Quick Yaki Udon (Stir-Fried Udon Noodles)

Yaki udon is a Japanese stir-fried udon noodles with vegetables, protein, and savory sauce. Prepare it in 15 minutes using simple 5-ingredient yaki udon sauce for a delicious weeknight meal.

“Thank you! It was delicious and quick. Kids gobbled it up and Hubby and I also enjoyed it.” 

Esther

Many people love a quick stir-fried noodle dish for an easy and satisfying meal, and yaki udon is one of my favorites because it’s flavorful and simple to make. Udon noodles are thick and chewy, perfect for soaking up the delicious sauce. Plus, you can cook this meal in only 15 minutes.

For this Yaki Udon recipe, I use ground pork, but you can easily customize it. Swap in ground chicken for a chicken Yaki Udon, or use beef or shrimp for a tasty seafood or beef version that everyone will enjoy.

What is Yaki Udon?

Yaki Udon (焼きうどん) is a popular Japanese noodle dish made with thick, chewy udon noodles stir-fried in a savory sauce. “Yaki” means grilled or pan-fried in Japanese.

This stir-fried udon noodle dish typically includes meats such as beef, pork, or shrimp, cooked with vegetables and seasoned with soy sauce, mirin, and sometimes ginger. Its simple ingredients and quick preparation make it a popular choice for a fast and tasty meal.

Originating in southern Japan after World War II when food was scarce, this popular noodle dish was often consumed in pubs. It emerged from a noodle shop replacing soba noodles with thick and chewy udon noodles during a food shortage.

While this popular Japanese stir-fried noodle dish shares similarities with its counterpart, Yaki Soba, the key distinction lies in the noodles: While Yaki Udon features thick, chewy noodles, its counterpart, Yaki Soba, uses thinner, wheat-based soba noodles.

Ingredients Needed

• Udon noodles: I recommend using frozen Sanuki udon noodles. You can find it in the freezer section at most Asian grocery stores.
  • The noodles usually precooked, so you will just need to soak them in hot water to defrost before adding to stir-fry.
• Protein: You can use any of your preferred protein including thinly sliced beef, pork, chicken, or shrimp. I chose to use ground pork for this recipe. Pork belly slices are another common protein used.
  • If you want this noodles to be vegetarian or vegan, replace with plant-based protein, tofu, mushroom or other types of your favorite vegetables.
• Vegetables: Cabbage and carrot are great for this recipe. However, you can also substitute them with any vegetables you have on hand. Some good options include bok choy, baby kale, spinach, bell pepper, zucchini, or any other vegetables you prefer.
• Bonito flakes: Bonito flakes are dried and smoked fish flakes with a savory, umami flavor. They make a great garnish. However, they can be omitted without affecting the dish’s taste.

For Yaki Udon Sauce

• Soy sauce and Oyster sauce: Adds flavor and umami
• Dark soy sauce: Adds darker color and enhance their appearance, making them more appetizing. If you prefer a lighter color, you can replace it with regular soy sauce.
• Sweet rice wine (Mirim) and sesame oil: For added sweetness and nutty fragrance

How to make Yaki Udon

Preparing Udon Noodles for Stir-Fry

Udon noodles are thick, chewy wheat noodles that are vegan and dairy-free, though not gluten-free. For stir-frying, pre-cooked udon noodles are ideal. If using fresh or dried udon, cook them briefly according to the package directions since they are often partly cooked already.

Cook udon noodles. Place the frozen udon in hot water for 1 to 2 minutes until they begin to loosen. Gently separate them with chopsticks or tongs, being careful not to break them. Once flexible, drain them in a colander and rinse quickly with cold water. Set them aside until needed for your recipe.

Make Yaki Udon Sauce

Prepare the Sauce and Protein. Start by mixing the sauce ingredients in a bowl and set it aside. Then, heat a tablespoon of oil in a wok or large frying pan on high, and cook the ground pork or your chosen protein until it’s well done.

Stir-frying

Stir-fry vegetables. In the same wok or skillet, add more oil and stir-fry the cabbage and carrot for 2 to 3 minutes until they begin to soften. Then, add the green onions and garlic, continuing to stir-fry for another 30 seconds.

Add noodles and sauce. Toss them all together thoroughly to make sure the noodles are evenly coated in the sauce.

Serve and Enjoy!

Garnish with bonito flakes. It adds another layer of umami taste. Enjoy this flavorful noodles while hot!

Helpful Tips

The recipe is straightforward, but a few tips can improve your udon stir-fry and guarantee perfect results.

1. Prepare veggies and sauce in advance. As with any stir-fry, yaki udon cooks quickly in a hot skillet. Make sure to chop your vegetables and prepare the sauce ahead of time.
2. Don’t overcook the udon noodles. You will be cooking them more with other ingredients in the frying pan, so they don’t need to be soft yet. Overcooking them can ruin their texture.
3. Use a large skillet or wok. A wok is great for quick heat distribution and easy stirring, but a large skillet also works well if it’s big enough for the veggies and noodles.

More Noodle Recipes to Try

• Jajangmyeon (Korean Black Bean Noodles)
• 5-Minute Kimchi Ramen
• Bibim Guksu (Korean Cold Noodles)
• Easy Japchae (Korean Glass Noodles)
• Beef Gochujang Noodles
• Hong Kong Style Cantonese Pan-Fried Noodles

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