Janchi guksu is a simple warm noodle dish made with thin wheat flour noodles (somyeon) that are usually in a clear anchovy or beef broth! It's an easy comfort food that's very popular in Korea.
1 or 2tablespoonssoy sauce (or soup soy sauce)Do not make the broth too dark.
salt to tasteSeason lightly if using the optional sauce.
Toppings (see note):
1/2zucchini (about 3 ounces, julienned)
1small carrot (3 ounces, julienned)
3Mushroom caps
1egg
Optional toppings
3ouncestender beef, cut into thin strips, seasoned with 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic, and pinch black pepper
3ounceskimchi, thinly sliced, mixed with 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil, and 1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/4 sheet gim (roasted dried seaweed sheet), cut into short strips or crushed
1/2scallion - green part, chopped
Yangnyeomjang (sauce) - Optional:
2tablespoonssoy sauce
1teaspoonKorean chili pepper flakesgochugaru
1/2teaspoonsesame oil
1/2teaspoonsesame seeds
1/2teaspoongarlic
1scallion finely chopped
Mix all sauce ingredients well and set aside.
Instructions
Broth
Prepare anchovy broth (or your choice of broth), and season with the soy sauce, salt and pepper to taste. Keep it hot over low heat while preparing the toppings and noodles.
Toppings
Lightly sprinkle salt over julienned zucchini and set aside for 5 - 10 minutes. Squeeze out excess liquid from salted zucchini by hand. Sauté in a lightly oiled skillet over medium high heat (1 - 2 minutes). Push the zucchini to a side and sauté the julienned carrots and mushrooms over medium high heat (1- 2 minutes), sprinkling salt and pepper to taste.
Beat the egg well, and fry into a thin sheet (jidan). Roll it up and thinly slice. Alternatively, you can drizzle the beaten egg in to the hot broth before ladling it over the noodles.
Optional toppings
Beef: Sauté the beef for 2 - 3 minutes over medium high heat.
Kimchi: Thinly slice with the kimchi, and mix with 1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil, and 1/4 teaspoon of sugar.
Noodles
Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Cook somyeon noodles according to the package instructions (about 3 minutes). Drain quickly and shock in cold water to stop cooking. Continue to drain and rinse in cold water. Make two one-serving size mounds as you remove from the water. Place the mounds in a colander to drain.
Place the noodles in serving bowls. Ladle the hot broth over the noodles to cover all the noodles, and pour it back to the pot by holding the noodles with the ladle. This will warm the noodles. Ladle the hot broth over the noodles again. Nicely arrange a small amount of each topping on top of the noodles. Finish the dish off with a sprinkle of the optional chopped scallions. Serve warm with the optional sauce on the side.
Notes
This recipe shows 4 toppings and other optional topping possibilities. Feel free to pick and choose any number or combination of them.