Noodles are among the main dishes of Japanese cuisine.
They are easy to prepare, flavoury, and nutritious. If you love Japanese food, then it is very likely that ramen is among your favorites.
Naturally, ramen noodles are used to make ramen. Still, there are many people who ask if one can use yakisoba noodles for ramen. If you are one of those people, then this article is for you.
To answer simply, yes. You can use yakisoba noodles for ramen. Cooked properly, yakisoba noodles can produce a nice dish of ramen soup.
There are also other types of noodles that can be used to prepare ramen, as will be discussed later in the article.
Table of Contents
Are Yakisoba Noodles Good for Ramen?
While ramen noodles are the obvious first choice for preparing ramen, yakisoba noodles are also pretty good.
For one, yakisoba noodles are steamed before they are packaged, which makes them easy to cook. This is because you will only need to reheat them quickly before preparing them.
Also, the texture of yakisoba noodles is somewhat identical to that of ramen noodles.
They are both chewy, and if you don’t know any better, you may not even tell the difference.
However, since there are many brands of yakisoba noodles in the market, it is important to check the ingredient list before buying them.
Some don’t have kansui or egg as part of their ingredients, and this makes them soak moisture much faster than ramen noodles usually do.
As a Result – They turn out softer and soggier than required. So, you have to be careful when choosing a yakisoba brand with the intention of making ramen.
What Are the Differences Between Yakisoba Noodles and Ramen Noodles?
While yakisoba noodles and ramen noodles are both chewy and yellow, they have a bunch of differences.
The main difference between the two is that yakisoba noodles are primarily pan-fried, while ramen noodles are made to create a soup dish.
In fact, the main reason why yakisoba can’t be ramen is that to be ramen, there has to be soup.
Also, yakisoba sauce is relatively sweeter than ramen sauce. Yakisoba sauce is made with Worcestershire sauce, oyster sauce, sake, and sugar.
On the other hand, ramen sauce is made with soy sauce, miso, salt, and flavored oil, which makes it salty.
Another difference between yakisoba noodles and ramen noodles is that the former is steamed, whereas the latter is boiled.
Naturally, steamed noodles are fluffier than boiled ones. Therefore, yakisoba noodles are fluffier than ramen noodles.
In Addition – Yakisoba noodles have an oil coating that makes them untangle easily when pan-fried.
Elsewhere, ramen noodles are sprinkled with flour on their surface so that they don’t stick to each other when making ramen soup.
What Are the Best Noodles for Ramen
Ramen noodles are thin, curly, and wheat-based.
They come with soup that is made from:
- pork or chicken stock
- mushrooms (shiitake)
- dried baby sardines (niboshi)
- and dried sliced bonito (katsuobushi)
There are several types of ramen noodles, such as:
- miso ramen
- shoyu ramen
- Tonkotsu soup
- and shio ramen
Apart from yakisoba, there are other types of noodles that make good ramen.
They include the following.
Rice Noodles
As per their name, these are made from rice flour.
Rice noodles are known for their semi-transparent appearance and chewy texture. They are perfect for making ramen and result in such a rich broth.
Soba
Since it is made with buckwheat flour, soba is also known as buckwheat noodles.
These noodles are thin, and in Japanese cuisine, they are mostly used in cold dishes.
Still, they are amazing with hot soups, which makes them a great fit for ramen.
You should check the ingredient list to see if the soba is made with wheat, as they can only make good ramen if they are entirely made of buckwheat.
Glass Noodles
Glass noodles are also referred to as cellophane noodles due to their thin and transparent appearance.
These noodles that look like clear pieces of thread make amazing ramen.
What to Expect? They have a light flavor and add a springy texture to ramen, improving the overall appeal of the meal.
Kelp Noodles
These are arguably the most nutritious noodles for making ramen.
They are loaded with calcium, vitamin K and iodine.
On top of that, they have zero fats, making them perfect for people trying to lose calories. Their chewy texture makes them great for making ramen.
How To Make Yakisoba Noodles
Yakisoba noodles are essentially stir-fried buckwheat noodles that are mixed with diced meat, veggies, and pork stock.
They go with thick and salty-sweet sauces like Worcestershire, tonkatsu, and yakisoba sauce.
Just like any other meal, you must have the right ingredients before preparing yakisoba noodles.
Ingredients
- Yakisoba noodles
- Bite-sized pork or chicken
- Grated carrots
- Green and yellow onions
- Bean sprouts
- Cabbage head
Directions
- Start by putting all the veggies in a skillet and cooking them until they are golden brown.
- Cook the pork or chicken in a separate pan until it is ready.
- Add the veggies into the chicken pan and stir until they mix adequately.
- At this point, add the noodles and let them cook for a couple of minutes.
- Serve while hot.
Elevating your stir fry noodles is a breeze when you have Otafuku’s Yakisoba Sauce on hand. This delectable sauce combines the perfect balance of sweet and savory notes, making it an indispensable companion for enhancing the flavor of any dish.
Making Yakisoba Sauce
Even though you can easily get yakisoba sauce in the store, you can opt to make your own at home.
It is simple, and you will have the liberty to make it to your preferred taste.
Here is how you can prepare yakisoba sauce at home.
Ingredients
- Three units of Worcestershire sauce
- Three units of oyster sauce
- Two units of ketchup
- Two units of oyster sauce
- Pinch of sugar.
Directions
- Mix these ingredients and whisk them until they form a saucy paste.
- You can manipulate the proportions until you achieve your preferred taste.
How To Make Ramen
Ramen is a simple meal that will take you less than 30 minutes to make.
Here is how you can prepare yours at home:
Ingredients
- 3 packets of ramen or yakisoba noodles.
- 4 cloves of minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon of grated ginger.
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
- 4 ounces of mushrooms
- 4 cups of chicken broth
- 3 cups of baby spinach
- 1 grated carrot
- 2 green onions
Directions
- Boil the eggs for about 10 minutes, and let them cool before peeling them.
- Add oil to a stockpot or Dutch oven at medium heat, then sprinkle in the ginger and garlic. Cook for about two minutes until it browns over.
- Add the chicken broth, mushrooms, 3 cups of water, and some soy sauce to the oven.
- Let it boil for about 10 minutes and simmer to let the mushrooms soften. Add the ramen/ yakisoba noodles and stir for 2 – 3 minutes, until they loosen.
- Add the spinach, grated carrot, and green onions and let it sit for 2 minutes.
- Garnish with the eggs and serve while still hot.
Final Thoughts
Ramen is one of the most popular Japanese foods.
As such, Japanese cuisine is not complete without a touch of ramen. Naturally, ramen is made with ramen noodles.
However, you can use other types of noodles to make ramen, including yakisoba noodles.
They are very similar to ramen noodles in their texture and appearance. It would even be difficult to tell them apart from ramen noodles when cooked well.
Other noodles that can be used to make ramen include rice noodles, glass noodles, soba, and kelp noodles.
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