Yaki udon

Japanese stir-fried udon noodle dish

Yaki udon

A plate of yaki udon with octopus

Yaki udon (_____) is a popular Japanese dish consisting of udon noodles stir-fried with a variety of ingredients. It is similar to yakisoba, which uses soba noodles, but yaki udon uses the thicker, chewier udon noodles. This dish is often prepared with a combination of vegetables, meat, or seafood, and is flavored with soy sauce, mirin, and other seasonings.

History

Yaki udon is believed to have originated in the Kansai region of Japan during the post-World War II era. Due to the scarcity of ingredients, cooks used whatever was available, leading to the creation of this versatile dish. Over time, yaki udon became a staple in izakaya (Japanese pubs) and teppanyaki restaurants.

Ingredients

The basic ingredients for yaki udon include:

• Udon noodles
• Soy sauce
• Mirin
• Vegetable oil
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Vegetables such as cabbage, carrot, and onion
• Meat such as pork, chicken, or beef
• Seafood such as shrimp or octopus

Preparation

Close-up of yaki udon with octopus

To prepare yaki udon, the udon noodles are first boiled until they are just tender. In a separate pan, oil is heated, and garlic and ginger are sautéed until fragrant. Meat or seafood is added and cooked until done. Vegetables are then added and stir-fried until they are tender-crisp. The cooked noodles are added to the pan, and the dish is seasoned with soy sauce, mirin, and other seasonings to taste. The ingredients are tossed together until well combined and heated through.

Variations

Yaki udon can be customized with a variety of ingredients based on personal preference or regional availability. Some popular variations include:

• Kimchi yaki udon, which incorporates spicy kimchi for a Korean twist.
• Curry yaki udon, which uses curry powder for a flavorful variation.
• Vegetarian yaki udon, which omits meat and seafood and includes a variety of vegetables.

Related pages

• Udon
• Yakisoba
• Japanese cuisine
• Teppanyaki