RECIPE: Konbu Cha Stir Fried Noodles

Japanese stir fry noodles are often served by street vendors at outdoor festivals and parks, but they also make for a quick and easy meal at home!

Stir fried noodles are a favorite meal in Japanese homes because of their simplicity and versatility. Try this quick recipe for an authentic and mouth-watering Japanese meal!

This recipe’s seasonings and flavors will complement many types of ingredients so feel free to adjust the ingredients list with what you have in your kitchen. This recipe can be customized with the noodles, proteins, and vegetables you have on hand, making it the perfect meal to whip up quickly!

Though many noodles can work for this recipe, we recommend udon noodles, especially the 5 grain beauty udon or mozuku udon noodles. These udon noodles will give your stir fry meal a hearty, chewy texture that cannot be easily replicated with other noodles. The savory and whole grain flavors of these noodles will elevate your stir fry meal beyond your typical udon noodles!

The seasonings in this recipe are the true stars that will pull together any ingredients you choose to include. Make sure to not to skip the sake, sesame oil, or the konbu cha, as these are the flavors that will bring an authentic Japanese taste to your meal!

Sesame oil is an essential ingredient in Japanese cooking and this will bring a wonderful aroma to your stir fry dish! Its light roasted sesame flavor will add a robust flavor without overwhelming the other seasonings. Make sure to sprinkle on the konbu cha to add complex, umami flavors to deepen the taste of your stir fry!

Once you have these key Japanese ingredients in your kitchen cabinet, you will be able to toss up this stir fry recipe for a simple yet flavorful meal! This recipe is also meal-prep friendly and is easy to whip up when you have limited time!

Servings: 1

Ingredients

• 1 serving udon noodles (we recommend 5 grain beauty udon or mozuku udon noodles)
• 100g shrimp (peeled and deveined)
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp sake (plus extra for sprinkling on shrimp)
• 1 garlic clove (finely chopped)
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• ½ tsp konbu cha
• 2-3 leaves of basil (julienned)

Instructions

1. Boil the noodles as per the instructions on the package.
2. Sprinkle salt, pepper and sake on the shrimp.
3. Heat the sesame oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and fry briefly until it becomes aromatic.
4. Add the shrimp and cook until their color changes.
5. Add the noodles and sake, and cook stirring over low heat for 2-3 mins.
6. Increase the heat to high and add the Konbu Cha. Stir to combine and add the basil.

Introduction courtesy of Kimberlee Laney

As a Japanese-Korean-American, my love for Japanese food first came from my grandmother's kitchen! Japanese food feels like home and I love being able to cook it anywhere in the world to connect with Japan in my own little way. I love diving deep into the layers of Japanese food and always marvel at the food diversity between prefectures. I'm currently eating my way through Tokyo and taking up photography with my Instagram account @capturingkim!