Yaki udon

 From Joshua Weissman

Made it once as written but going to add some changes in here.  

For the sauce, maybe double it-

1/4 cup dark soy sauce

1/4 cup oyster sauce (don't sub this out) you can sub for Bullhead bbq sauce

2 tbs mirin

2 tbs shirodashi (i just used some dashi grains 1/2 tsp, that we have on hand but I will be looking for this the next time we go to the market)

2 tbs rice wine vinegar

35 grams grated palm sugar or we used 1/2 tbs regular sugar 

For the stir fry-

1 lbs fresh noodles, the recipe calls for udon but our udon is super thick and a kiddo is not a fan, use whatever you like

Oyster mushrooms if you like 'em (100 grams worth)

We used used more sweet onion cut into julienne strips (1/2 medium sweet)

1 cup rough chopped cabbage (we used more since we didn't have the mushrooms)

3 green onions cut into 3 inch strips

2/3 pound ground pork (or turkey if you still can't find pork)

salt and pepper to taste

pinch of MSG

3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

Optional toppings-

Chili oil

bonito flakes

sesame seeds

more green onions

Cook the noodles according to package directions but cut off a minute or two

Drain and add a little sesame oil to prevent it from sticking

If your wok, add some oil to the pan and swirl around, coating the entire inside

Pour out and save the oil

Over medium high heat, add in your ground pork (the video had something on the pork but he didn't mention it, probably salt or MSG)

Smash the meat into a small disk and then leave it alone, you'll want to get a nice crispy crust on the bottom

After a few minutes, turn over and do it again then break it up with small pieces

Remove from the pan

Add in the reserved oil and stir fry the mushrooms and onions and stir fry for 2-3 minutes to get some color on it

Add in the cabbage and green onion and cook until you get a little color, do not over cook

Add your meat and noodles back into the party and toss everything to incorporate 

Season with salt, pepper, and MSG

Add in the sauce and toss some more (you know you're doing it right when you need to clean your stove again)

Turn off the heat and add the garlic, toss some more

Serve with toppings if you like

Can't call them toddlers anymore review-

The kids liked it so much that adults only got small tastes.  Once you get everything prepped, it comes together pretty quickly

Update 11/2021-

We really don't like mushrooms and had some water chestnuts and bok choy on hand.  This recipe got that treatment.  We used the dark green tops and a little of the white parts of the bok choy in place of the cabbage.  Add in the water chestnuts at the end just to heat through.  We use pork chops diced up instead of ground meat.  Also a hit  This is like stir fry, use whatever you have and it'll be good.