Glass Noodles with Vegetables and Meat
Instructions:
- Classic Korean, seen more often in restaurants than
homes, but easily done. Since chop chae is best at room
temperature, you can make it a couple of hours in
advance. Substitute shrimp or fish for the meat (or omit
it entirely) if you like.
- Salt
- 2 tablespoons dark sesame oil, plus more as needed
- 4 ounces boneless beef sirloin, cut into bits
- 2 medium carrots, julienned or minced
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings
- 12 scallions, roughly chopped
- 2 cups chopped cooked spinach
- 1 cup trimmed mushrooms, preferably a mixture of oyster, shiitake, and enoki
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 8 ounces Korean sweet potato vermicelli or bean threads
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce, or more to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds, lightly toasted
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Put 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the meat and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and put in a large bowl. Cook the carrots in the same skillet, stirring occasionally, just until they lose their crunch, about 5 minutes. Add to the meat.
- Put the remaining sesame oil in the skillet and add the onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and add to the meat. Raise the heat to high and add the scallions. Cook, stirring, until they wilt, just 2 or 3 minutes. Add to the meat mixture.
- Add a little more oil if necessary and stir-fry the spinach over medium heat until hot, about a minute.
- Add to the meat mixture. Add the mushrooms and the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften, about 5 minutes. Add to the meat.
- Add the noodles to the boiling water and turn off the heat. The noodles will be tender in about 5 minutes; drain. Add the noodles and soy sauce to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes. Add to the meat mixture.
- Toss the noodles and vegetable mixture well, adding salt, pepper, and more sesame oil or soy sauce to taste. Garnish with the pine nuts and sesame seeds and serve at room temperature.