Korean Jap Chae

Last year when I youngest was in 1st Grade, his school hosted an event where families from the different cultural groups presented their traditional food. In the Korean booth, the moms made Korean Jap Chae. I was on a vegan diet that day and I was so happy when I found out that the Jap Chae that they made was vegetarian. I instantly fell in love with this food. I have made this several times and both of my older kids just love it. Mav of course hates it since it is loaded with vegetables. Well you can't please them all.

Ingredients

500g sweet potato noodles or korean vermicelli

1 medium sized carrot, julienned

2 red chilies, julienned

300g shitake mushrooms, sliced thinhly

300g spinach

1 tsp chopped garlic

some chopped green onions

salt to taste

sesame seeds

for the seasoning

mix together:

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup sugar

2 tablespoon sesame oil

1 tsp black pepper

Directions

1. Wash the spinach several times. Boil some water and scald the spinach leaves. Once the spinach leaves are scaled, remove them quickly into a bowl filled with ice and cold water.

2. Drain the spinach and squeeze out any excess water. Add a pinch of salt and a dash of sesame oil to the spinach leaves.

3. In a wok, heat some sesame oil and fry the garlic under medium heat. Once the garlic is aromatic add the sliced mushrooms and fry until the mushrooms are soft. 

4. Next add in the julienned carrots and chilly and fry until the carrots and chilly are just cooked.

5. Lastly add in the sliced onions and chopped green onions and fry until the onions are slightly soft but still has the crunch.

6. Remove vegetables from the pan and leave it to cool.

7. Take a pot of water of leave it to boil. Add in the sweet potato noodles and cook for about 5 minutes or until the noodles are cooked. Drain the noodles in a colander and transfer it to a large bowl. 

8. Add the stir fried vegetables and spinach into the noodles and pour the seasoning over it.

9. Mix well with a thong and sprinkle some sesame seeds.

10. You can garnish the noodles with thinly sliced egg omelet. You can omit this for a vegetarian or vegan recipe.