Japchae (Brisket Leftover)

Mashing up Texas BBQ with Korean sweet potato or glass noodles combine for a substantial meal that is usually made vegetarian or with thinly sliced marinate beef.  The brisket adds smoky heartiness and another unexpected way to enjoy brisket leftovers.  Most Japchae has the protein as a garnish, but I like equal parts brisket to noodles. This dish is easy to make, just takes some time to cut the vegetables but comes together quickly.  I like the versatility of being eaten at room temperature or hot.

 

Ingredients

Spinach Seasoning

  • 1 clove garlic, chopped
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 1 t sesame oil
  • ½ t sesame seeds
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Sauce

  • ⅓ C shoyu
  • ⅓ C monk fruit
  • 2 T sesame oil  
  • 1 T sesame seeds
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • Pinch black pepper

Instructions

  1. Thinly slice onion and shiitake mushrooms in strips, if using dried mushrooms, hydrate in hot water about 30 minutes
  2. Heat a large pan with 1 t sesame oil salt over medium heat.
  3. Add onions and cook until soft
  4. Remove from pan and set aside
  5. Repeat with shiitake mushrooms and carrots.
  6. Add leftover chopped brisket to pan until warm.
  7. Bring a pot of water to boil and add spinach for about 30 seconds using a spider to remove the blanched   The same boiling water will be used for the noodles.
  8. Have a bowl of cold water ready next to the boiling pot of water to add the cooked spinach to stop cooking.
  9. Add the minced garlic, ¼ t salt, 1 t sesame oil, ½ t sesame seeds, and pinch of black pepper to the blanched spinach.
  10. While the waiting for the water to boil, make the sauce combining the shoyu, monk fruit, sesame oil, sesame seeds, minced garlic and black pepper in a small bowl.
  11. Add the noodles to the boiling water the spinach was blanched in and cook according to package directions and drain.
  12. Add cooked drained noodles in serving bowl, you can use kitchen scissors to cut noodles into shorter pieces.
  13. Add the sauce and toss noodles.
  14. Add the cooked vegetables and toss together.
  15. Finish with sesame seeds, great warm or at room temperature.