Indulge in the savory and bold flavors of this Beef Stir-Fry Yakisoba, featuring thin strips of tender meat, chewy noodles, and a colorful medley of vegetables. With a perfect blend of umami-rich ingredients, this dish will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving for more!
Yakisoba is a popular Japanese dish that originated from Chinese cuisine, particularly chow mein. The dish was introduced to Japan in the early 20th century and it quickly became a favorite street food due to its delicious taste and convenience.
Yakisoba, which means “fried noodles,” is made by stir-frying noodles with a variety of ingredients such as meat, vegetables, and sauce.
Over time, it has become a beloved dish in Japan, and many variations of yakisoba can be found across the country, from simple street and festival versions to more elaborate restaurant dishes.
What is Stir Fry Noodles Yakisoba?
Thin strips of sliced beef, pork, or chicken are stir-fried with a colorful medley of vegetables such as onions and cabbage leaves, and combined with your choice of noodles.
Dried shiitake mushrooms add a rich, earthy flavor to the dish, while bonito flakes and dried seaweed powder provide a subtle umami taste.
The dish is seasoned with a blend of soy sauce, oyster sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and sugar-free ketchup for a tangy, savory kick.
Whether you prefer regular noodles or a healthier low-carb option like shirataki noodles, this dish is sure to satisfy your taste buds.
Fun Fact – yakisoba, along with yakitori and takoyaki, is considered to be the official food served at Japanese summer festivals, known as omatsuri. It would be similar to your American corn dog or funnel cake.
What does beef stir-fry yakisoba taste like?
Yakisoba has a savory, umami-rich taste with a slightly sweet and tangy flavor from the sauce.
The noodles have a slightly chewy texture that complements the tender meat and crispy vegetables.
The dish is also often garnished with bonito flakes, which add a subtle smoky taste, and dried seaweed powder, which provides a unique umami flavor.
Where to buy yakisoba noodles?
To purchase yakisoba noodles, check out your local Asian grocery store. These noodles are often sold in packages with an instant yakisoba sauce packet included.
You can use this packet or make your own sauce using the recipe provided. Alternatively, chow mein noodles can be substituted for yakisoba noodles.
Expert Tips – yakisoba noodles are NOT the same as ramen noodles, buckwheat soba noodles, or spaghetti noodles.
What is the difference between chow mein and yakisoba?
Chow mein and yakisoba are both popular noodle dishes, but they differ in a few key ways.
- Chow Mein is a Chinese dish made with egg noodles that are boiled and then stir-fried with meat, vegetables, and sauce.
- Yakisoba is a Japanese dish made with wheat noodles that are also stir-fried with meat, vegetables, and sauce.
The main difference between the two is the type of noodles used and how it tastes.
Additionally, yakisoba often includes a variety of toppings such as bonito flakes and seaweed powder, which are not typically found in chow mein.
Is yakisoba healthy?
The healthiness of yakisoba largely depends on the ingredients used and the cooking method.
If you make it at home yourself, avoiding the ‘instant’ versions, it can be a healthy meal as you can control the amount of oil and the quality of the ingredients used.
Additionally, you can use low-carb noodles like shirataki noodles as an alternative to yakisoba noodles to make a healthier and low-carb version.
However, it’s important to note that some yakisoba recipes may contain high amounts of sodium or sugar, so it’s best to use sauces and sweeteners in moderation.
With the right ingredients and cooking techniques, yakisoba can be a healthy and delicious meal.
What ingredients do I need to make beef yakisoba stir fry?
- Sliced Beef/Pork/Chicken – thin strips
- Noodles – noodles of choice or shirataki noodles for a healthy low-carb option.
- Dried Shiitake Mushroom – purchased in a package at an Asian grocery store. Place in warm water to rehydrate and chop.
- Onion – fresh and loosely chopped.
- Cabbage Leaves – fresh and chopped.
- Neutral Oil – no taste or flavor with high cooking temperature. Some choices are sunflower oil, peanut oil, sallower oil, vegetable oil, and canola oil.
- Bonito Flakes – dried bonito flakes known as katsuoboshi in Japanese. Can be purchased at Asian grocery stores.
- Black Pepper – ground.
- Dried Seaweed Powder – ground and comes in a bottle. Can be found at Asian grocery stores.
- Beni Shoga – pickled ginger that is red in color.
- Sweetener – use your preferred sweetener.
- Soy Sauce – low sodium preferred. Can also use tamari for gluten-free and coconut aminos for keto.
- Oyster Sauce – a popular Chinese base sauce that is pre-bottled and found in Asian grocery stores.
- Sugar-Free Ketchup – can sub with regular ketchup but use half the sweetener.
- Worcestershire Sauce – a popular English sauce that is bottled and found in grocery stores.
How to make beef yakisoba?
The instructions to make yakisoba are very simple and easy!
Start with preparing the yakisoba sauce in a small bowl by combining sweetener, soy sauce, oyster sauce, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce.
Next, add onions in a large skillet or wok coated with oil, then meat, veggies and noodles. Cook until preferred tenderness is reached and add in the sauce.
Transfer to a serving plate and garnish with red pickled ginger, bonito flakes and sesame seeds.
Extra Ingredients – feel free to add some carrots, pieces of steak, or other vegetables
What dishes do you serve with yakisoba?
Yakisoba is traditionally served as a standalone meal, but it can also be complemented by a side salad or Japanese side soup.
While yakisoba is a satisfying and flavorful dish on its own, a light side dish can help balance out the flavors and add some variety to the meal.
Some popular Japanese side dishes that pair well with yakisoba
- Miso Soup
- Sunomono (a type of pickled vegetable salad)
- Edamame
Additionally, you could also serve yakisoba as a side dish to accompany other Japanese main dishes like tempura or sushi.
What is the nutrition information for this beef yakisoba? recipe?
- 382 Calories
- 6g Carbohydrates
- g0 Fiber
- 23g Protein
- 23g Fat
- 81mg Cholesterol
- 1111mg Sodium
- 578mg Potassium
- 4mg Calcium
- 4mg Iron
- 0ui Vitamin A
- 4mg Vitamin C
Looking for other Japanese stir fry recipes?
- Bean Sprouts and Pork Stir Fry
- Japanese Miso Eggplant Stir Fry
- Japanese Style Pork Stir Fry
- Garlic Butter Vegetable Stir Fry
- Japanese Shishito Pepper Stir Fry
Now, let’s get making this Stir Fry Noodles Yakisoba recipe!
- Prepping Time 10M
- Cooking Time 5M
- Total Time 15M
- Net Carb/Serv ~6g
- Serving 1
Ingredients
Stir Fry
- 1/4 lb Thinly Sliced Beef/Pork/Chicken
- 8oz Spaghetti Shirataki Noodles (or stir fry noodles of choice)
- 2 Pieces of Dried Shiitake Mushrooms
- 1/4 Cup Sliced Onion
- 2 Whole Cabbage Leaves
- 1 tbsp Neutral Cooking Oil (oil with no taste)
- 1 tbsp Bonito Flakes
- 1/8 tsp Black Pepper (optional)
- 1 tsp Dried Seaweed Powder (optional)
- 1 tbsp Beni Shoga (pickled red ginger) (optional)
Sauce
- 1 tbsp Sweetener (sugar alternative, sugar or preferred sweetener)
- 1 tsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tsp Oyster Sauce
- 2 tsp Sugar-Free Ketchup
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
Directions
1) Gather all the ingredients.
2) In a small mixing bowl, soak Dried Shiitake Mushroom in 1/2 cup warm water until softened. Approx 10 minutes. For faster results, put a heavy bowl on top of the mushrooms to weigh it down.
3) In the meantime, combine and mix all ingredients for sauce – sweetener, Soy Sauce, Oyster Sauce, Sugar-Free Ketchup and Worcestershire Sauce.
4) Finely slice onions.
5) Finely slice cabbage leaves.
6) Chop the meat into bite size pieces.
7) Prepare Shirataki Noodles by straining prepacked liquid and washing noodles under cold water. Set aside in a bowl. Note – skip this step if using traditional stir fry noodles and follow the cooking direction as indicted on the packaging.
8) After Dried Shiitake Mushroom are softened, remove from the bowl, finely slice and set aside.
9) In a large frying pan, add cooking oil and bring up to temperature over high heat. Once oil starts to lightly smoke, carefully add onions. Mix well and cook for 1 minute.
10) After 1 minute, add in meat and continue to mix and cook for additional 1 minute.
11) Add in cabbage and shiitake mushroom and cook until cabbage is tender, about 2 minutes.
12) Finally, add in Shirataki Noodles (or noodles of choice), sauce, and optional black pepper, mix well and cook for 1 more additional minute. Serve hot and top with Bonito Flakes and optional Dried Seaweed Powder and Beni Shoga (pickled red ginger).
Hope you enjoy your Stir Fry Noodles Yakisoba!
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Stir Fry Noodles Yakisoba
Ingredients
Stir Fry
- 1/4 lb Beef thinly sliced
- 8 oz Shirataki Noodles or stir fry noodles of choice
- 2 Pieces Dried Shiitake Mushrooms
- 1/4 Cup Onion sliced
- 2 Whole Cabbage Leaves
- 1 tbsp Neutral Cooking Oil oil with no taste
- 1 tbsp Bonito Flakes
- 1/8 tsp Black Pepper optional
- 1 tsp Dried Seaweed Powder optional
- 1 tbsp Beni Shoga optional pickled red ginger
Sauce
- 1 tbsp Sweetener sugar alternative, sugar or preferred sweetener
- 1 tsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tsp Oyster Sauce
- 2 tsp Sugar-Free Ketchup
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- In a small mixing bowl, soak dried Shiitake mushroom in 1/2 cup warm water until softened. Approx 10 minutes. For faster results, put a heavy bowl on top of the mushrooms to weigh it down.
- In the meantime, combine and mix all ingredients for sauce - sweetener, Soy Sauce, Oyster Sauce, Sugar-Free Ketchup and Worcestershire Sauce. Set aside.
- Finely slice onions and set aside.
- Finely slice cabbage leaves and set aside.
- Chop the meat into bite size pieces and set aside.
- Prepare Shirataki Noodles by straining prepacked liquid and washing noodles under cold water. Set aside in a bowl. Note - skip this step if using traditional stir fry noodles and follow the cooking direction as indicted on the packaging.
- After dried Shiitake mushroom are softened, remove from the bowl, finely slice and set aside.
- In a large fyring pan, add cooking oil and bring up to temperature over high heat. Once oil starts to lightly smoke, carefully add onions. Mix well and cook for 1 minute.
- After 1 minute, add in meat and continue to mix and cook for additional 1 minute.
- Add in cabbage and shiitake mushroom and cook until cabbage is tender, about 2 minutes.
- Finally, add in Shirataki Noodles (or noodles of choice), sauce, and optional black pepper, mix well and cook for 1 more additional minute. Serve hot and top with Bonito Flakes and optional Dried Seaweed Powder and Beni Shoga (pickled red ginger).
Video
Nutrition
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Cool! One question, we don’t have to pre-boil the shirataki?
Hey Judy!! You can if you want to, but I found just pan frying it at the end works fine. IMO, shirataki noodles doesn’t get too much softer than how it comes packaged, so boiling it wouldn’t amount to a noticeable difference.
Oh, I see what you are saying. Thanks for the reply!!
No problem!
I see this recipe is for a single serving, but a whole 8-oz pack of shirataki noodles seems like a lot for one person. Am I reading this right? Should I prepare 32 oz shirataki noodles when making this for my family of 4? Thanks in advance! I look forward to trying it!
Hello KT! 8 oz is definitely a big single serving that can be split into 2 servings for more of a medium appetite. We just went with a bigger serving as traditional Japanese yakisoba is usually a pretty big serving. Hope that answers your question!