Yakisoba

nihongo|Yakisoba|焼きそば|, literally "fried noodles", is a dish often sold at festivals in Japan, but originates from China. The dish was derived by the Chinese from the traditional "chow mein", but has been more heavily integrated into Japanese cuisine like "ramen". Even though soba is part of the word, "yakisoba" noodles are not made from buckwheat, but are similar to "ramen" noodles and made from wheat flour.

"Yakisoba" usually refers to "sōsu yakisoba", flavored with yakisoba sauce.

It is prepared by stir-frying ramen-style noodles with bite-sized pork, vegetables (usually cabbage, onions or carrots) and flavoured with yakisoba sauce, salt and pepper. It is served with a multitude of garnishes, such as "aonori" (seaweed powder), "beni shoga" (shredded pickled ginger), "katsuobushi" (fish flakes), and Japanese mayonnaise.

"Yakisoba" is most familiarly served on a plate either as a main dish or a side dish. Another popular way to prepare and serve yakisoba in Japan is to pile the noodles into a bun sliced down the middle in the style of a hot dog, and garnish the top with mayonnaise and shreds of pickled ginger. Called yakisoba-pan, "pan" meaning "bread", it is commonly available at local "matsuri" (Japanese festivals) or "conbini" (convenience stores).

Sometimes, Japanese white "Udon" is used as a replacement of Chinese style "Soba" and called "Yakiudon". This variation was started in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture.

Yakisoba is served widely across military bases around the world, and daily at Camp Hansen, a Marine Corps base in Okinawa, Japan and weekly at Kunsan AB, an airbase in the Republic of Korea. The common misperception of Yakisoba as a Japanese dish originates from it being served to American GIs often in Japan. However, it has become a favored dish among the U.S. Military across the world.

Instant yakisoba

Instant "yakisoba", such as "UFO", is commonly sold in Japanese supermarkets. It can be prepared simply by adding boiling water.

The Sapporo Ichiban ramen company has long made a variety of instant "yakisoba," which is composed of dehydrated ramen noodles, dried seaweed and a flavor pack which resembles the sauce on real yakisoba. The noodles are rehydrated like regular ramen, then stir fried with the flavor packet, shredded Chinese cabbage and meat and served with the seaweed sprinkled on top. There is also now a variety of this instant yakisoba available in the US made by Maruchan, a popular instant ramen company. The dish features dehydrated vegetables such as carrots, corn, onions, and cabbage, as well as dehydrated instant ramen.

Also, the companny Nissin sells yakisoba in germany. It is called "Yakisoba Deluxe".The composion is similar to the instant ramen of Sapporo Ichiban. It gets prepared by putting 250ml water in a frying pan, boiling it and adding the noodles and vegetables (both dehydrated). Then, let the noodles soften for a minute or two, and add the sauce (which is not dehydrated), then cooking it until there's no more fluid left.

External links

* [http://blog.livedoor.jp/aikotani/b122d6bc.jpgPhoto of yakisoba] with oyster sauce and nori, made with thick noodles like udon.
* [http://www.tkamiya.net/junk/images/20040825-002m.jpgPhoto of instant yakisoba]
* [http://bis.nenv.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp/fieldwork/kaoru/20040417-19/DCIM20040418-19/100_0418/04180013.jpgPhoto of yakisoba being stir-fried]
* [http://www.sclipo.com/controller.php?p_action=view_detail&video_id=UWV2X6N7L0 Video of cooking home-made vegetable and shrimp yakisoba]

See also

*Teppanyaki