JAPCHAE

What is it?

Japchae is a Korean noodle side dish that’s also a cheap snack. It’s cellophane noodles stir fried with sliced mushrooms, carrots, and meat. 

Usually served at room temperature, it can be heated up, too. Making japchae takes a lot of time, but it’s cheap to buy in supermarkets and small stores that specialize in fresh side dishes.


Taste                       
          
Unlike some flamethrower-hot Korean food options, japchae is mild and delicate. The noodles are a bit chewy and have a light, nutty taste thanks to the sesame oil.

Origins

Historical records tell us a vegetarian version of japchae first appeared on the tables of kings and queens in the early 1600s. Japchae stayed inside the royal palaces until the 1920s. 

During the colonial period, many agricultural products, like rice, were exported to Japan. Looking for other food sources, some inventive folks used sweet potato starch to make noodles, which is similar to the modern version. By the 1960s, Korean cookbooks listed japchae dishes made with meat or fish.


Credit

Use of the images complies with the Creative Commons license.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

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