Globecooking recipe : Pork Yakisoba (Japan)

The last time I made something like this, I called it rainbow noodles because of all the different coloured veggies peeking out through the dish. This time, I've gone for a Japanese name because it used a packet of soba noodles that were lurking in the back of the cupboard, but the sauce is a pure invention of my own, more pan-Asian than specifically Japanese. It was very nice and very kid-friendly, because of the sweet sauce, and I was amazed at how many veggies they ate !

Soba is the Japanese name for buckwheat, which explains their brown colour and nutty flavour. They have a rough texture, very similar to spaghetti.

Pork Yakisoba

ingredients :

leftover roast pork

a pack of Soba noodles (300g)

1 courgette

1 large onion

2 carrots

4 broccoli florets

1/2 red pepper

2 mushrooms

drizzle of olive oil

a generous glug of soy sauce

a generous glug of garlic & Chinese spice stir fry sauce

a generous glug of kecap manis (sweet soy sauce)

a squeeze of lime juice

Start by prepping all the veggies. Use a potato peeler to cut off ribbons of carrot and finely slice everything else.

Chop the roast pork into bite sized pieces.

Cook the soba noodles in boiling water for 3 minutes, drain, chill in cold water and drain again. Reserve.

Heat the olive oil in a large wok. I used half lemon-infused and half chilli-infused oil to add extra flavour. Toss in the onions.

Once the onions have started going soft, add the pork and stir fry for 4 minutes until the pork is warmed all the way through.

Throw in all the veggies and stir-fry for a further 5 minutes until they are softer but still crunchy.

Add the sauce ingredients - I just gave a generous squirt of everything straight in the pan, then tasted and added extra as needed. The kecap manis is a wonderfully sweet and sticky soy sauce, but you could just add regular soy sauce and a spoonful of sugar.

Toss it all around to coat everything in sauce.

Add the noodles, cook for 2 minutes to heat them through then serve.

Douzo meshiagare - that's "enjoy your meal" in Japanese !

*** Don't miss my country-by-country globecooking recipe index ! ***

Fancy trying some more Japanese dishes? How about Horenso No Shira-aé, Kamo no Teriyaki & Yakisoba, Kyuri Nu Sunomono, Matcha & White Chocolate Muffins or Yakiniku-inspired Beef Stir Fry ?

Adding to this month's #KitchenClearout linky as it used up a pack of soba noodles that were lurking in the cupboard and finished up the leftover pork from the Sunday roast.