Showing posts with label purple. Show all posts
Showing posts with label purple. Show all posts



Purple Japchae (Korean Stir-Fried Noodles)



Purple noodles typically refer to noodles made from (or colored with) purple sweet potatoes (also called purple yam or ube in Filipino cuisine). These are glass-like vermicelli or starch-based noodles popular in Asian dishes, especially Korean japchae (stir-fried glass noodles). They have a chewy texture and vibrant purple hue from natural anthocyanins.

You can find dried purple sweet potato noodles in Asian grocery stores or online. They're gluten-free and cook quickly.

Basic Cooking Method

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil (add a pinch of salt if desired).

  2. Add the dried noodles and cook for 6-10 minutes (check package instructions—some take as little as 5-8 minutes) until tender but still chewy (al dente).

  3. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and prevent sticking.

  4. Toss with a bit of sesame oil or vegetable oil to keep them from clumping.

Popular Recipe: Purple Japchae (Korean Stir-Fried Noodles)

This vegan-friendly dish is colorful, flavorful, and easy.

Ingredients (serves 4):

  • 200-300g dried purple sweet potato noodles

  • 1 onion, sliced

  • 1 carrot, julienned

  • 1 bell pepper, sliced

  • Handful of spinach or watercress

  • 100-200g tofu or mushrooms (optional protein)

  • 3-4 tbsp soy sauce or tamari

  • 2 tbsp sesame oil

  • 1-2 tbsp sugar or maple syrup

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • Sesame seeds for garnish

Steps:

  1. Cook the noodles as above, drain, rinse, and set aside.

  2. In a large skillet or wok, heat 1 tbsp oil over medium-high. Sauté garlic, onion, carrot, and bell pepper for 3-4 minutes.

  3. Add tofu/mushrooms and cook until browned.

  4. Add spinach and wilt for 1 minute.

  5. Mix in the cooked noodles.

  6. Pour in soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar. Stir-fry everything for 3-5 minutes until well-coated and heated through.

  7. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

Other Fun Ideas

  • Stir-fry → with veggies and chili garlic sauce for a spicy version.

  • Cold noodle salad → toss cooked noodles with greens, dressing, and nuts.

  • Unicorn noodles → soak plain rice noodles in boiled red/purple cabbage water for natural color-changing fun (add lemon for pink!).

Enjoy your vibrant purple noodles—they're as delicious as they are eye-catching!