Healthy Easy and Delicious: Three Reasons to Try Korean Japchae | Asian Inspirations (2024)

FAQs

Why is japchae healthy? ›

Traditional japchae is already a relatively healthy dish, with the inclusion of so many antioxidant and fiber rich vegetables: red bell pepper, green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, orange bell pepper, onions, spinach, carrots.

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.

Originally, japchae was a stir-fried mixed vegetable dish as its name implies. In fact, noodles did not exist in that region until the 20th century. The japchae we know of today with noodles and meat came about 200 years after it was first created.

Once a royal dish, japchae is now one of the most popular traditional celebration dishes, often served on special occasions, such as weddings, birthdays (especially dol, the first birthday, and hwangap, the sixtieth), and holidays.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF KOREAN FOOD

Modern Korean cuisine originates from traditional Korean food that helps prevent respiratory diseases and protects against viral diseases, as per research. These ingredients include fermented mushrooms, grains, herbs, and fruit.

It is believed to have been created by Queen Injeong as a way to feed the royal family. In the 1930s, japchae became widespread when it began to be served in restaurants. During this period, food was prepared from a variety of ingredients, such as beef, chicken and pork.

Do You Eat Japchae Cold or Hot? The beauty of japchae is that you can eat it hot, room temperature, or even cold. It makes a great on-the-go lunch, as the noodles don't get soggy and there's a nice balance of vegetables and starch. This dish is also nice for potlucks, as it doesn't have to be served hot.

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!

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.

Here's a baby and toddler friendly twist on a classic Korean dish, japchae! Made with colorful vegetables, meat, and gluten free sweet potato starch noodles, this low-sodium version is sure to be a hit with the entire family!

Is japchae chewy? ›

Japchae – the bright, colourful Korean noodle dish made with an abundance of vegetables, juicy bits of marinated beef and a sesame-forward dressing. Made with sweet potato noodles which have a unique slippery, chewy texture, this is sort of a stir fry, sort of a noodle salad, and 100% YUM!

Japchae may be served as either a main dish or a side dish, so plan that amount accordingly. Total time is about 45 minutes, excluding marinating time.

The dish is not supposed to be oily, too sweet or heavily “doused” with sesame oil. Most of the traditional recipes consist of shiitake mushrooms, onions, carrots (cut into matchstick strips), cucumber peel (skin only finely sliced), egg, scallions and sometimes beef, garnish with sesame seeds and slivers of chilli.

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!

Japchae 잡채

At any gathering it's hard to pass up these chewy, sweet, and slightly slippery noodles with colorful stir-fried vegetables and mushrooms, its irresistible sesame flavor, healthy amount of garlic, and light, refreshing taste.

With their low glycemic index and immune-boosting vitamin C content, sweet potato glass noodles are a great choice for regulating blood sugar levels and strengthening the body's defense against illnesses. Plus, they're versatile and delicious, making mealtime both healthy and enjoyable!