Yaki Udon

Name: Yaki Udon
Yield: serves 2
Ingredients: 1/4 cup dried wood ear mushrooms; 3 tablespoons vegetable oil; 2 ounces pork belly, thinly sliced; 6 large shrimp, peeled and deveined, with tails off, cut into 1/2-inch pieces; 1/4 cup sliced lotus root (renkon); 1/3 cup thinly sliced carrots (1-inch by 2-inch rectangles, 1/8 inch thick); 2 cups chopped napa cabbage; 1/2 thinly sliced onion; 1/4 cup sliced bamboo shoots; 1/4 cup stemmed enoki mushrooms; 1/4 cup shimeji mushrooms; 1/2 cup Udon Broth (page 66); 2 tablespoons Japanese soy sauce; 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 18 ounces frozen udon noodles (2 packages), thawed; Pinch of kosher salt; Pinch of black pepper; 1/4 cup finely shaved katsuobushi (bonito flakes)

December 9, 2011

This dish is perfect for anyone with a hearty appetite. In Japan, it’s especially popular with teenagers, who devour large plates of these satisfying and filling fried noodles. Yaki udon is also a staple of Japan’s izakaya, or eating pubs, especially as a late night snack or complement to a frosty mug of beer. This recipe works best in servings of two. If you’d like to make it for four people, just prepare the dish in two batches.

Recipe notes

White Bean Turkey Chili

A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

Rosemary and Dried Cherry Pork Chops

Rehydrating dried cherries in hot water turns them plump and juicy—exactly what you want scattered throughout a rosemary-scented pan sauce for pork chops.

Dulce de Leche

Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Frijoles Peruanos (Peruvian Refried Beans)

Mayocobas, or canary beans, are the quick-cooking pantry ingredient you should know about.

Gochujang Turkey Sweet Potatoes

Fully loaded, meal-prep friendly, and ready to be dressed up, down, or sideways.