Korean Beef Noodles

Post edit: I make this dish all the time!!!

My little brother will love me for this one. He served a 2 year mission for our church in South Korea, and has come home a changed man with regards to food. I mean, the kid used to hate mashed potatoes! I don't know how "authentic" this Korean dish is, but you HAVE to try it!

This is a new favourite for me with a nice mix of flavours and colourful vegetables. A little prep a few hours ahead of meal time if you choose to marinate the beef, but worth it!

Ingredients:

Time: 35 minutes total, prep work to do a few hours ahead of time.

Serves: 4

A. Marinade/soy sauce mixture (prepared ahead of time, a couple hours if you can)
***note: you will be marinating the meat in 2-3 Tbs of this only. Put the remainder of the marinade aside for later in the recipe.

• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 3 Tbs sesame oil
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 Tbs apple cider vinegar
• 12 ounce skirt steak or top sirloin, cut into 1/4 inch strips

B. Remainder of the dish

• 1 5-6 ounce package of vermicelli  rice noodles (spinach flavoured is great if you can find it)
• 4 Tbs sesame oil, divided
• 1 yellow onion, cut into 1/4 inch wedges
• 1 tsp salt
• 8-10 ounces of mushrooms, sliced (cremini or shiitake, about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1 cup matchstick carrots
• 6 cups (about 10 ounces) of baby spinach

Directions:

1. A few hours or the night before dinner, combine the soy sauce, 3 Tbs sesame oil, garlic, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar in a bowl. Place the strips of beef in a ziploc bag, and marinade it in 2-3 Tbs of the soy sauce mixture. Preserve the rest in a small container.
2. About 30 minutes before you want to eat, soak the vermicelli noodles in warm water for 5-10 minutes. Cut them up with kitchen shears.
3. In a large nonstick skillet pan over medium high heart, heat 2 tsps of sesame oil. Add the onion and 1 tsp of salt, and stir fry for 2 minutes. Add the beef and marinade and stir fry until the meat is cooked to desired doneness. Transfer to a large serving bowl.
4. Heat up 2 more tsps of sesame oil, add mushrooms and carrots, and stir fry for  3 minutes. Add the soaked noodles, 2 Tbs of the soy sauce mixture, and 1/3 cup water and cook for 3 minutes or until the noodles of just tender. Transfer into the serving bowl with the beef.
5. Add the remaining 2 tsps of sesame oil. Add the spinach and the remainder of the reserved soy sauce mixture. Cook and stir for 1 minute until the spinach wilts. Add to the beef bowl and toss.

Bon Appetit!

Cathy