Dancing Bonito Flakes Udon Stir-fry
Dancing Bonito Flakes Udon Stir-fry
A Delectable Udon Stir-fry with Dancing Bonito Flakes: A Guaranteed Crowd-Pleaser!
This udon stir-fry, featuring chewy udon noodles, vibrant vegetables, and succulent seafood, is topped with dancing bonito flakes for an irresistible gourmet dish. It’s a flavorful and visually appealing meal that everyone is sure to love.
Main Ingredients- Udon noodles, 2 servings
- Shrimp, 5-6 (peeled and deveined)
- Squid, 1 (body only, cleaned)
- Onion, 1 (thinly sliced)
- Bean sprouts, 160g (trimmed)
- Shiitake mushrooms, 2 (stems removed, thinly sliced)
- Carrot, 1/3 (thinly sliced)
- Green bell pepper, 1 (seeds removed, thinly sliced)
- Cooking sake, 1 Tbsp (to remove seafood odor)
- Bonito flakes, 2 handfuls (for garnish)
Seasoning- Soy sauce, 2 Tbsp
- Mirin (sweet rice wine), 2 Tbsp
- Vegetable oil, 1 Tbsp
- Sesame oil, 1 Tbsp
- Salt, to taste
- Soy sauce, 2 Tbsp
- Mirin (sweet rice wine), 2 Tbsp
- Vegetable oil, 1 Tbsp
- Sesame oil, 1 Tbsp
- Salt, to taste
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, to ensure a crisp texture, wash the bean sprouts thoroughly under running water. Trim off any dirty roots and drain them well, setting them aside.
Step 2
Clean and prepare the squid. Score the body diagonally at about 1cm intervals to create a ‘pinecone’ pattern. This decorative scoring not only looks appealing but also helps tenderize the squid, making it more enjoyable to eat. Be careful not to overcook, as it can become tough.
Step 3
Blanch the prepared squid and shrimp in boiling water with 1 Tbsp of cooking sake. This step helps remove any fishy odors and keeps the seafood tender and slightly firm.
Step 4
Your ‘pinecone’ squid, blanched in sake, is now ready. It’s delicious as is, but it will add a wonderful texture and flavor to our stir-fry.
Step 5
Once blanched, cut the squid into bite-sized pieces and peel the shrimp. Thinly slice the green bell pepper, onion, and carrot into uniform strips for even cooking. Slice the shiitake mushrooms thinly after removing the tough stems.
Step 6
Now, let’s cook the udon noodles. Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the udon noodles. Gently separate them as they cook to prevent clumping. Once cooked to your liking, immediately rinse them under cold water to remove excess starch and drain well. This helps achieve a perfectly chewy texture.
Step 7
Heat 1 Tbsp of vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the sliced onion, carrot, bean sprouts, and shiitake mushrooms. Stir-fry until the vegetables are slightly tender but still retain some crispness. Avoid overcooking them.
Step 8
Once the vegetables have softened slightly, add 1 Tbsp of cooking sake, 2 Tbsp of mirin, and 2 Tbsp of soy sauce, stirring well to combine. Let the sauce coat the vegetables briefly before adding the cooked udon noodles. Stir-fry to allow the noodles to absorb the flavors. Finally, toss in the sliced green bell pepper and the blanched seafood (squid and shrimp), stir-frying quickly until everything is well combined.
Step 9
It’s time to season the udon stir-fry. If you have mentsuyu (noodle dipping sauce), adding 1-2 Tbsp will significantly enhance the umami flavor. If not, a tiny pinch of salt should be enough to adjust the seasoning. (Tip: Using oyster sauce will add sweetness and create a flavor profile closer to Chinese stir-fries, which is different from the traditional udon stir-fry. Choose based on your preference!)
Step 10
Just before turning off the heat, drizzle in 1 Tbsp of sesame oil for a fragrant finish. This will give your udon stir-fry a beautiful sheen and a wonderful aroma.
Step 11
Plate the delicious udon stir-fry attractively. Finally, generously sprinkle the bonito flakes on top. They will dance and flutter in the heat, creating a captivating visual presentation that will impress your guests.
Step 12
The sight of bonito flakes ‘dancing’ and fluttering in the steam rising from the hot udon is truly magical. While I regret not capturing this enchanting moment in a photo, I highly recommend you do!
Step 13
For an extra kick and a smoky flavor, consider adding a little chili oil while stir-frying. This will give your udon stir-fry a spicy, wok-hei aroma, making it reminiscent of a stir-fried Jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup).
Step 14
Packed with fresh seafood and a variety of colorful vegetables, this udon stir-fry offers both satisfying textures and excellent nutrition. The addition of bonito flakes elevates it further, creating a truly exceptional dish that is a feast for both the eyes and the palate. Enjoy!
