Korean Glass Noodles Stir Fry Recipe (2024)

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Impress friends and family with a fancy sounding, yet easy dish, and lovingly serve this Korean Glass Noodles Stir Fry. A spicy sweet and savory dish, brimming with delicate noodles made of sweet potatoes, jackfruit and veggies in the most delicious stir fry sauce. Top off the delightful dish with sesame seeds, scallions and cilantro for the perfect presentation.

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Korean Glass Noodles

This vegan glass noodles stir fry is a favorite dish of mine that I order from Tru Food kitchen any chance I get. I always ask for grilled tofu and bok choy add-ins, and it always hits the spot. Since I love it so much, I finally decided to come home and recreate it for myself. This is mainly because I want to eat it more often without feeling guilty that I’m eating out. I’m really glad I decided to do so because I absolutely love the homemade version!

I’ve always said that it’s hard to outdo homemade recipes. For example, the store bought versions of Homemade Apple Pie Filling or Homemade Cashew Milk just can’t be matched by the options you can make at home. I maintain that same outlook on this noodle dish now that I’ve made it for myself. Did I mention it’s naturally gluten-free and cruelty-free? You’re going to be head over heels for this one.

How to Make Korean Glass Noodles Stir Fry

  1. Make the sauce – Combine all the delicious sauce ingredients and set aside.
  2. Prepare the jackfruit – Drain and rinse the jackfruit before tearing it apart with your hands to resemble meat pieces.
  3. Make the glass noodles – In a big pot of boiling water, cook the noodles for about 6 minutes. Drain and place in a bowl of ice cold water for cooling and non-sticking purposes.
  4. Prep the mushrooms – In a large skillet, add a splash of oil or stir fry sauce, then saute the mushroom until they gain some color. Set aside.
  5. Stir fry the vegetables – Add in the carrot, bell pepper and bok choy. Stir fry until the bok choy leaves have wilted. Transfer to the bowl with the mushrooms.
  6. Add the jackfruit – Follow the same steps with the jackfruit and stir fry for a couple of minutes then add in the remaining of the sauce and veggies.
  7. Combine – Add the noodles to the vegetable mixture, toss to coat, and cook for another minute. Add the scallions and cilantro. Garnish, serve, and enjoy!

Recipe Tips + Variations

  • Storage – Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I do not suggest freezing glass noodles stir fry.
  • Reheating – Reheat using the microwave. Cover with a damp paper towel to ensure the noodles don’t dry out too much.
  • Where to buy glass noodles? – Your best bet is your local Asian market. They’re popularly sold in these types of stores. There’s usually an Asian foods section in most grocery stores these days as well. You might find them there as well. If neither are an option for you, Amazon has your back.
  • Glass noodles substitute – There’s really no great substitute for these noodles since they’re so unique. However, you can always try kelp noodles, rice noodles, soba or angel hair pasta, but it just isn’t the same.
  • About the jackfruit – Depending on the brand and the batch of jackfruit, you may have to simmer the jackfruit pieces first to make sure they suit your preferences as far as softness goes. It’s important that you use the green unripe jackfruit not fresh.
  • Make it less spicy – You can always omit the pepper flakes and the sriracha sauce if the spice is too much for you. This will make it more of a savory sweet dish instead. Just note that removing the sriracha will change the flavor outcome quite a bit.
  • Don’t overcook the noodles – It’s really important you don’t overcook the glass noodles. Their texture just doesn’t turn out very pleasant when you do.

Korean Glass Noodles FAQ

What is JAPCHAE?

Japchae isn’t as complicated as its name might make it sound. Japchae is simply glass noodles served in a stir fry style with mixed vegetables added in. The name suggests a very specific dish, but you can adjust the veggies as you see fit. It’s an easy dish to customize to your preferences.

What are glass noodles made from?

Glass noodles look transparent and are often a greyish color. They’re largely made of sweet potato starch, along with mung bean starch, tapioca, green pea starch and canna. Canna being the root of an edible flour of the canna species. More specifically, it’s the starch from these roots, or rhizomes, that’s used in the making of glass noodles. Of course, depending on the brand, ingredients will vary.

Vegan Noodle Recipes

  • Vegan Peanut Noodles
  • Kelp Noodle Salad
  • Creamy Vegan Ramen Noodles
  • Vegan Vegetable Noodle Soup
  • Vegan Miso Noodle Soup
  • Vegan Kung Pao Tofu
  • Potsticker Salad.

Korean Glass Noodles Stir Fry Recipe (10)

5 from 1 vote

Vegan Korean Glass Noodles Stir Fry

Vegan Korean Glass Noodles Stir Fry - A spicy sweet and savory dish, brimming with delicate noodles made of sweet potatoes, meaty jackfruit, earthy shiitakes, sweet bell peppers and bok choy in the most delicious stir fry sauce.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:15 minutes mins

Cook Time:20 minutes mins

Total Time:35 minutes mins

Ingredients

Korean Stir Fry Sauce

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Combine all of the stir fry sauce ingredients and set aside until needed.

  • Drain and rinse the jackfruit discarding any tough pieces. When squeezed with your fingers the jackfruit should easily shred and resemble pulled meat. If this isn’t the case you might want to boil it for 5 to 10 minutes until softened. This will usually depend on the brand and that particular batch.

  • Cook the glass noodles in a big pot of boiling water for six minutes until al dente. Drain and transfer to a bowl of ice water immediately to stop the cooking process and keep the noodles from sticking to each other. It’s important not to overcook them.

  • Meanwhile preheat a large skillet over medium low heat and saute the mushrooms in a drizzle of oil or a splash of the sauce for a few minutes until they start to get a little color. Transfer to a bowl and keep warm.

  • Add the carrot and bell pepper and stir fry a couple pf minutes until they begin to soften to your liking. Transfer to the bowl with the mushrooms.

  • Add the bok choy leaves to the pan and a drizzle of the sauce if needed and cook until the bok choy is wilted but still al dente then transfer to the bowl with the rest of the veggies. (Alternatively you could blanch the bok choy for 2 minutes before adding it to the stir fry).

  • Add the jackfruit pieces to the skillet and stir fry with another drizzle of the sauce until coated all over and gets a little color.

  • Pour in the remaining sauce and bring to a simmer.

  • Add the cooked glass noodles (make sure to drain the noodles well first) and all the vegetables then toss everything to coat well. Cook another minute or so until the noodles start to soak up some of that sauce. Remove from heat and add the scallions.

  • Serve hot garnished with the cilantro, extra chili flakes and sesame seeds.

Notes

Tips and Variations

  • Storage - Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I do not suggest freezing glass noodle stir fry.
  • Reheating - Reheat using the microwave. Cover with a damp paper towel to ensure the noodles don’t dry out too much or add a little splash of veggie stock..
  • Where to buy glass noodles? - Your best bet is your local Asian market. They’re popularly sold in these types of stores. There’s usually an Asian foods section in most grocery stores these days as well. You might find them there as well. If neither are an option for you, Amazon has your back.
  • Glass noodles substitute - There’s really no great substitute for glass noodles since they’re so unique. However, you can always try kelp noodles, thin rice noodles, soba, angel hair pasta, or vermicelli but it's just not the same thing.
  • About the jackfruit - Depending on the brand and the batch of jackfruit, you may have to simmer the jackfruit pieces first to make sure they suit your preferences as far as softness goes.
  • Don’t overcook the noodles - It’s important you don’t overcook the glass noodles. Their texture just doesn’t turn out very pleasant when you do, so 6 minutes total.

Nutrition

Calories: 515kcal | Carbohydrates: 102g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2247mg | Potassium: 1587mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 22499IU | Vitamin C: 236mg | Calcium: 563mg | Iron: 6mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Korean

Keyword: glass noodles, plant based, vegan stir fry

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 515kcal

Author: Florentina

Korean Glass Noodles Stir Fry Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are Korean glass noodles healthy? ›

Glass noodles are fat-free and great for weight-loss diets. Reducing fats in your meal will combat obesity, cardiovascular disease, and several other metabolic disorders. Cellophane noodles are also a great source of iron. Getting enough iron in your diet ensures that oxygen is transported through the body.

Do you need to soak glass noodles before cooking? ›

How To Cook Glass Noodles. Some brands require soaking the noodles overnight, and others can be cooked immediately. The label will usually indicate best practices.

What is japchae made of? ›

Japchae is typically prepared with dangmyeon (당면, 唐麵), a type of cellophane noodles made from sweet potato starch; the noodles are mixed with assorted vegetables, meat, and mushrooms, and seasoned with soy sauce and sesame oil.

Can japchae be made in advance? ›

Make-Ahead and Storage

The japchae can be made up to one day in advance. Keep refrigerated, then quickly sauté in a small amount of oil to rewarm.

Are glass noodles healthier than rice? ›

Glass noodles are lower in calories and GI.

This is because they can absorb a lot more water than rice and wheat noodles; so a plate of cooked glass noodles actually contains less carbs because there's more water in it. They are also lower in glycemic index than rice or wheat noodles.

Are glass noodles healthier than pasta? ›

Are glass noodles healthy? Despite not being made with flour, glass noodles are nutritionally similar to white flour–based pastas. (Each 1 cup serving of cooked glass noodles has 160 calories and 39 grams of carbohydrates, whereas the same amount of cooked spaghetti has 200 calories and only 24 grams of carbs.)

Are vermicelli and glass noodles the same? ›

While both of these foods are gluten-free, glass noodles are commonly made with mung bean flour while vermicelli is made with rice. Rice vermicelli is also always a solid white and doesn't have the transparency of glass noodles. It's easy to get the two foods confused.

Can you overcook glass noodles? ›

Glass noodles are easy to make and cook quickly. They can be soaked in warm water for about 10 minutes or boiled like regular noodles, like here in our Japchae recipe. They don't take long to boil, so be careful not to overcook them. Only cook them until they are soft, which should take about five minutes.

Can Muslims eat japchae? ›

It is a stir-fried dish made with glass noodles, vegetables, and meat (optional). Japchae is typically seasoned with soy sauce and sesame oil. They give it a distinct flavor. The dish is halal as long as the meat used is halal-certified.

What is the difference between bibimbap and japchae? ›

The term bibim means "mixing" and bap is cooked rice. Japchae is a savory and slightly sweet dish of stir-fried glass noodles and vegetables that is popular in Korean cuisine. Sundubu-jjigae is a jjigae in Korean cuisine. The dish is made with freshly curdled extra soft tofu which has not been strained.

Can you eat leftover japchae? ›

In this updated recipe, you'll use the same pan for cooking the noodles and spinach and for stir-frying the noodles and other ingredients. Leftover japchae should be kept refrigerated. Japchae reheats well in the microwave. The noodles will get soft and chewy again.

What to pair with japchae noodles? ›

It's made with bouncy sweet potato noodles and loaded with veggies, eggs, and optionally meat, which makes it perfect as a meal on its own or served as a side with dishes like beef bulgogi, Korean volcano steamed eggs, and dwaeji galbijjim. It's also a perfect side for Korean BBQ!

Should japchae be chewy? ›

Japchae Ingredients:

They are made from two ingredients — sweet potato starch and water — and have an ever-so-slightly-sweet taste and a satisfying chewy texture.

What is the difference between japchae and Chapchae? ›

Japchae (잡채 – or chapchae) is a classic Korean stir-fried noodle dish seasoned with a sweet and savory sauce. The name japchae describes a mix of finely cut ingredients—vegetables, egg, mushroom, and meat—that are included in the noodles.

How healthy are glass noodles? ›

Glass noodles are sugar-free

If you're watching your sugar intake, glass noodles are a great option. By reducing sugar in your diet, you can help lower your cholesterol, blood pressure, chronic inflammation, and more. Because of this, glass noodles are often recommended to those with diabetes.

Which Korean noodles are healthy? ›

Buckwheat Noodles (Japanese & Korean)

These noodles are typically served cold with vegetables in dishes like memil guksu, or served in a hot broth. They have about half of the calories of white wheat flour pasta, and higher protein content which is great for our vegetarian friends!

How unhealthy is Korean instant noodles? ›

A study in 6,440 Korean adults found that those who regularly ate instant noodles had lower intakes of protein, phosphorus, calcium, iron, potassium, niacin and vitamins A and C, compared to those who didn't consume this food.

Are Korean glass noodles high in calories? ›

A: No, glass noodles are relatively low in calories compared to other types of noodles. One serving of glass noodles (approximately 1 cup) contains about 160 calories.

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