Chap Chae

Ingredients

8 ounces glass, mung-bean, or sweet-potato-starch noodles
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1 1/2 red peppers, thinly sliced
1 1/2 red onions, thinly sliced
1 large carrot, julienned
8 ounces king oyster or shiitake mushrooms, roughly chopped
2 1/2 bunches scallions, cut into 1-inch pieces
5 large cloves garlic, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup mirin
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

Add the noodles to a large pot of boiling water, and cook until tender. Strain the noodles, shock in a bowl of ice water, and drain. Using kitchen scissors, cut the noodles into bite-size pieces, then transfer to a large bowl. Season the vegetables with salt and lots of black pepper. Heat the grapeseed oil in a large sauté pan, add the onions and peppers, and cook until the onions become soft, 8–10 minutes. Add the carrots, mushrooms, scallions, and garlic and cook another 10 minutes. Deglaze the pan with mirin, and add the vegetables to the noodles. Stir in the soy, vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and seeds, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix the noodles and vegetables together. Serve at room temperature on a large platter. (Published 2007)