Japchae (glass noodles) with beef and vegetables

Serves 4-6

2 tbs roasted sesame oil 5 tbs soy sauce

1 tbs honey good grinding of black pepper

2 large garlic cloves, peeled and crushed with a pinch of salt

150g beef, very thinly sliced 150g fresh spinach sunflower oil, for frying 1 large egg, beaten with a pinch of salt

250g sweet-potato glass noodles

½ large white onion, peeled and thinly sliced 1 large carrot, peeled and julienned

6 shiitake mushrooms, sliced 2 tsp roasted sesame seeds

Mix together the sesame oil, soy sauce, honey, black pepper and garlic in a bowl. Spoon 2 tbs of this mixture into another bowl and add the beef. Mix well and leave to marinate for at least 15 mins. Reserve the rest of the soy sauce mix. Rinse the spinach. Place a pan over a medium heat and add the spinach with water still clinging to the leaves. Toss the spinach for 1-2 mins until it has wilted. Transfer to a bowl to cool, then squeeze out the excess water with your hands, making a ball of spinach. Slice it in two and set aside. Heat a frying pan over a medium heat and add a little of the sunflower oil. Pour in the beaten egg and fry for a couple of minutes on each side until just set. Remove from the pan and cool, then roll up the omelette and slice into thin strips. Bring a large pot of water to the boil, add the noodles and cook for 7-8 mins until just tender. Drain and set aside. Heat a large heavy pan or wok over a medium to high flame and add 1 tbs sunflower oil. Add the onion, carrot and mushrooms and stir-fry for 3 mins. Transfer to a bowl. Add 1 tbs sunflower oil to the pan, add the beef and stir-fry for another 3 mins. Transfer to a bowl. Return the cooked noodles to the pan, along with the reserved soy sauce mixture. Toss over a medium heat for 2 mins until the noodles have absorbed all the sauce. Return all the reserved cooked vegetables, the beef, and half the egg strips to the pan, and combine together. Place in bowls with the remaining egg strips and sesame seeds scattered on top.