The recipe is contributed by Hae-joo Yoon, the CLCL Korean Peer Tutor.

"I like this food, known as Japchae, because it is a food commonly eaten during family gatherings, or at gatherings with large numbers of people. To me, it is a comfort food that invokes memories of family and friends whenever I eat it. I like it both warm and cold, and it tastes good the day after it is made as well." ~Hae-joo Yoon

Ingredients: 

• 7 oz beef (top round) 
• 1/2 medium sized onion
• 1 carrot 
• 3 shiitake mushrooms
• 1 bundle of spinach
• 3 1/2 oz sweet potato noodles
• Vegetable oil, salt, and sesame seeds as needed

Ingredients for the Marinade Sauce: 

• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 1 tablespoons of sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon of sesame oil
• 1/2 tablespoon of cooking wine
• 1/3 tablespoon chopped green onion
• 1/4 tablespoon of minced garlic
• A pinch of ground pepper

Seasoning for the Noodles: 

• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
• 1/2 tablespoon of minced garlic

Instructions:

Prep

1. In a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients for the beef marinade, and julienne the beef into strips. Let the beef marinate for 20 minutes.
2. In a small bowl, soak the shiitake mushrooms until they soften. After soaking, remove the stems of the mushrooms and julienne them finely into strips.
3. Cut the carrot into 1 1/2 inch long strips.
4. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Immerse the spinach in the water and cook for a few seconds. Rinse the blanched spinach in cold water immediately, and squeeze the water out. Be careful to not overcook.

Cooking

1. Heat the oil in a skillet and stir fry the onion, shiitake mushrooms, and carrot with a pinch of salt over high heat, separately and in order.
2. Heat a little oil in a skillet and stir-fry the marinated beef strips quickly, stirring to prevent them from sticking together.
3. In a large pot, bring water to a boil and soak the sweet potato noodles for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and drain the noodles in a colander, then heat the oil in a skillet and stir-fry the cooked noodles with the soy dressing for 5 minutes.
4. In a large bowl, put all the cooked vegetables, beef, noodles and toss to combine. Add sugar or soy sauce as needed. Place on a plate and serve.