Yaki Udon Recipe Japanese Stir Fried Udon Noodles

Let’s talk about how to make yaki udon noodles, shall we? This is a Japanese dish of udon noodles that are stir fried with chicken and a mix of vegetables, including shiitake mushrooms, cabbage, carrot, and onion, until they tender and springy. The noodles simmer just enough to absorb all that wonderful flavor from the stir fry pan. It’s called Yaki Udon, and it’s incredibly satisfying. Yaki udon is similar to another Japanese stir fry dish called Yakisoba, which you may know, though there is a slight difference. Yaki udon uses udon noodles, which are thick, white noodles made from wheat flour. Udon noodles are dense and cook to a soft and springy finish. They have more of a chewy texture in the final dish. Yakisoba, on the other hand, uses soba noodles, which are made from buckwheat flour. They are nutty in flavor, somewhat grainier and more toothsome, more crispy when stir fried. The different noodles make a big difference in the final dish. Boom! Done! Your yaki udon noodles are ready to serve. Easy enough to make, isn’t it? You can really switch up the vegetables and make this as spicy as you wish. Toss in some hot peppers! Cook/soften the yaki udon noodles per your package instructions. Set aside onto a plate. Drizzle with a bit of oil to keep the noodles from sticking if desired. MAKE THE YAKI UDON SAUCE Whisk together the sake (or mirin), soy sauce, oyster sauce, and dashi powder together in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside until ready to use. MAKE THE YAKI UDON Stir Fry the Chicken. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a wok or large pan over high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then stir fry 2-3 minutes, or until cooked through. Set the chicken aside. Remaining Vegetables. Add the onions, carrots and cabbage. Cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes to soften, or until the vegetables are softened to your preference. Add the garlic and stir fry for 1 minute. That’s it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this yaki udon noodle recipe. Let me know if you make it. I’d love to hear how it turned out for you, and if you decided to spice it up! Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Japanese Soul Cooking, by Tadashi Ono and Harris Salat (affiliate link, my friends!)