Japchae is Korea's festive noodle dish — springy sweet potato glass noodles tossed with marinated beef, colourful vegetables and a glossy soy-sesame dressing. It's served at birthdays, holidays and celebrations, but it's easy enough for a Tuesday night.
The magic is in the noodles themselves: they stay wonderfully chewy and slippery, soaking up the sweet-savoury sauce without ever going soggy. Every mouthful has a bit of everything — beef, earthy mushrooms, sweet capsicum and spinach.
Cooking each vegetable briefly on its own keeps the colours bright and the textures distinct — it sounds fussy, but it's just a few quick turns in the same pan. Japchae is delicious warm or at room temperature, so it's brilliant for making ahead.
