This Stir Fried Sweet Potato Glass Noodles is my take on a traditional Korean noodle dish called Japchae. It's made with sweet potato starch noodles, beef, vegetables, and tossed in a sweet and savory sauce!
Japchae Ingredients
- Korean Sweet Potato Starch Noodles: I recommend this brand.
- Carrot
- Sweet Onion
- Beef Flank Steak: Sirloin, rib eye, or pork loin are good substitutes sliced
- Shiitake Mushrooms: Oyster mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms are good substitutes. Some recipes call for dried shiitake mushrooms but we prefer fresh for this recipe.
- Fresh Spinach
- Coconut Aminos: If AIP or Paleo, use coconut aminos. If tolerated, use soy sauce.
- Honey
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Fish Sauce: I recommend this brand.
- Garlic Cloves
- Ground Black Pepper: Omit for AIP.
- Sesame Oil: This ingredient is optional. Omit for AIP.
- Toasted Sesame Seeds: This ingredient is optional. Omit or AIP.
How to cook Sweet Potato Glass Noodles Stir Fry
1. In a large mixing bowl, add the steak and all the ingredients for the sauce. If using sesame oil, add it to the sauce. Stir to combine then set aside for about 20-30 minutes.
2. Over high heat, boil 6 quarts of water. When the water has begun to boil, add the sweet potato starch noodles and cook for 5 minutes. Once they are finished cooking, rinse in cold water and set aside to drain.
3. In a large skillet over high heat, add the steak. Stir fry until the steak is no longer pink, about 3-5 minutes. Remove the steak and set aside.
4. Add the mushrooms and cook for about 3-5 minutes. Next add the carrots and onions then toss to coat and allow to cook for about 2 minutes. Then add the spinach and cooked noodles then toss again. Add the steak back in and give it a quick toss to make sure everything is coated with sauce.
5. Serve hot, at room temperature, or slightly chilled. If using, garnish with toasted sesame seeds.
Tips for making the best Korean Sweet Potato Glass Noodle Stir Fry.
- Sesame oil and seeds are traditional in this dish. Due to allergies, I’ve left them out. If you would like to add them in you can add 1 teaspoon sesame oil to the sauce and garnish with 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds.
- I recommend this brand of fish sauce.
- If you can tolerate soy, then soy sauce is a good substitute for coconut aminos.
- I recommend this brand of Glass Noodles. You can also find them at Asian grocery stores, specifically Korean ones like H Mart as these noodles are common in Korean food.
- This recipe cooks fast. It’s best to have all the ingredients prepared in advance.
- Some people add red bell pepper for color, sweetness, and crunch. If you choose to add, you’ll need one red bell pepper that’s seeded and sliced the long way. Please keep in mind that peppers are a nightshade and in an AIP reintroduction.
- Some recipes call for dried shiitake mushrooms but we prefer fresh for this recipe.
Are sweet potato glass noodles healthy?
The deeper I get into my health journey, the more I realize that we need to stop labeling food healthy vs unhealthy. I believe that it can lead to unhealthy eating habits and unnecessary restrictions. I’ve evolved into thinking about food in terms of nourishment. Some food nourishes us more than others.
That being said, some people just can’t tolerate some foods like gluten or soy (that’s me!). And sweet potato glass noodles are not just gluten free but also grain free. They generally use minimal ingredients (usually just sweet potatoes) and are derived from whole food (sweet potatoes). I've used these glass noodles in a lot of different recipes such as Ground Beef Stroganoff and Glass Noodle Soup.
What do sweet potato glass noodles taste like?
They don’t really have much flavor. Stir fried sweet potato glass noodles are great because they take on the flavor of whatever sauce is added during cooking. In this instance, they take on the flavor of the sweet and savory sauce.
Are glass noodles gluten free?
Yes. In fact, they are beyond gluten free. They are grain free and made from sweet potatoes.
Are sweet potato glass noodles whole30?
Yes. Since they are made from sweet potatoes, they are whole30.
Are sweet potato glass noodles low carb?
They are not low carb. Sweet potatoes are all starch and sugar and the glass noodles are no different. However, they are lower in carbs than wheat noodles.
Are sweet potato glass noodles low fodmap?
This is a harder question to answer. If eaten in small amounts then it’s considered a low fodmap food. If eaten in larger quantities then it’s no longer considered low fodmap. If you have questions about whether you can tolerate this food, please check with your doctor or dietician.
Are sweet potato glass noodles keto?
No. Since these clear noodles are all carbs and sugar, it’s not keto friendly.
Are glass noodles the same as rice noodles?
Nope. Both noodles are used in Asian cooking and are gluten free. However, there are distinct differences in glass noodles and rice noodles. Rice noodles are made with rice which is a grain and they are white. They also have a tendency to fall apart if they are left in liquid for too long. Sweet Potato Glass Noodles are made from sweet potato starch. They are grain free and clear. They also have a sturdier texture and hold up in liquid much better. Additionally, sweet potato starch noodles fit the elimination stage of the autoimmune protocol diet. I use these glass noodles in a lot of different recipes such as Ground Beef Stroganoff and Glass Noodle Soup.
How are sweet potato glass noodles made?
Sweet potato glass noodles are also called sweet potato starch noodles because they are made using the starch of a sweet potato not the actual potato. To create the starch you first would need to soak the sweet potatoes in water. The water would absorb the sweet potato starch. Then you’d need to dry the starchy water. Now that you have sweet potato starch flour you can make the noodles. Funny enough, you only need to add hot water to the starch and then pipe out noodles into more water to create noodles. Luckily, sweet potato starch noodles are easy enough to purchase in your local Asian market (like H Mart) or online.
Benefits of sweet potato glass noodles
- Allergy friendly. Not only are they gluten free but they are also grain free.
- Fits the elimination stage Autoimmune Protocol Diet. This stir fried glass noodle dish is also AIP as long as you omit the sesame oil and black pepper.
- Made with whole food which made them perfect for the Whole30 diet.
- Great source of fiber and rich in vitamins and minerals.
If you like this recipe, then you’ll love these Asian dishes, especially around the Lunar New Year.
- Char Siu Sauce
- Chicken Feet Soup
- AIP Coconut Date Bars
- Taro Cake
- AIP Orange Chicken
- Glass Noodle Soup
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Sweet Potato Glass Noodles Stir Fry (Japchae)
Ingredients
For the Stir Fry
- 12 ounces Korean Sweet Potato Starch Noodles
- 1 large Carrot peeled and sliced
- 1/2 medium Sweet Onion
- 1 pound Flank Steak sirloin, rib eye, or pork loin are good substitutes, sliced
- 3 to 4 ounces Shiitake Mushrooms oyster mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms are good substitutes, sliced
- 6 ounces Fresh Spinach about 1 bunch of spinach, chopped
For the Sauce
- 4 tablespoons Coconut Aminos or soy sauce, if tolerated
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 teaspoons Fish Sauce
- 2 large Garlic Cloves minced, about 2 teaspoons
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper omit for AIP
- 1 teaspoon Sesame Oil optional, omit for AIP
For the Garnish
- 1 teaspoon Toasted Sesame Seeds optional, omit or AIP
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the steak and all the ingredients for the sauce. If using sesame oil, add it to the sauce. Stir to combine then set aside for about 20-30 minutes.
- Over high heat, boil 6 quarts of water. When the water has begun to boil, add the sweet potato starch noodles and cook for 5 minutes. Once they are finished cooking, rinse in cold water and set aside to drain.
- In a large skillet over high heat, add the steak. Stir fry until the steak is no longer pink, about 3-5 minutes. Remove the steak and set aside.
- Add the mushrooms and cook for about 3-5 minutes. Next add the carrots and onions then toss to coat and allow to cook for about 2 minutes. Then add the spinach and cooked noodles then toss again. Add the steak back in and give it a quick toss to make sure everything is coated with sauce.
- Serve hot, at room temperature, or slightly chilled. If using, garnish with toasted sesame seeds.
Video
Notes
- Sesame oil and seeds are traditional in this dish. Due to allergies, I’ve left them out. If you would like to add them in you can add 1 teaspoon sesame oil to the sauce and garnish with 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds.
- I recommend this brand of fish sauce.
- If you can tolerate soy, then soy sauce is a good substitute for coconut aminos.
- I recommend this brand of Glass Noodles.
- This recipe cooks fast. It’s best to have all the ingredients prepared in advance.
- You can also find them at Asian grocery stores, specifically Korean ones like H Mart as these noodles are common in Korean food.
- Some people add red bell pepper for color, sweetness, and crunch. If you choose to add, you’ll need one red bell pepper that’s seeded and sliced the long way. Please keep in mind that peppers are a nightshade and in an AIP reintroduction.
- Some recipes call for dried shiitake mushrooms but we prefer fresh for this recipe.
Helpful Info for All Recipes
- I always use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes unless stated otherwise.
- I always use Himalayan sea salt or Celtic sea salt, unless otherwise noted.
- The majority of my recipes are strict AIP or include notations for reintroductions. However while I make every effort to label non-AIP ingredients and recipes sometimes they slip past me. If you have questions, please ask in advance.
Did you make this recipe? I love hearing your thoughts on my recipes so please rate and comment below.
I love the flavor of this stir fry! If I make it again, I will reduce the amount of noodles and replace them with veggies.