Beef Yakisoba Recipe

Beef Yakisoba is a classic Japanese stir-fried noodle dish featuring thinly sliced beef and a medley of vegetables, all tossed in a savory-sweet Yakisoba sauce4. “Yaki” means fried or grilled, while “soba” refers to noodles4. This dish is a quick and delicious one-skillet meal4.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make Beef Yakisoba:

For the Noodles:

• 2 tablespoons cooking oil, divided4
• ¾ pound thinly sliced beef4
• 8 ounces dried yakisoba or chuka soba noodles, or 16 ounces fresh or frozen yakisoba noodles4
• 1 carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks4
• ¼ green cabbage, thinly sliced4
• ½ onion, diced4
• 4 green onions, sliced4
• 6 shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced4
• Black and white sesame seeds for garnish (optional)4
• Red pickled ginger for garnish (optional)4

For the Sauce:

• ¼ cup soy sauce4
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce4
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce4
• 2 tablespoons hoisin4
• 2 teaspoons chile paste4
• 1 tablespoon sugar4

Alternatively, you can use these ingredients12:

• Vegetable oil12
• Minced garlic2
• Ribeye steak, thinly sliced2
• Yellow onion, thinly sliced2
• Green onions, cut into 1” pieces2
• Carrot, cut into matchsticks2
• Green Cabbage leaves, cut into 2” square pieces2
• Bean sprouts2
• Yakisoba noodles, already-cooked2
• Yakisoba Sauce2
• Benishoga Pickled Red Ginger Root, for serving2
• Aonori, Dried green seaweed, for serving2

Instructions

Follow these steps to create your own Beef Yakisoba:

1. Prepare the vegetables and beef: Slice the cabbage, julienne the carrot, and cut the steak into thin, bite-sized pieces. Season the steak with salt1.
2. Make the sauce: Whisk together the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin, chile paste, and sugar in a bowl. Set aside4.
3. Cook the noodles: Cook the yakisoba noodles according to the package directions until al dente, then drain4. Rinsing the noodles after cooking prevents them from sticking1.
4. Stir-fry the beef and vegetables: Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the beef until browned. Add onions and carrots and sauté. Add the mushrooms and cook until softened4. Next, add the cabbage and green onions along with the browned beef and the noodles to the skillet. Cook just long enough to heat everything through and wilt the cabbage4.
5. Combine: Add the noodles and the green onions to the pan, then add the prepared sauce, toss to combine and heat through for 2-3 minutes1.
6. Add the sauce: Add the sauce and cook, tossing to coat the noodles well with the sauce and mix everything together4.
7. Serve: Drizzle with sesame oil before serving. Garnish with black and white sesame seeds and red pickled ginger, if desired14.

Pro Tips

• For dried shiitake mushrooms, rehydrate them in boiling water for 20-30 minutes before using. Remember to remove the stems, as they can be woody1.
• If using fresh Yakisoba noodles, remove the noodles from their package, and place in a colander. Rinse well and drain. While rinsing you will have to separate the noodles with your hands5.

Serving Suggestions

Beef Yakisoba is a complete meal, but you can serve it with a Japanese Cucumber Salad or Cucumber Kimchi for added freshness4.