Yakisoba

Introduction

Yakisoba is a classic Japanese stir-fried noodle dish made with pork, vegetables, and noodles coated in a savory-sweet sauce. It’s a popular home-cooked meal in Japan, but you’ll also often find yakisoba sizzling on large griddles at Japanese festivals.

This easy version is packed with pork and vegetables and comes together in one pan, making it a satisfying meal for busy days or an easy way to bring a little Japanese festival flavor to your kitchen.

Ingredients

[Servings : 3]

• Yakisoba noodles: 3 packs
• Pork: 200 g
• Carrot, julienned: 1/2
• Onion, sliced: 1
• Cabbage, chopped: 230 g
• Bonito flakes: 1 g

Sauce

• Worcestershire sauce: 4–5 tbsp (adjust to taste)
• Soy sauce: 2 tbsp + 2 tsp
• Mirin: 1 tbsp
• Sugar: 1½ tsp
• Water: About 20 ml (if needed)

Toppings

• Sesame: As desired
• Green onions, chopped: As desired

Instruction

1. Mix all the sauce ingredients together and set aside.
2. Cook the pork in a frying pan over medium heat.
3. Add the onion, carrot, and cabbage. Cover with a lid and steam for a few minutes, until the vegetables soften and the carrot is tender.
4. Add the yakisoba noodles. If they are difficult to separate, add a little water to help loosen them.
5. Pour in the sauce and stir-fry until the noodles, pork, and vegetables are evenly coated.
6. Finish with bonito flakes.

Tips

• Add only a little water when loosening the noodles to prevent the finished yakisoba from becoming watery.
• Start with 4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, then add more to taste if you prefer a stronger flavor.
• Yakisoba is a classic Japanese festival food and pairs well with other matsuri-style dishes such as grilled corn and cucumber pickles.
• For more Japanese festival recipes and food culture, you can link readers to your related Substack article here.