Yakisoba (Japanese Fried Noodles/焼きそば)
September 10th, 2009 | 30-Minute Meals Recipes, Eating Light, Japanese Recipes | 30 Comments
When I was in Oahu, other than stuffing my face with malassadas (malasadas), sampling local Hawaiian cuisine, and feasting on shrimp, I ate Japanese food almost every day. Oahu is a real gem for Japanese food, thanks to the many Japanese tourists and also locals who are obsessed with Japanese cuisine.
There are countless authentic Japanese restaurants dotting Waikiki Beach: ramen joint, sushi bar, izakaya, and yakiniku (Japanese BBQ). I was in Japanese food heaven during the vacation; the abundant seafood and fresh produce accentuate the already great taste to tempting perfection…(get Yakisoba recipe after the jump)
Yakisoba or Japanese fried noodles/焼きそば is one of the dishes I particularly enjoyed during my stay there. Yakisoba is pretty much the Japanese version of Chinese chow mein, but there is a certain appeal about yakisoba—the ramen noodles and the sharp-flavored benishoga (picked ginger strips) make yakisoba a bright-tasting noodle dish. I loved it.
I made yakisoba yesterday, using the simplest and mostly inexpensive ingredients. The end result was two servings of deeply satisfying and filling meal, all for less than $5. I am entering this yakisoba post to Blog Away Hunger, a charity event pioneered by my friend Marc at No Recipes. It’s an ongoing event that fights global hunger and in support of The World Food Program.
If you are a food blogger, I strongly urge you to participate in this event because doing good deeds shouldn’t have to wait till the holidays. If you are a reader and would like to participate, click here to donate now. Thank you!
Ingredients:
12 oz. yakisoba (rinsed with water and drained)
3 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
2 oz. pork (cut into small pieces and marinated with some soy sauce)
2 oz. cabbage (roughly chopped into pieces)
2 oz. carrot (cut into thin strips)
Some scallions (cut into thin threads)
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sake
1/2 teaspoon mirin
3 dashes white pepper powder
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
Salt to taste
Method:
Heat up wok with oil. Add garlic and stir fry until light brown in color. Add pork and do a few quick stirs before adding cabbage and carrot. Stir a few times and add noodles and all the seasonings. Continue to stir-fry until the vegetables and noodles are cooked, for 1-2 minutes. Transfer out and serve immediately with some benishoga (Japanese picked ginger).
Cook’s Note:
You can find fresh yakisoba noodles at Japanese stores or Asian stores. Usually, they come with yakisoba seasoning sauce. You can use the sauce or make yakisoba from scratch using my yakisoba recipe above.
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Bee, this looks delicious! Thanks for participating in Blog Away Hunger:-) All it takes is a 25 cents to provide a meal, so every little bit counts!
Thanks Marc. Yes, 25 cents could buy someone a yakisoba (or local fried noodles) somewhere. :)
Yum, love yakisoba. This recipe sound simple enough yet delicious.
Yes!
Oh, my dry-run for your chix satay and peanut sauce went well so it’s a go for Sunday!
Awesome, let me know how you like the satay and the sauce!
This looks so amazing :) do you think it would work with soba noodles or chow mein (in a pinch). We don’t have the widest Japanese ingredients here :)
Yes, you can use chow mein. Soba noodles will be too soft for this Yakisoba recipe. Good luck! :)
Yum, we love Japanese, not had yakisoba for ages, will have to try your recipe. Will have to compromise on the noodles though as we can’t get them in Spain.
Debs – good luck making yakisoba in Spain. Please share your yakisoba when you make it.
Yum! This is taking me down food-memory lane back to my trip to Japan several years ago. We do have a Japanese grocery here but I’ve never noticed any fresh noodles; I’ll have to inquire next time I’m there.
For the 2 oz. pork, would you just buy something like a single boneless pork chop at the butcher counter?
Correct. My first meal ever in Tokyo was a plate of yakisoba. So good!
Oh no! I was looking through all of your recipes for a noodle dinner inspiration last night (I had a craving) and didn’t see this post until this morning. It’s not a problem though because I often have noodle cravings- about twice a week. :) Thanks for this recipe. It’s going to satisfy me next week I’m sure.
Yes, I have cravings for noodles all the time too, and this yakisoba is great.
yummy… I love japanese food! Especially fried noodles. It reminds me my travel in Japan last year!!! Thank you sharing…
Yes, yakisoba already reminded me of my travel to Japan!
Delicious. You mentioned the pickled ginger– benishoga. Is this served on the side or incorporated in the yakisoba as an ingredient?
They are served on top of the yakisoba, but I served it on the side. It’s up to you.
yum..very simple and reminds me of the time when i went to cairns and it was littered with awesome jap food!
Cairns with Japanese food, that’s interesting. Haven’t been to that part of Australia.
i just adore yakisoba! they’re my favourite noodle dish ever! and your recipe looks so delicious! i love your blog and photos, lovely!
cheers from london,
pity
Thanks for the comment, yes, I love yakisoba too.
Looks amazing! I tend to eat this lots at Wagamamas restaurants, but I’m sure yours is much better!!!
Andy – http://onceuponathyme.wordpress.com/
I have never tried gyoza at Wagamamas. We don’t even have Wagamamas here. :(
Hi Bee,
This recipe looks great! I love yakisoba..I also love okonomiyaki!
Keep it up. I just got back from Japan and was in heaven with the food :)
Brian
Yes, food in Japan is great. I love it, too.
This looks delicious, and I’m all for inexpensive dishes!
Yes, yakisoba is cheap and good.
Awesome recipe! One place to find yakisoba noodles is the store World Market; if you have one near you. My husband and I buy ours there and they are very good. My husband even said they were the best noodles he had had since he left Japan after living there for around 3 years. Hope this can help someone who doesn’t have an oriental market near them :D