Is Traditional Japchae Vegan? (+Alternatives)

In this article I will explain what Japchae contains and answer this weeks question: Is traditional Japchae vegan?

What is Japchae?

Japchae is a Korean noodle dish made with sweet potato noodles (dangmyeon). In the past, Japchae was a dish for the king and today it is a dish served at traditional Korean festivals or on special occasions like birthdays and weddings. The dish is usually garnished with toasted sesame seeds and chili threads and served cold or hot.

What is Japchae made of?

Besides dangmyeon, japchae is traditionally made with some vegetables, mushrooms, and meat, all seasoned with soy sauce and sesame oil. Mostly, shiitake, wood ear, and oyster mushrooms are used.

Does Japchae contain meat?

Yes, japchae is made with meat, usually beef or pork. However, you can always go for a vegan version of Japchae. In this case, you simply replace the meat with tofu or your favorite meat alternative. It is also possible to replace it with even more delicious vegetables. You can check out this recipe from Bianca Zapatka.

Are glass noodles vegan?

Glass noodles are made from water and vegetable starch, usually yams, potatoes, cassava, canna, batata, beans, and mung. Being made from only these two ingredients, glass noodles are in fact vegan. Glass noodles, often also called dangmyeon, are frequently used for all types of Korean noodle dishes like fried noodles or a Korean glass noodle salad.

Is Japchae gluten-free?

Because Japchae is made with soy sauce, it is not considered gluten-free. Soy sauce is made from crushed wheat and soy beans and therefore contains gluten. On the other hand, the other ingredients like meat, vegetables, mushrooms, and glass noodles do not contain any gluten. That means that Japchae which is not made with soy sauce is gluten-free. It is possible to buy gluten-free soy sauce, so make sure to check the ingredients beforehand.

Is Japchae Vegan?

Although there are some vegan alternatives, traditional Japchae unfortunately is not vegan.