Description
Yaki Udon is a quick and flavorful Japanese stir-fried noodle dish made with thick udon noodles, fresh vegetables like bok choy and shiitake mushrooms, and a savory sauce featuring vegetarian oyster sauce, soy sauces, and a touch of honey and sriracha for subtle sweetness and heat. This vegetarian-friendly recipe is perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal that’s easy to prepare and packed with umami flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 4 scallions, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 cup sliced shiitake mushrooms
- 3 cups chopped baby bok choy
Noodles
- 500 grams udon noodles, cooked according to package directions
Sauce
- 2 tbsp vegetarian oyster sauce (or regular if you aren’t vegetarian)
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp mirin (can substitute 1 tbsp dry sherry or 1 tsp rice vinegar)
- 1 tbsp honey or agave
- 1 tsp sriracha
Cooking Oil
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions
- Prepare stir fry sauce: In a small bowl, mix together vegetarian oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, mirin, honey (or agave), and sriracha until well combined. Set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped scallions and garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Cook vegetables: Add sliced shiitake mushrooms and chopped baby bok choy to the skillet. Stir and cook for 3-4 minutes, allowing the vegetables to become tender and the bok choy to reduce in volume.
- Add noodles and sauce: Add cooked udon noodles to the skillet along with the prepared stir fry sauce. Toss everything together to evenly coat the noodles and vegetables with the sauce.
- Brown the noodles: Let the noodles cook undisturbed for at least 30 seconds to allow slight browning on the bottom, enhancing the texture and flavor.
- Serve: Remove skillet from heat and serve the yaki udon immediately while hot.
Notes
- Use vegetarian oyster sauce for a vegetarian or vegan version; regular oyster sauce can be used otherwise.
- Mirin can be substituted with dry sherry or rice vinegar for similar acidity and sweetness.
- For spicier noodles, increase the sriracha amount according to taste.
- Ensure udon noodles are cooked and drained well before stir-frying to avoid sogginess.
- This dish can be customized with additional vegetables or protein such as tofu or chicken.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Japanese
Keywords: Yaki Udon, Japanese stir fry noodles, udon recipe, vegetarian udon, shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, quick stir fry
