Rating: 5/5
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yaki Udon is one of the most famous Japanese stir-fry noodle dishes that uses thick and chewy udon noodles accompanied with vegetables and sauce and sometimes with chicken or tofu.
In fact, it’s one of the fastest meats to prepare and works wonders for a weeknight dinner.
The History of Yaki Udon
- Origin: Related to Yaki Udon, this dish probably has its roots coming from Japan in the early twentieth century.
- Post-War Creation: They say that it was developed after the World War II when there was a problem of scarcity of wheat used in the production of ramen. However, what people employed to develop this stir-fried food was udon noodles instead of soba or ramen.
- Regional Variations: Yaki udon may come in a variety of regional variations in Japan due to the use f regional ingredients and spices.
- Popular Street Food: It is a type of fast food for Japan and it defines the kind of food that can be taken at any festivals or roadside eateries but in Japan.
Read more: Beef Udon Noodles Recipe: 1 Of The Best Japanese Bowls
Ingredients for Chicken Yaki Udon
For this easy yaki udon recipe, you’ll need simple and accessible ingredients:
- Udon Noodles: 200g (fresh or frozen)
- Chicken Breast: 200g (sliced thin)
- Vegetable Oil: 2 tbsp
- Garlic: 2 cloves (minced)
- Onion: 1 small (thinly sliced)
- Cabbage: 1 cup (shredded)
- Carrot: 1 small (julienned)
- Bell Pepper: 1 small (sliced)
- Soy Sauce: 3 tbsp
- Oyster Sauce: 2 tbsp
- Mirin (optional): 1 tbsp
- Sugar: 1 tsp
- Green Onions: 2 (chopped)
- Sesame Seeds: 1 tsp (optional, for garnish)
- Pickled Ginger (beni shoga): for garnish
Step-by-Step Yaki Udon Recipe
Step 1. Prepare the Udon Noodles
Pitted medium-l large shrimp to skin and deveined Cook fresh or frozen udon noodles, as instructed on the package. When they are done, empty them and run under cold water so as to halt the cooking process. Set them aside.
Step 2. Prepare the Chicken
Finely chop the chicken breast that is cut lenghtwise into strips. It is important to season the chicken with additional 1 tbsp of soy sauce before grilling.
Step 3. Stir-Fry the Chicken
Heat 1 tbsp of vegetable oil in a large pan or wok, over medium high heat. Toss in the chicken and cook for about 4- 5 minutes till it had fully cooked through. Take out the chicken from that pan of drippings and keep aside for the subsequent stages.
Step 4. Cook the Vegetables
Put the remaining of 1 tbsp of oil into the pan. Saute the garlic for 30 seconds and until it turns to brown. As for the recipe, add the onions, carrots, cabbage, and bell pepper. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until the vegetables start to turn tender, yet still crunchy to the bite.
Step 5. Combine the Ingredients
– Put back the cooked chicken to the pan. Mix in the room temperature udon noodles and mix all the ingredients together. Add the soy sauce, oyster sauce, mirin if you used it and sugar into the mix. Stir the ingredients together so that the noodles and the chicken are coated with the sauce.
Step 6. Finish and Serve
Stir in the rest of the mix for another 2 minutes, ensuring everything is sauté nicely and hot. It is best served hot but can also be eaten cold accompanied by strips of green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and pickled ginger. Serve hot.
Nutritional value (Per Serving)
- Calories: 500 kcal
- Protein: 28g
- Fat: 15g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 5g
- Sodium: 1200mg
Tips for Making the Perfect Yaki Udon
- Use Fresh or Frozen Udon: For stir fry, fresh udon noodles have a slightly firm texture which is ideal for the dish. When preparing with dried udon noodles, do not overcooks them as they become very tough once dried out.
- High Heat Stir-Fry: Maintain high heat when stir-frying to make the vegetables a little Al dente with everything well-browned and crispy.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Use these techniques to stir fry in batches if this is necessary to avoid steaming the vegetables, instead of stir-frying them.
This chicken yaki udon recipe is a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and umami flavors with a satisfying mix of textures. It’s versatile, quick to make, and can easily be adapted to suit your taste.
Enjoy your homemade yaki udon and savor the authentic taste of Japan!
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