Notes
Yaki soba translates as fried noodles in Japan. Technically, fried soba noodles. If you can get hold of these, they are deliciously nutty and will add great texture to the dish. If you can't, any noodles - wheat or rice, dried or fresh - will work just fine.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. vegetable oil/light olive oil/leftover fat from recently cooked meat (e.g. Honey, soy & lime chicken thighs)
1 red onion (or brown), sliced
1 clove garlic, crushed/1 tsp. garlic paste
3cm ginger/1 tsp. ginger paste
1 green (or any other colour) pepper, sliced
4 chicken thigh fillets/leftover cooked thighs/steak strips/prawns/pork/tofu - really anything goes here, fresh or leftover
2 portions noodles
2 spring onions
sesame seeds (not vital, but adds a bit of texture)
Sriracha or your favourite chilli sauce (not crucial, but adds an extra flavour elment, and a bit of spice)
Pickled ginger (I wouldn't buy this especially - unless you are a Japanese food nut, it's unlikely you'll get through it all. I, however, had a little sachet leftover from some sushi. If you find yourself in the same situation, or it works beautifully here!)
For the sauce:
1 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. oyster sauce (if you don't have this, you can just up the soy and Worcestershire sauces to 1.5 tbsp. each)
1/2 tbsp. tomato ketchup
1/2 tsp. sugar
Method
If using leftover meat, shred or slice it into bitesize pieces.
Combine your sauce ingredients.
Put your oil or reserved fat in a frying pan or wok over a high heat.
When it starts running freely, add your red onion and cook, while stirring, until it starts to become translucent.
Add the garlic and ginger, and stir-fry for one minute until they start to become fragrant.
Add the green pepper, and stir until starting to soften.
Start to prepare your noodles (either with a pan or boiling water or in the microwave).
Add your chicken (or other protein) to the pan, and stir until hot.
Add the stir fry sauce, and stir until starting to bubble.
Drain your noodles (if boiling them), add add to the pan, stirring thoroughly so they become coated with the delicious sauce.
To serve, place your yaki soba in a dish or on a plate, and top with your spring onions, a drizzle of Sriracha, a sprinkling or sesame seeds and a few slices of pickled ginger (if using!). Bon appetit!