Description
Yaki Udon is a flavorful and easy stir-fried udon noodle dish featuring tender noodles, mixed vegetables, and your choice of ground meat, all tossed in a savory sauce made from soy, oyster sauce, mirin, and a hint of sweetness. This quick and satisfying Japanese-inspired meal is perfect for weeknight dinners and can be easily customized with your favorite proteins and vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
Noodles and Vegetables
- 2 packets udon noodles (total 13 oz vacuum packed noodles)
- 2½ cups stir fry vegetables, chopped (mushrooms, bok choy, onions)
- 2 stalks scallions, cut 2 inches long
Protein
- ½ lb ground meat (beef, chicken, turkey, pork, or shrimp)
Oil
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil
Yaki Udon Noodle Sauce
- 2½ Tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 Tablespoon mirin
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon rice wine vinegar
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, mirin, brown sugar, and rice wine vinegar until the sugar is dissolved and the sauce is well combined.
- Cook the Ground Meat: Heat avocado oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground meat of your choice and cook, stirring and breaking it apart, until fully browned and cooked through.
- Add Vegetables: Add the chopped stir-fry vegetables and scallions to the skillet with the meat. Stir-fry together until the vegetables are tender-crisp, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add Udon Noodles: Add the udon noodles (if they are fresh or vacuum packed, loosen them up before adding) to the skillet. Toss everything together so the noodles mix evenly with the meat and vegetables.
- Add Sauce and Combine: Pour the prepared yaki udon sauce over the noodles, meat, and vegetables. Stir-fry everything together for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to coat all the ingredients and heat through.
- Serve: Once heated and well combined, remove from heat. Serve hot, optionally garnished with extra scallions or sesame seeds for added flavor and texture.
Notes
- Note 1: Vacuum packed udon noodles are typically pre-cooked and just need loosening before adding to the stir fry.
- Note 2: Use dark soy sauce for a deeper, richer umami flavor compared to regular soy sauce.
- Note 3: Oyster sauce adds a savory sweetness and depth to the dish; vegetarian oyster sauce can be used as a substitute if needed.
- Note 4: Mirin is a Japanese sweet rice wine that provides subtle sweetness and balance; if unavailable, a small amount of sugar can be used as a replacement.
Keywords: Yaki Udon, Stir-Fried Udon, Japanese Noodles, Easy Dinner, Stir Fry Noodles