Yaki Udon Recipe, is an easy Japanese noodle dish made with fresh udon, vegetables, tofu and a flavourful 4 ingredient yaki noodle sauce. Enjoy it on its own or with pickled ginger for a satisfying meal.
Yaki Udon Recipe
Yaki soba, similar to this yaki udon is a dish which I tried for the first time during our trip to Japan, when we went out for an okonomiyaki meal. The waiter brought a bowl filled with vegetables, noodles, and sauce, and cooked it right in front of us on a hot griddle.
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He tossed everything together, and as the noodles cooked, they became slightly crispy and caramelized from the heat. It was served piping hot, straight from the griddle, and tasted absolutely delicious.
About Yaki Udon Recipe
“Yaki” (焼き) is a Japanese term which means stir fried, grilled or pan fried. Udon is the name of the noodle. Yaki udon literally means stir fried noodle dish with a thick coating of flavourful sauce. It is another popular dish from Japan like my Napolitan or Ketchup Pasta.
Yaki udon is my favorite week night meal, this noodle dish comes together in a matter of minutes and is packed with lots of vegetables, crumbled tofu as protein and an addictive yaki noodle sauce.
The most popular noodle dish is Yaki soba in which soba noodles is used instead of udon noodles. This dish is popular because of the thick, chewy udon noodle just drinks up the sauce.
I made this entirely vegetarian, but you can easily use minced chicken, lamb, pork or beef instead of tofu. You can use any vegetables that you prefer, any choice of mushrooms can be used as well.
This recipe is easily customisable to your taste buds. If you don’t have any particular sauce, you can swap it with the substitutions mentioned below.
Similar Recipes
The main flavouring of this noodle dish is the sauce. You have to make thick and flavourful sauce which coats each strands of the chewy udon noodles.
If you cannot find vegetarian oyster sauce, you can swap it for hoisin sauce or even miso paste. Dark soy sauce should be used which gives the udon noodles the iconic dark colour.
And regarding udon noodles, you can use dried form which is easily sourceable. Or you can find fresh udon which is available in the freezer section of super market. I used shelf staple fresh udon.
You will enjoy my other soba noodles dish like this soba chicken noodles stir fry or this soba chicken noodle salad.
Ingredients
- Udon noodles – I am using fresh udon, i can directly add it into the vegetables. if you are using dried udon, you need to cook them in salted boiling water before tossing into the vegetables.
- Protein – I used firm tofu, but you can use minced chicken, lamb, pork or beef instead of tofu.
- Aromatics – you need garlic, onions for this dish.
- Yaki Noodles Sauce – you need dark soy sauce, mirin, vinegar, oyster sauce (check above for substitution) water and brown sugar.
- Vegetables – mushrooms, carrots, cabbage, bell peppers, bok choy pairs wel with this stir fry.
- Spices – I used salt, black pepper powder and red chilli powder. You can use gochugaru or paprika too.
Step by Step Pictures
Yaki Udon Sauce
1)For Making yaki udon sauce, you need dark soy sauce, mirin, vinegar, oyster sauce (check above for substitution) water and brown sugar.
2)Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and set aside.
Sear Tofu
3)Heat 2 to 3 tablespoon of oil in a wok. Add in crumbled tofu. Instead of tofu you can use minced chicken also. Pour in 2 tablespoon of the yaki udon sauce over the tofu.
4)Fry on high heat till tofu is browned and seared in the sauce.
Fry Aromatics
5)Now add in sliced onions, sliced mushrooms and chopped garlic into the tofu and stir fry on high for a minute.
6)The onions and mushrooms should be cooked for a couple of minute.
Stir Fry Vegetables
7)Add in sliced bell peppers, carrots, cabbage, bok choy and stir fry on high heat for 6 to 8 minutes.
8)The vegetables should be cooked down and seared for 3 to 4 minutes.
Make Yaki Udon
9)Add in fresh udon noodles into the vegetables. Since I am using fresh udon, i can directly add it into the vegetables. if you are using dried udon, you need to cook them in salted boiling water before tossing into the vegetables.
10)Pour in the yaki udon sauce over the noodles.
11)Add in salt, pepper powder, red chilli powder and toss on high heat for 4 to 5 minutes.
12)This is how it looks. The mixture and noodles will be caramelized.
13)Add in chopped spring onions and toss well.
14)Serve hot.
Expert Tips
Noodles – if you cannot find fresh udon noodles, you can add any noodles like egg noodles, soba noodles also.
Vegetables – any vegetables like bamboo shoots, baby corn, enoki mushrooms can be tossed in the noodles.
Protein – instead of tofu, you can use minced chicken, lamb, beef or pork. You can also use crumbled soya chunks.
Cook on high – make sure to stir fry the noodle dish on super high heat which caramelises the noodles creating the iconic colour.
Serving & Storage – you can serve this yaki udon as it is piping hot with picked ginger. Leftovers can be stored in fridge and reheated on a wok or microwave until hot.
FAQ
Can I use any other noodles in this dish?
if you cannot find fresh udon noodles, you can add any noodles like egg noodles, soba noodles also. You can also use spaghetti in this dish.
I don’t have a wok, can I cook this in a regular pan?
Any wide pan, skillet can be used to make this stir fry noodle dish.
Is this stir fry noodles can be packed in lunch box?
Yes, this is a great dish to pack in your kids lunch box. It has protein, vegetables and noodles which makes it a balanced meal.
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Yaki Udon Recipe (Japanese Noodle Recipe)
Yaki Udon Recipe, is an easy Japanese noodle dish made with fresh udon, vegetables, tofu and a flavourful 4 ingredient yaki noodle sauce. Enjoy it on its own or with pickled ginger for a satisfying meal.
Instructions
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Yaki Udon Sauce – For Making yaki udon sauce, you need dark soy sauce, mirin, vinegar, oyster sauce (check above for substitution) water and brown sugar. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and set aside.
-
Sear Tofu – Heat 2 to 3 tablespoon of oil in a wok. Add in crumbled tofu. Instead of tofu you can use minced chicken also. Pour in 2 tablespoon of the yaki udon sauce over the tofu. Fry on high heat till tofu is browned and seared in the sauce.
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Fry Aromatics – Now add in sliced onions, sliced mushrooms and chopped garlic into the tofu and stir fry on high for a minute. The onions and mushrooms should be cooked for a couple of minute.
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Cook Vegetables – Add in sliced bell peppers, carrots, cabbage, bok choy and stir fry on high heat for 6 to 8 minutes. The vegetables should be cooked down and seared for 3 to 4 minutes.
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Make Yaki Udon – Add in fresh udon noodles into the vegetables. Since I am using fresh udon, I can directly add it into the vegetables. Pour in the yaki udon sauce over the noodles. Add in salt, black pepper powder and red chilli powder and toss on high heat for 4 to 5 minutes.
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Garnishing – Add in spring onions and toss to combine. Serve hot.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Yaki Udon Recipe (Japanese Noodle Recipe)
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
