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Korean Spicy Noodles


This recipe makes a warming bowl of delicious Korean spicy noodles, also known as glass noodles or Japchae noodles. The recipe takes less than 30-minutes to make with only a few ingredients.

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white bowl with noodles and colorful vegetables

Recipe Features

  • This homemade noodle bowl is made meatless. It’s packed with vegetables and flavor.
  • Comfort food in one bowl, easily customizable with different protein options if desired: tofu, chicken, beef, you name it!
  • Perfect for picky eaters, just reduce the amount of garlic in the spicy noodle bowl to keep it milder.
  • Great stir-fry noodle recipe to use up the leftovers: vegetables or leftover steak.

Key Ingredients

wooden cutting board with vegetables to make stir fry with noodles

Ingredients Notes

Glass noodles are the key ingredient to making a Korean noodle bowl. If you ever tried this at your local cafe, you know it’s worth it. The glass noodles or cellophane noodles got their name for their texture. After cooking, they are completely see-through and look like glass.

These noodles are made with sweet potato starch and are often called sweet potato starch noodles. You can buy them online or at the Korean store, much more affordable and made in Korea.

Toasted sesame oil, tamari sauce, and coconut aminos- these three dressings create a flavorful sweet, and savory sauce in this dish.

How to Make Korean Noodles

Step 1. In a pot, bring water to a boil. Add glass noodles and cook till soft, approx 5 minutes, drain, place back to the same pot, add sesame oil to prevent sticking. Using kitchen shear and a large fork, cut the noodles in half. 

dutch oven pot with cooked gray-colored noodles

Step 2. Slice the vegetables: mushrooms, carrot, green onions (save some onions for garnishing). 

wooden cutting board with diced vegetables: carrots, green onions and mushrooms

Step 3. In the hot skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil, minced garlic, and mushrooms. Cook till soft, approximately 3 minutes.

hot skillet with sliced mushrooms

Step 4. Add the carrots, green onions, spinach and cook for two more minutes.

cast iron skillet with orange and green vegetables and wooden spoon

Step 5. Add the sauce: toasted sesame oil, Tamari sauce, coconut amino sauce, salt. Add noodles, gently stir to combine. Taste and adjust the flavor if needed. Garnish glass noodle stir fry with green onions and sesame seeds before serving. 

cast iron skillet with brown noodles, carrots and greens

Tips For Success

  • To make this glass noodle recipe a hit, make sure not to overcook the noodles. You might want to try and test to check the doneness.
  • Slice vegetables in advance; this will simplify the process.
  • Slice carrots into matchstick shape; I used Julienne peeler.
  • Use a large skillet to have plenty of room to stir fry.
  • Avoid overcooking the carrots; they should still have a little crunch in them when served.
  • The garlic what adds the spice to the dish. If you are a spicy food lover, you can add Korean red chili paste Gochujang to this dish.
  • Taste and adjust the flavor based on your taste buds before serving.

Variations

  • Protein options. You can make this recipe with different proteins: edamame, tofu, beef, chicken, pork, scrambled egg.
  • Greens. Instead of spinach, the bok choy would be a great alternative.
  • Add more vegetables: snap peas, bell peppers.
  • Add more flavors. When I order this bowl locally, it comes with cilantro and ginger; these ingredients will complement this dish.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Tamari?

Tamari is a sauce made of fermented soybeans. it has a dark appearance and tastes very similar to soy sauce.

macro shot of the skillet filled with noodles in brown sauce with vegetables

More Noodles Recipes

Did you try this recipe? I love hearing from you! Don’t forget to rate and leave a comment below.

skillet with noodles in brown sauce and sliced vegetables

Korean Spicy Noodles

Natalia-Flavorful Home
This recipe makes a warming bowl of delicious Korean spicy noodles, also known as a glass noodle bowl or Japchae noodles. The recipe takes less than 30-minutes to make with only a few ingredients.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 2 hrs 15 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

Equipment

  • cast iron skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 10 oz glass noodles or 300 grams
  • 4 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 garlic minced
  • 3 1/2 oz Shiitake mushrooms sliced
  • 2 carrots sliced into matchstick cut
  • 3 green onions diced
  • 2 cups spinach washed and chopped
  • 4 tbsp coconut aminos
  • 3 tbsp sesame oil
  • 4 tbsp tamari sauce
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tsp sesame seeds to garnish

Instructions
 

  • Cook the noodles. In a pot, bring water to a boil. Add glass noodles and cook till soft, approx 5 minutes, drain, place back to the same pot, add sesame oil to prevent sticking. Using kitchen shear and a large fork, cut the noodles in half. 
  • Prep veggies. Slice the vegetables: mushrooms, carrot, green onions (save some onions for garnishing). 
  • Cook vegetables. In the hot skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil, minced garlic, and mushrooms. Cook till soft, approximately 3 minutes.
  • Add the carrots, green onions, spinach and cook for two more minutes.
  • Combine with noodles. Add the sauce: 3 tbsp sesame oil, 4 tbsp soy sauce, 4 tbsp amino sauce, salt. Add noodles, gently stir to combine. Taste and adjust the flavor if needed. Garnish glass noodle stir fry with green onions and sesame seeds before serving. 

Notes

To make this glass noodle recipe a hit, make sure not to overcook the noodles. You might want to try and test to check the doneness.
Slice vegetables in advance; this will simplify the process.
Slice carrots into matchstick shape; I used Julienne peeler.
Avoid overcooking the carrots; they should still have a little crunch in them when served.
The garlic adds spice to the dish. If you are a spicy food lover, you can add Korean red chili paste Gochujang to this dish.
Taste and adjust the flavor based on your taste buds before serving.
Protein options. You can make this recipe with different proteins: edamame, tofu, beef, chicken, pork, scrambled egg.
Greens. Instead of spinach, the bok choy would be a great alternative.
Add more vegetables: snap peas, bell peppers.
Add more flavors. When I order this bowl locally, it comes with cilantro and ginger; these ingredients will complement this dish.

Nutrition

Calories: 589kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 4gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 11gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gSodium: 1970mgPotassium: 341mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 6592IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 3mg
Tried this Recipe? Leave us a Comment!
Natalia | Flavorful home
Natalia is a recipe developer, food photographer, and home cook. She started Flavorful Home to document her recipes and share home cooking tips. She loves creating flavorful and nutritious meals while keeping the cooking process simple and joyful!

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Recipe Rating




1 Comment to Korean Spicy Noodles
Korean glass noodles

5 stars
This recipe is pure genius, I like the way your recipe reads. Very consise and easy to make. I substituted regular soy sauce instead of tamari and I used angel hair spaghetti. I know the glass noodles are desired but angel hair is almost as good and saves me a trip to the market. When I lived in China they often substituted flour for glass noodles. Glass is better though.

Can’t wait to try more recipes from here!

02/07/22 @ 12:32 AMReply

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