Vegetarian Yaki Udon

Yaki Udon is a simple, delicious Japanese stir-fried noodle dish that’s easy to make at home.  Udon, thick wheat noodles often found in the freezer section of Japanese or Korean markets, provides the perfect base for this quick meal.  This vegetarian version uses mushrooms and baby bok choy, but you can add seafood or meat if desired.

Ingredients:

• 1 package of udon noodles
• 2 cups button mushrooms, sliced
• 2 baby bok choy, chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup white onion, sliced
• 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced

Ingredients for the sauce:

• 1 tbsp vegan oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp rice vinegar
• ½ tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp mushroom bouillon powder
• 2 tbsp water

Directions:

1.    Preparing the sauce: In a small bowl, mix together all sauce ingredients and set aside.

2.    Cooking the udon: Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the udon noodles according to package instructions.  Drain and set aside.

3.    Stir-frying the vegetables: Heat a little oil in a pan over medium heat.  Add the mushrooms and stir-fry for about 5 minutes until golden.  Add the white onions and stir-fry for another 2 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.

4.    Stir-frying the bok choy: In the same pan, add a little more oil and the minced garlic. Stir-fry until fragrant, about 1 minute.  Add the bok choy and stir-fry until tender, about 2-3 minutes.

5.    Combining everything: Add the cooked udon noodles and the sauce to the pan.  Stir-fry until the noodles are evenly coated and the sauce is absorbed.  Return the cooked mushrooms and onions to the pan and mix well.

6.    Serving: Garnish with green onions and serve hot.

Enjoy this flavorful, vegetarian yaki udon as a satisfying meal!