Yaki Udon Recipe (Stir-Fried Udon Noodles)

Guys, let’s take a minute to talk about the most delicious yaki udon recipe I’ve just made. It’s insanely good and so easy to make, and I think you’re going to be just as obsessed with it as I am.

Yaki udon is honestly such a great midweek dinner. It’s so satisfying after a long busy day, and you can make it in a flash. With this recipe, you only need a handful of ingredients for the sauce, and the noodles are ready to stir-fry in a jiffy.

This is such a versatile base, and you’ll be able to add all sorts of ingredients to it. You’re pretty much going to have a dish ready in 15-20 minutes, ready to go, and super tasty.

What is yaki udon?

So, yaki udon is a noodle dish made with Japanese noodles that get stir-fried in a tasty sauce. There are different meats and vegetables that can get added to it. 

It’s full of yummy umami ingredients like soy sauce and oyster sauce. Udon noodles are used to make this dish.

Udon noodles are made from wheat flour, water, and salt.

Ingredients you’ll need

Here are the ingredients you’re going to need for this recipe:

Main ingredients

• 2 packets of udon noodles
• 2 cups of mixed stir fry vegetables like bok choy, snap peas, mushrooms
• 2 scallions
•  ½ lb ground pork
• 1 TBS avocado or vegetable oil

Sauce

• 2 TBS dark mushroom soy sauce
• 2 TBS oyster sauce
• 1 TBS mirin
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• ½ tsp rice wine vinegar

Yaki udon recipe (stir-fried udon noodles)

Here are the recommended steps for whipping up your own mouth-watering Yaki udon recipe:

Step 1:

Make up the sauce. In a small bowl, mix together the dark mushroom soy sauce, oyster sauce, mirin, brown sugar and rice wine vinegar. Give the ingredients a little stir and set the sauce aside.

Step 2:

To cook the noodles, add them to a pot of salted boiling water. You’re going to need to stir the noodles with a fork until they have separated and are bendy. 

Cook them for roughly 2 minutes. Be very careful not to overcook them.

Step 3:

Strain the pot and noodles through a sieve or colander. Rinse them under cold water to stop them from cooking further. If you’re not ready to use them straight away, mix through a tiny bit of oil to stop them from sticking together.

Step 4:

Add the oil to your frying pan. Brown the pork meat for a few minutes. Add in the veggies and stir-fry them together with the meat until they are cooked.

Step 5:

Add the noodles and sauce. Go slowly with the sauce so that you get the right amount. Cook everything together for another 3 minutes so that all the elements are coated and cooked through. Serve!

How to store & reheat

If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Ensure everything has cooled to room temperature before storing it. The dish will keep in the fridge for about 3 days.

Tips and tricks to make the best yaki udon noodles

• If you are cooking your noodles in advance, make sure you rinse them in cold water and then toss them in a little oil. This process will keep the noodles apart and stop them from sticking and drying out.
• Use frozen noodles. This delivers a really great chewy texture which the dish is actually famous for. Cooking the noodles from frozen prevents the noodles from becoming mushy and overcooked.
• If you don’t have dark or dark mushroom sauce, use regular soy sauce and mix in a little bit of molasses. This will help you to get the same depth of color in your dish. To replace the mushroom flavor, use dried mushrooms. This way, you won’t miss out on the lovely savory flavor.

FAQ

What is yaki udon sauce made of?

There are a couple of key ingredients in this sauce; here they are- dark mushroom soy sauce, oyster sauce, mirin, brown sugar, and rice wine vinegar. 

These simple ingredients are also very easy to find, and all you need to do is whisk them lightly together to get them ready to pour over the noodles.

What is the difference between udon and yaki udon?

Udon refers to the kind of chunky and chewy Japanese noodle that is we use this dish. Yaki means grilled. 

Yaki udon is therefore describing the dish of udon noodles that have been stir-fried, whereas udon is purely related to the noodles.

Are yaki udon noodles healthy?

Yaki udon noodles are pretty healthy in that they consist of simple ingredients. The wholesomeness of the dish also comes down to what you add to it.

You can make a super healthy version of this by loading the dish with vegetables. Note that the noodles are vegan and dairy-free but not free from gluten. These noodles will give you lots of great fiber and protein.

What is the difference between yakisoba and yaki udon?

Yaki udon is a traditional Japanese stir-fried noodle dish that is made from thick wheat noodles. Udon noodles are then cooked up with meats and vegetables, and a lovely sauce is added to them. 

Yakisoba, on the other hand, is a pretty similar dish that is made with thin noodles and a slightly different sauce.

What is the difference between fresh and dried udon?

Generally, both fresh and dried noodles are available although the dried noodles are more widely found. 

Dried udon noodles are a little denser than fresh ones which are very springy. Both are totally delicious.

Wrapping it up!

As you can see, this is a super simple mid-week meal that you’ve got to try. Making this yaki udon recipe is a total cinch and can be whipped up with easy-to-find ingredients. 

I just love all the chewy goodness these noodles have to offer. Not to mention the savory sauce! Give it a try, and let me know what you think about it.

Other yummy Asian dishes you’d love

• Healthy Chinese Lemon Chicken Recipe
• Korean Mozzarella Corn Dog Recipe
• Easy Sushi Bake Recipe Salmon Edition
• Instant Pot Sushi Rice Recipe (Perfectly Cooked!)
• Miso Salmon Cheesecake Factory Recipe (So good!)