By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 4
490 cal · 30 min
Korean Japchae
Recipe GLPR7c4b9a01e73ea8
A vibrant stir-fried noodle dish featuring tender beef, fresh spinach, mushrooms, and vegetables tossed with chewy vermicelli rice noodles in a savory-sweet sesame glaze. This balanced Korean classic is naturally dairy-free and packed with vegetables for a satisfying main course.
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Ingredients
1 rib eye steak, thinly sliced
1 bunch fresh spinach, roughly chopped
2 carrots, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks
5 shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 handful green onions, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons soy sauce, divided
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon sugar, divided
1 package vermicelli rice noodles
1/8 cup seasoned rice vinegar
Directions
Cook the vermicelli rice noodles according to package directions until tender but still slightly chewy. Drain well and set aside.
Bring a pot of water to boil. Add the spinach and cook for about 1–2 minutes until wilted, then drain thoroughly and squeeze out excess moisture. Set aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon sesame oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef slices in a single layer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the internal temperature reaches 145°F and the meat is no longer pink, about 3–4 minutes. Season with 1 tablespoon soy sauce and ½ tablespoon sugar. Transfer to a plate.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil to the wok. Stir-fry the onion and minced garlic for about 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
Add the carrot matchsticks and shiitake mushroom slices. Stir-fry for 3–4 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
Return the cooked beef to the wok along with the wilted spinach. Add the cooked noodles, remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce, remaining ½ tablespoon sugar, and the seasoned rice vinegar.
Toss everything together gently but thoroughly over medium heat for 2–3 minutes until all ingredients are heated through and evenly coated with the sauce.
Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with sliced green onions. Serve immediately while warm.
Comments
Japchae is a solid weeknight noodle dish for Charlotte families, but plan for a second stop: shiitake mushrooms at Harris Teeter or Kroger, since Food Lion and ALDI stock only button mushrooms reliably, and this dish benefits from their earthy depth. At roughly $12–14 for four servings, beef and sesame oil drive the cost; spinach, carrots, and garlic are cheap everywhere. The 30-minute claim ignores marinating the beef in soy sauce (add 10–15 minutes for flavor), so budget 40–45 minutes total. It reheats well, though best eaten the same night when the noodles hold their slight chew; a second day softens them noticeably.
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