthy, flavorful, and I feel good getting in all my vegetables! This was one of the more straight forward recipes I found and it tastes delicious too!
One of my comfort food is noodles and I enjoy Korean food as well so of course I LOVED this japchae! It was easier to make than I thought and I’m so glad it’s vegetarian. Thanks!
Thanks Citra! 🙂
I can’t believe how easy and delicious this japchae recipe turned out! The glass noodles had so much flavor from the sauce and I love how colorful and healthy this was with all the vegetables!
I’ve only ever had this in Korean restaurants but your japchae recipe looked so easy so I decided to give it a try. Wow it tasted so good! I added a bit of beef and extra eggs for protein and my husband loved it!
I came across this japchae recipe and decided to make this for dinner since I had some sweet potato noodles in the pantry. It is really easy to bring together – the sauce is so tasty, and I really loved cooking the egg white and yolk separately – it looked great!
I will definitely be making again, thank you!
This was really tasty and easier to make than I thought. I love the idea of frying the egg whites and yolks separately.
So happy I found your recipe for japchae. I’m a big fan of japchae and have been looking for a recipe with clear instructions. This turned out so delicious and flavorful!