Yaki Udon Pork noodles are yummy sweet and salty, satisfyingly chewy Japanese noodles you can whip up in six easy steps.
In Japan Yaki means grilled, and Udon means noodles, and these Japanese Yaki Udon Pork noodles are exactly what you want for a yummy weeknight dinner everyone will go for.
What does Yaki Udon taste like?
Yaki udon noodles are that perfect combination of sweet and salty. We’ll use brown sugar, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine and mirin for a really scrummy sauce, and the pork gives us a bit more of that salty flavour.
- Pork: Use minced pork and let it fry a little on the pan before you turn it. This means it’ll caramelise, and won’t turn mushy or grey.
- Vegetables: We’ll use shallot, mushroom, green onion, carrot, capsicum.
- Noodles: Udon noodles - these wheat noodles have a high wheat to water ratio and are dense and chewy.
- Sauce: brown sugar, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, mirin, and sesame oil.
How to make Yaki Udon
Yaki Udon can be made in just six easy steps. Like most stir fries, we want to work quickly, so the vegetables and noodles don’t overcook, so it’s best to get everything prepared before you start.
- Make the sauce
- Prepare the vegetables
- Brown the pork - make sure you let it brown on one side before stirring to give it that caramelised flavour
- Add the vegetables
- Add the noodles and the sauce
- Serve topped with sesame seeds and remaining green onions
Check out the full details in the recipe card.
What’s the difference between Yaki udon and Yakisoba?
Yakisoba are smaller and thinner noodles than udon noodles that are used in this dish. They are actually not soba noodles, but wheat noodles.
Top tip for Yaki Udon
It might look like you can’t fit all the vegetables in your wok or frying pan. Don’t worry, they will reduce as they are cooked, and things will be able to fit in much more easily.
Substitutions
- Alternative proteins - Instead of pork you can use minced chicken or beef.
- Vegetarian - Leave out the pork. Option to add an egg if you like.
- Dairy Free - This dinner is dairy free.
- Gluten Free - Use ready cooked rice noodles instead of udon noodles, and swap soy sauce for tamari.
Kid-Friendly Variations
- Option to reserve plain raw carrots and capsicum slices for your child’s plate.
- Serve noodles alongside vegetables.
Equipment
You will need a wok or deep frying pan, a stovetop.
More Noodle Recipes
If you like Noodles, you should try
- Mee Goreng Noodles
- Sesame Noodles
- Dan Dan Noodles
- Teriyaki Salmon with Soba Noodles and Greens
- Honey Garlic Beef with Noodles
Recipe
Yaki Udon
Equipment
- Wok or deep frying pan
- Stovetop
Ingredients
- 500 g pork mince
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
- 2 teaspoon mirin
- 2 tablespoon sesame oil 3 tablespoon total for the recipe
- 2 shallots
- 300 g brown mushrooms
- ½ bunch green onion
- 1 carrot
- 1 red capsicum
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil 3 tablespoon total for the recipe
- 400 g udon noodles ready to eat
- 2 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Remove pork from the fridge to bring to room temperature.Make a sauce by mixing brown sugar, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, mirin, and sesame oil in a bowl.500 g pork mince, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, ¼ cup soy sauce, 3 tablespoon Shaoxing wine, 2 teaspoon mirin, 2 tablespoon sesame oil
- Peel and finely dice shallots. Finely slice mushrooms. Slice green onion in ½ cm pieces. Peel and slice carrot into batons. Slice capsicum.Option: Add your child’s portion of capsicum and carrot to their plate now.2 shallots, 300 g brown mushrooms, ½ bunch green onion, 1 carrot, 1 red capsicum
- Heat a wok or deep frying pan on high heat. Add sesame oil and pork mince, and let the mince cook on one side for a minute before breaking up, then cook for another 4-5 minutes or until browned, stirring only occasionally.1 tablespoon sesame oil
- Reserve half the green onions, then add all remaining vegetables and stir fry for 3-4 minutes or until starting to soften.TIP: The vegetables will reduce, so don’t worry if they don’t all fit in your wok at first.2 shallots, 300 g brown mushrooms, 1 carrot, 1 red capsicum
- Add the udon noodles and sauce and stir through to coat, and until noodles are warm.400 g udon noodles
- To serve kids, add noodles to their plate with the vegetables.For adults, serve Yaki Udon in big bowls topped with sesame seeds and top with remaining green onion. Yum.2 tablespoon sesame seeds
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