Beef Yaki Udon is our favourite quick & easy Japanese stir fry recipe that’s big on flavour!
Beef Udon Stir Fry is one of our family’s favourite recipes to cook at home when craving a tasty trip to Japan.
This healthy recipe features common ingredients you’ll find in your cupboards and fridge so it makes for a great last minute meal. It’s ready to serve in under 30 minutes.
You’ll love cooking our flavourful Beef Udon Noodle Stir Fry recipe featuring Japanese noodles, sesame oil, sliced steak, cabbage, carrots, shallots, garlic, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, maggi sauce, scallions and sesame seeds.
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What Is Yaki Udon?
Yaki Udon is Japanese stir fry recipe prepared with thick, smooth white noodles, mixed with a soy based sauce, meat and vegetables. It’s similar to another Japanese stir-fried noodle dish called yakisoba, which use almost the same ingredients with the substitution of ramen-style wheat noodles.
Yaki Udon is simple to make, and popular as a staple of Japan’s izakaya pubs, eaten frequently as a late night snack. It originated in Kokura, Fukuoka Prefecture in southern Japan after the Pacific War.
The widely accepted story of how the dish was created dates back to just after World War II, when food was scarce. The owner of the noodle restaurant Darumado used udon in popular yakisoba preparations because the proper noodles were not available.
Travel to Japan by Cooking Beef Yaki Udon at Home
I love traveling through Asia.
My first visit had me living in South Korea for a year as a teacher and it’s where I was first introduced to fermented vegetables like kimchi.
After my contract ended in Seoul I travelled throughout southeast Asia for 6 months, visiting India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Macau and the Maldives.
I spent 2 weeks traveling by bus and bullet train through Japan in the warm summer months. I started in Yokohama then explored Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka.
What I found most fascinating is Japan’s distinct regional food cultures. Much like the regional cuisines found in France, Germany, Italy or Spain, each town in Japan had its own local speciality.
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Where To Eat Beef Udon Stir Fry
If you live in a large city in Canada or America you’ll likely have access to a local Japanese restaurant that serves authentic Beef Yaki Udon.
Haven’t traveled to Japan before? It may be helpful to first sample Beef Udon Stir Fry at a local Japanese restaurant to better understand how the dish is served. You can determine if you prefer sirloin or ribeye steak, the best vegetables to toss into your wok and what side dishes to accompany the popular noodle recipe.
In Toronto, popular Japanese restaurants in Yorkville, King West and Ossington that may serve Beef Udon Noodle Stir Fry include Sara, Fuwa Fuwa, Benihana, Hapa Izakaya, Koyoi, Kingyo, Santouka Ramen, Japango, Sushi Inn, Okonomi House and Kasa Moto.
My Family Loves Beef Udon Noodle Stir Fry
My family loves feasting on Beef Yaki Udon Bowls.
Whenever my family dine at a Japanese restaurant for dinner I order up all the sushi and my dad eats a massive plate of grilled meat like yakitori or teriyaki, all to himself.
I knew my parents would enjoy this easy Beef Yaki Udon recipe as they love the simplicity of stir frying. They’re also big fans of tender steak, slippery noodles, healthy vegetables, and umami-forward Asian sauces.
This dish is a star in the kitchen during busy weeknights as all of the ingredients can typically be found in your fridge or cupboards.
It’s particularly popular with picky kids and if you double the recipe leftovers make for a great lunch the following day.
Health Benefits
Our homemade Beef Yaki Udon recipe is packed full of healthy ingredients!
Beef is a great source of protein and minerals like iron as well as an excellent source of the amino acid L-carnitine. Beef also features antioxidant glutathione known for its anti-aging benefits.
hAn excellent source of vitamins K and C, cabbage helps keep your bones, blood, and immune system healthy.
An excellent source of vitamin A and the phytochemical beta-carotene, carrots help keep your eyes and bones healthy, and may help protect against several types of cancer.
Onions are a humble vegetable packed with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Regular consumption of onions can help boost digestive health and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
It is only recently that scientists have begun to identify the components responsible for garlic’s myriad health benefits. Rich in phytochemicals and potassium, garlic helps boost your immune system, fight cancer and protect your heart.
A useful source of copper, calcium, manganese, and phosphorus, sesame seeds help support circulatory, digestive and skeletal health.
Japanese Cooking Tips
This yummy homemade Beef Yaki Udon recipe is quick and easy to make at home.
- We suggest preparing this Japanese stir fry recipe in a large nonstick skillet or wok.
- We typically use sliced sirloin or ribeye steak in this recipe but you could substitute for another tender beef cut like tenderloin.
- You can purchase fresh or dried udon noodles online or at your local Asian supermarket.
- We love this Japanese noodle bowl recipe as it’s a great way to use up old leftover vegetables in your fridge. We’ve used traditional green cabbage, carrots and scallions but you can also use red bell pepper, broccoli or sugar snap peas.
What To Serve with Beef Yaki Udon
We love serving this healthy Beef Yaki Udon recipe as a light lunch all on its own or as a side dish for a Japanese-inspired dinner.
If you’re hosting an Asian potluck or buffet you might want to serve our easy Beef Udon Stir Fry with dishes like Ponzu Chicken Stir Fry, Okonomiyaki Japanese Pancakes, Thai Pork Rib Soup with Vermicelli, Grabong Northern Thai Pumpkin Fritters, Gai Pad Med Mamuang Thai Cashew Chicken, Gaeng Keow Wan Thai Green Curry Chicken, Pad Kra Pao Thai Basil Stir-Fry, Seafood Laksa, “Rojak” Singapore Salad, and Filipino Spicy Coconut Chicken Wing Stew.
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How To Make Beef Yaki Udon Stir Fry Recipe
Beef Yaki Udon Stir Fry
Equipment
- Wok
- French knife
- Large pot
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 300 g Dried Udon Noodles
- 1 tsp Sesame Oil
- 200 g Sirloin or Ribeye Beef chopped
- 200 g Green Cabbage cored and thinly sliced
- 1 cup Carrots julienned
- 1/2 cup Shallots thinly sliced
- 3 Garlic Cloves minced
- 1/2 cup Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Hoisin Sauce
- 1 tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 2 tsp Maggi Sauce
- 2 tbsp Scallions chopped
- 2 tsp Sesame Seeds
Instructions
- Cook the noodles in a large pot of boiling water until tender. Drain, rinse and drain again.
- In a nonstick skillet or wok, cook the beef in sesame oil, flipping with tongs to ensure a sear on both sides, approximately 2 minutes.
- Add the cabbage and carrots and cook, stirring, until they soften and start to brown. Stir in the garlic and shallots and cook until fragrant. Add the noodles, soy sauce, hoisin, oyster sauce and Maggi sauce. Cook, tossing until the noodles are heated through and evenly sauced.
- Garnish with sliced scallions and sesame seeds.
Nutrition
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