Japchae is a sweet and savory dish of stir-fried glass noodles and vegetables that is popular in Korean cuisine. Japchae is typically prepared with dangmyeon, a type of cellophane noodles made from sweet potato starch; the noodles are topped with assorted vegetables, meat, and mushrooms, and seasoned with soy sauce and sesame oil. Once a royal dish, it is now one of the most popular traditional celebration dishes, often served on special occasions, such as weddings, birthdays, and holidays. It is also popular for feeding crowds at banquets, parties, and potlucks, due to the ease of bulk preparation and serving flexibility: japchae can be served warm, at room temperature, or cold from the refrigerator, and can be eaten freshly made or the next day. Japchae is commonly served as a banchan, though it may also be a main dish. It is sometimes served on a bed of rice: with rice, it is known as japchae-bap.
Etymology and history
The Sino-Korean wordjapchae consists of two syllables, jap meaning "mixed" and chae meaning "vegetable". According to Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty, the name originally referred to a stir-fried vegetable and mushroom dish, first made in the early 17th century by Yi Chung for King Gwanghaegun's palace banquet. The king liked the dish so much that he rewarded Yi by promoting him to a high-ranking position, equivalent to the position of secretary of the Treasury, and japchae became a fixture of Korean royal court cuisine. Cooked without noodles or meat at the time, japchae was considered a luxurious and elegant dish served to the royal family and high-level officials. Cucumbers, radishes, and shiitake mushrooms were among the vegetables used in this period. Japchae, like other royal dishes, was eventually adopted into the cuisine of common people. Its popularity increased later in the 20th century when cellophane noodles made from sweet potato starch were introduced to Korea from China. The noodles have since become an integral and primary ingredient of japchae. Beef and other meats have been added to the noodle dish, while experiments and adaptations have led to many noodle-less variations made with seafood, herbs, peppers, bean sprouts, and other ingredients.
Ingredients and preparation
Dangmyeon are pale grey, semi-transparent, chewy and elastic noodles made from sweet potato starch. They are also known as "glass noodles", "cellophane noodles", or "sweet potato vermicelli". The noodles may be soaked in water before cooking. The assortment of vegetables in japchae may vary, with typical ingredients including carrots, spinach, onions, and scallions. Commonly used mushrooms are wood ear, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms. Both beef and pork are commonly used for japchae. Each ingredient is stir-fried separately before being mixed with boiled and drained noodles, and seasoned with soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil. The dish is usually garnished with toasted sesame seeds and chili threads, and served hot or cold.
