Sweet Potato Noodles (Japchae)

A classic Korean dish featuring chewy sweet potato noodles stir-fried with beef, vegetables, and a savory-sweet sauce. This colorful dish combines tender beef, spinach, mushrooms, and carrots with glass noodles in a flavorful sesame-soy sauce.

4 servings

21 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•8 ounces sweet potato noodles
•½ bunch spinach
•2 cloves garlic
•1½ tablespoons Asian sesame oil
•¼ teaspoon salt
•1 tablespoon vegetable oil
•6 ounces beef rib-eye
•¼ cup soy sauce
•¼ medium onion
•3 whole pyongo or shiitake mushrooms
•1 whole carrot
•3 whole green onions
•¼ cup sugar
•1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Cooking Instructions

1.
Cook the sweet potato noodles in a large pot of boiling water for 4 to 5 minutes. Immediately drain and rinse thoroughly under cold water. Be sure not to overcook the noodles, or they will lose their chewy texture. If you like, cut the noodles with scissors into 6- to 7-inch lengths for easier eating.
5 min
2.
Blanch the spinach in boiling water. Rinse immediately under cold water, squeeze the water from the leaves and form into a ball, and then cut the ball in half. Combine the spinach, half the garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of the sesame oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Set aside to let the flavors soak in.
3 min
3.
Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, the remaining garlic, 1 teaspoon of the soy sauce, and 1 teaspoon of the sesame oil. Stir-fry until the beef is cooked, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the onion, mushrooms, and carrot and cook until the onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the green onions and stir-fry for another minute. Remove from the heat.
8 min
4.
In a large bowl, thoroughly combine the noodles, beef mixture, spinach, remaining 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, and the sugar. Serve warm, sprinkled with sesame seeds.
5 min

Ingredients

•8 ounces sweet potato noodles

•½ bunch spinach

•2 cloves garlic

•1½ tablespoons Asian sesame oil

•¼ teaspoon salt

•1 tablespoon vegetable oil

•6 ounces beef rib-eye

•¼ cup soy sauce

•¼ medium onion

•3 whole pyongo or shiitake mushrooms

•1 whole carrot

•3 whole green onions

•¼ cup sugar

•1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Cooking Instructions

Cook the sweet potato noodles in a large pot of boiling water for 4 to 5 minutes. Immediately drain and rinse thoroughly under cold water. Be sure not to overcook the noodles, or they will lose their chewy texture. If you like, cut the noodles with scissors into 6- to 7-inch lengths for easier eating.

5 min

Blanch the spinach in boiling water. Rinse immediately under cold water, squeeze the water from the leaves and form into a ball, and then cut the ball in half. Combine the spinach, half the garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of the sesame oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Set aside to let the flavors soak in.

3 min

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, the remaining garlic, 1 teaspoon of the soy sauce, and 1 teaspoon of the sesame oil. Stir-fry until the beef is cooked, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the onion, mushrooms, and carrot and cook until the onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the green onions and stir-fry for another minute. Remove from the heat.

8 min

In a large bowl, thoroughly combine the noodles, beef mixture, spinach, remaining 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, and the sugar. Serve warm, sprinkled with sesame seeds.

5 min