Description
This Vegan Yaki Udon is a flavorful and colorful Japanese stir-fry noodle dish featuring chewy udon noodles, vibrant vegetables, and a savory, slightly sweet sauce made with soy, vegan mushroom oyster sauce, and mirin. It’s quick to prepare, perfect for a satisfying plant-based meal with a hint of spice if desired.
Ingredients
Noodles
- 10 ounces udon noodles (fresh or dried)
Vegetables
- 1 large red pepper, thinly sliced (about 1 cup)
- 1 ½ cups thinly sliced cabbage (about ¼ of a large cabbage)
- 1 large carrot, thinly sliced (about ½ cup)
- 3 ounces snow peas
Sauce & Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons vegan mushroom oyster sauce
- 1.5 tablespoons mirin
- ½ tablespoon dark brown sugar
- 1-2 teaspoons gochujang (optional, for spice)
Instructions
- Cook the Udon Noodles: Prepare the udon noodles according to package instructions. Fresh noodles should cook for about 2 minutes, while dried noodles typically need around 8 minutes. Once cooked, drain and set aside.
- Prepare Vegetables and Sauce: While noodles cook, thinly slice the red pepper, cabbage, and carrot. In a small bowl, combine the dark soy sauce, vegan mushroom oyster sauce, mirin, dark brown sugar, and optional gochujang to create the stir-fry sauce. Set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat sesame oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the sliced peppers, carrots, cabbage, and snow peas. Stir-fry the vegetables for about 5 minutes until the cabbage softens and the veggies start to develop charred edges.
- Add Noodles and Sauce: Incorporate the cooked udon noodles and prepared sauce into the wok. Toss everything together, ensuring noodles and vegetables are well coated. Continue to cook for 3-5 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and become sticky.
- Finish and Serve: Remove from heat. Serve immediately, optionally garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions for added flavor and texture. Enjoy your vibrant and hearty vegan yaki udon!
Notes
- Use fresh udon noodles for a softer texture or dried noodles for more chewiness.
- Adjust gochujang quantity to control the spice level or omit it for a mild taste.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like mushrooms or bok choy for variation.
- For extra protein, add tofu or tempeh alongside the vegetables during stir-frying.
- Mirin adds a subtle sweetness and depth; if unavailable, a splash of rice vinegar and a pinch of sugar can be substituted.
- Stir-fry on high heat to get a nice char and smoky flavor in the vegetables.
