KOREAN CHAP CHAE (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• Soak Chinese mushrooms in 1 cup hot water for 20 minutes.
• When they have softened, cut off the hard stems and slice the caps fine.
• Drop spinach into 10 cups of boiling water and boil rapidly for 2 minutes. Drain, run under cold water then squeeze out as much moisture as possible.
• Peel carrot, cut into 3 sections and then into fine julienne strips.
• Wipe off the fresh mushrooms and break off their stems. Cut the caps into very fine slices. Cut the nonwoody part of the stems into matchstick pieces.
• Cut away and discard the curly, tender part of the cabbage leaves. Save only the V-shaped core of the leaves and cut this into julienne strips.
• Cut the scallions into 2 1/2 inch sections and quarter the section with the bulb lengthwise.
• Combine the Chinese mushrooms, spinach, carrot, zucchini, mushrooms, cabbage, and scallions in a bowl. Mix well, separating all the spinach leaves.
• Heat the vegetable oil and the sesame oil in a wok over a medium-high flame. When hot, put in the garlic and stir-fry for 10 seconds.
• Add all the vegetables in the bowl. Stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes or until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
• Turn the heat to low, and add the drained noodles, soy sauce, and salt. Stir well, distributing the noodles evenly, and cook 2 to 3 minutes.
• Season to taste.