Yakisoba (Mie Goreng Jepang)

Instructions

1. Gather all the ingredients. Freeze the pork belly slices for 10 minutes so that it's easier to cut. Nami's Tip: I recommend doubling the sauce recipe, just in case. It's hard to measure the vegetables and meat precisely, and if you end up adding more ingredients, you'll need more sauce so the yakisoba is flavorful.
2. Whisk together ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce, 4 tsp oyster sauce, 4 tsp ketchup, 2 tsp soy sauce, and 2 tsp sugar in a bowl until the sugar dissolves. Taste the sauce and add more sugar, if needed. For example, some ketchup is sweeter than others while some Worcestershire sauce is less sour than others. Set it aside.
3. Remove ¾ lb sliced ​​pork belly from the freezer. Cut crosswise into 1-inch (2.5-cm) pieces.
4. Cut ½ onion into ¼-inch (6-mm) slices.
5. Cut 4 inches carrots into 2-inch slabs. Then, cut them into julienne strips 2 inches (5 cm) long.
6. Remove the core from ¼ head green cabbage. Cut the cabbage wedge into slices 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide.
7. Then, cut the slices into bite-sized pieces.
8. Chop 2 green onions/scallions into 2-inch (5-cm) pieces. Cut any thick, white parts of the green onions in half lengthwise.
9. Remove the stems from 3 shiitake mushrooms. Cut the caps into ¼-inch (6-mm) slices.
10. Heat a griddle (I use a similar one; you can use a large frying pan or wok) on medium heat. When it's hot, add 2 Tbsp neutral oil. Then, unwrap 3 servings yakisoba noodles and add to the griddle. Nami's Tip: The pre-steamed noodles will come pressed together into squares. Place them as is on the grill.
11. When the bottom side of the noodles is heated, flip them. The goal here is to loosen up the noodles gently without breaking them into short pieces. If you force them to separate, the noodles will break. So be patient here.
12. With chopsticks, gradually loosen up the noodles. Once they have loosened up completely, transfer them to a plate.
13. Add the pork belly slices to the hot grill and separate the clumps into a single layer. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Nami's Tip: If you are not using pork belly, add 1 Tbsp oil to the griddle before adding your choice of protein.
14. Stir-fry until the pork belly is no longer pink.
15. Next, add the onion slices to the griddle. Stir to cook for 1–2 minutes, separating the onion layers as you cook. Nami's Tip: Cook the hard vegetables first, then add the soft ones. This helps retain the fresh texture and crunch of the vegetables without overcooking.
16. Add the carrots and cook for another 1–2 minutes.
17. Add the cabbage and shiitake mushrooms. Cook until they are almost tender.
18. Lastly, add the green onions and cook for 1 minute.
19. Place the yakisoba noodles on top of the protein and vegetables on the griddle. Then, drizzle ⅓ cup yakisoba sauce on the noodles. Taste the noodles and add more sauce, if desired.
20. Toss with a pair of tongs to combine the noodles with the sauce and other ingredients. Keep an eye on the noodles as they may stick to the skillet/wok. When the sauce is well distributed and the noodles are warmed through, transfer the yakisoba to individual plates.
21. Garnish with optional aonori seaweed and pickled red ginger. Serve immediately.
22. You can store any leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and in the freezer for a month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave to warm.