Savory Bacon and Bean Sprout Udon Stir-fry
Easy Homemade Bacon and Bean Sprout Udon Stir-fry Recipe
This is a stir-fried udon recipe that I often make at home. It’s simple, yet packed with flavor and delightful textures.
Stir-fry Essentials- 1 pack Udon noodles or Chinese noodles
- 40g Bacon
- 150g Bean sprouts
- 30g Chives
- 3 cloves Garlic, thinly sliced
- 50g Cabbage, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 stalk Green onion, diagonally sliced
- 1/3 Carrot, julienned
- Vegetable oil, as needed
Flavorful Sauce- 1.5 Tbsp Sugar
- 3 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Oyster sauce
- 1/3 Tbsp Hondashi (or Dashi powder)
- 1/4 cup Water (approx. 50ml)
Garnishes- 5 Smoked anchovies
- Mayonnaise, as needed
- 1.5 Tbsp Sugar
- 3 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Oyster sauce
- 1/3 Tbsp Hondashi (or Dashi powder)
- 1/4 cup Water (approx. 50ml)
Garnishes- 5 Smoked anchovies
- Mayonnaise, as needed
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare all your ingredients first. Cut the bacon into 1cm strips and the cabbage into similar bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the garlic and diagonally slice the green onion. Julienne the carrot. For the smoked anchovies, remove the heads and innards, then finely grind them in a blender or mortar until powdery. This anchovy powder will add a special savory depth to your dish!
Step 2
Let’s make the delicious sauce! In a bowl, combine 1.5 Tbsp sugar, 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp vinegar, 1 Tbsp oyster sauce, and 1/3 Tbsp Hondashi (or dashi powder). Add 1/4 cup (approx. 50ml) of water and mix gently until well combined. Your flavorful sauce is ready!
Step 3
Boil the udon noodles according to the package instructions. Once cooked, rinse them immediately under cold water to firm up the texture and drain well. Set aside.
Step 4
Heat a generous amount of vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the cabbage, carrot, and green onion. Stir-fry quickly for about 1-2 minutes until they are slightly tender but still crisp. This helps bring out their natural sweetness.
Step 5
Once the cabbage starts to soften and lightly color, add the bacon and sliced garlic to the pan. Continue to stir-fry until the bacon is cooked through and slightly crispy, and the garlic is fragrant. The rendered bacon fat will add wonderful flavor.
Step 6
When the ingredients are well-cooked and slightly browned, add the bean sprouts. Stir-fry briefly, just until the bean sprouts are slightly wilted. They should retain some crispness. Adding about 1/4 cup (50ml) of water at this stage can help the bean sprouts cook faster and allow the sauce to coat everything evenly.
Step 7
Add the cooked udon noodles and the prepared sauce to the pan. Stir-fry over medium-high heat, tossing everything together until the noodles and vegetables are well coated with the sauce and heated through. Use chopsticks or a spatula to ensure the noodles don’t clump and the sauce is evenly distributed.
Step 8
Just before turning off the heat, toss in the chopped chives and give it a quick stir. The fresh, mild onion flavor of the chives adds a final touch of freshness to the dish.
Step 9
Transfer the stir-fried udon to a serving plate. Sprinkle the prepared smoked anchovy powder generously over the top and drizzle with mayonnaise to your liking. Your delicious Bacon and Bean Sprout Udon Stir-fry is ready to be enjoyed!
