Yaki-udon (Chicken optional)

The only thing that takes a lot time with this recipe is soaking the shiitake mushrooms if you are using dried ones- we used fresh because we luckily can buy them that way.

We use dried Udon noodles, which are cooked for about 7 minutes (like cooking pasta) but you need to then immerse them in cold water until you need to add them into your stir-fry

As usual our recipe is for 2 people (well Zok's two people which honestly I think is more like three)

5 or so shiitake mushrooms - thinly sliced caps only (discard the stems)

half of a mushroom stock cube

(if you use dried mushrooms you'd soak your dried shiitake in boiling water and keep about 1/8 of cup of the liquid to add into the stir fry instead of using the cube)

1 clove of garlic crushed

1 tsp. grated fresh ginger

1 tbl. rice vinegar 

1 tbl. sugar

1/4 cup of soy sauce (Japanese - which is lighter than some)

1 tsp. lemon juice (fresh if you can)

250 g. / .5 lb of udon noodles (fresh if you have them)

250 g. firm tofu (we fried ours as small squares and then cut them into half)

250 g. / .5 lb of chicken thigh fillets thinly sliced* (optional)

1 clove garlic finely chopped

1 small red capsicum (bell pepper) thinly sliced

spring onion thinly sliced (about 2)

1 tsp. peanut or sesame oil

(this is a good dish to add in kale, cabbage, or any Asian greens although Zok doesn't always agree to that)

First combine your crushed garlic, ginger, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, lemon juice and mushroom stock into a large measuring cup- set aside

Cook your noodles (Fresh udon would only boil for a couple of minutes, whereas dried takes longer (Zok says 5-7 minutes and to add some olive oil to the water))

Now heat your wok on high, add about half your oil to coat (if you are going non-vegetarian you will now cook your chicken)*

Zok cooks his chicken to add in last- in a different walk (so one batch is completely vegetarian)

++Tip- If you are doubling this recipe, cook your chicken in batches, it should take about 5 minutes for each batch- cook and put aside, repeat.

If you are going veg- then start with just your oil, and add in the remaining garlic (the sliced garlic),  mushrooms, pepper (capsicum), and any other greens you choose and stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes to soften up your veg.

Add in your noodles and stir-fry for one minute

Now, add your chicken or just your tofu

add spring onion, the rest of your oil and your soy-spice-mushroom stock mixture

Just stir fry until everything seems coated 

Voila! You are done.