Yakisoba Noodle Stir Fry with Leftover Turkey

Yakisoba noodles stir fry with leftover turkey meat is hearty and delicious. It's fast and healthy using ingredients you most likely have in your kitchen. It's an easy dinner recipe and ready to serve on your dinner table in 20 minutes!

Yakisoba noodles are of Japanese origin. In Thailand, Yakisoba noodles are often used in stir-fries and soups. Today, I'm adding my Thai twist to this popular Japanese noodle stir-fry dish using thanksgiving leftovers turkey meat.

Using leftover turkey meat makes this dish super fast to put together. Use your favorite leftover veggies from the fridge to add to the dish to make it a healthy meal.

What Is Yakisoba?

Yakisoba is a classic Japanese street food stir-fried with vegetables, meat, and a savory sauce. The soba noodles are traditional buckwheat noodles made with wheat flour. The traditional yakisoba flavor comes from a sauce typically made with toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, oyster sauce, a Japanese Worcestershire sauce, and a light touch of sugar. The sauce gives the Japanese noodle dish its distinctive and delicious flavor.

Why This Recipe Works

• Different vegetables can be used to add to this dish. So versatile!
• Any leftover meat will work for this recipe. Leftover chicken, duck, roasted pork, and pork belly all work great.
• It's a great meal to make for when you are short on time. It's easy and fast to put together. A perfect weeknight meal!
• Vegetable options to add to your Yakisoba stir fry are bean sprouts, shiitake mushrooms, green onions, bell pepper, jalapenos, bok choy, and much more.

Ingredients for Yakisoba stir fry

Turkey meat. Use dark and white meat combined.

Yakisoba noodles. You can use dry or fresh ramen noodles, chow mein noodles, or egg noodles are great for this recipe. Udon noodles can also be used for this recipe. Check your local grocery store for different varieties of noodles available.

Carrot. Carrot chips are perfect for this stir fry.

Bell peppers. Add jalapenos for a kick of spice!

Onion. Yellow, white, sweet onion, or shallot works great.

Pea pods. Snow pea pods or sugar snap pea pods work great in this recipe. 

Eggs. Eggs will be scrambled separately to add a meaty texture to the stir fry.

Oil. Use coconut, avocado, vegetable, or canola oil. Do not use olive oil.

Oyster sauce. It gives the dish its savory umami flavor

Soy sauce. Add the salty and a little bit of umami taste.

Ginger. Minced fresh ginger into small pieces before frying. Garlic paste is ok as a substitute.

Garlic. Minced the garlic cloves before frying. Garlic paste is fine as a substitute.

Sugar. Use white or brown sugar.

Ground white pepper. Optional

Chilies. Optional.

Rice wine vinegar. Use lime or lemon juice or apple cider vinegar.

How To Make Yakisoba stir fry with leftover turkey

Step 1. If using dried noodles, prep the noodles according to the package instructions. I used fresh yakisoba noodles found at my Asian market.

Step 2. Mix the sauce in a small bowl, and set aside.

Step 3. On medium heat, use a wok, pan, or large skillet, add a little bit of oil, about 1 tablespoon, and scramble the eggs lightly. Remove from the pan and set aside. You can fry the eggs separately or in the same pan.

Step 4. Add the rest of the oil in the same work or pan on high heat. Once hot, add garlic, ginger, and onion. Cook until lightly browned, for 30 seconds or less.

Step 5. Add the leftover turkey meat and cook just enough to warm it up for 1-2 minutes. Be sure not to overcook it since it's already been cooked. 

Step 6. Add veggies and cook for 3 minutes or just until lightly tender. You can cook a little longer if you want extra tender vegetables. I lean on the crispy side because I love raw vegetables. Add your personal touch here.  (:

Step 7. Add the noodles and cook for 2 more minutes.

Step 8. Add the scrambled eggs and gently stir everything together in the wok. 

Step 9. Add the sauce, stir and cook for one minute longer. Taste and adjust seasoning. Remove from heat and serve! 

Garnishing options. Add sesame seeds, ground black or white pepper, chili flakes, hot chili sauce, and a few lime wedges for extra tanginess.

Check out my web stories for a quick overview of how easy this Yakisoba Stir fry is.

Helpful Kitchen Tips

• Use a combination of dark and white meat. Some skin is ok, too, if you don't mind it.
• When cooking noodles, spread them out evenly on the work surface to let some moisture evaporate, so they don't get soggy.
• For a quick cheat, you can always buy a pre-made yakisoba sauce at most grocery stores. (; It's a great way to cut the cooking time in half and still get delicious flavors.
• You can scramble the eggs separately or in the same pan as your stir fry. I usually have two pans going simultaneously to help speed up the stir fry. 

FAQs 

What is the taste of yakisoba?

Yakisoba stir fry is savory, sweet, and a light touch of sour. This Thai version has a dash of spiciness from the ground white pepper and some chili flakes. 

What does yakisoba consist of?

Yakisoba is a noodle stir fry dish with soba noodles, yellow-colored buckwheat flour noodles, that get cooked with protein like pork, chicken, or beef and are then seasoned with a delicious sauce.

What's the difference between yakisoba and chow mein?

Yakisoba is of Japanese origin, while Chow Mein originated from China. Both are similar, with a few differences in how they are prepared, using different ingredients and sauces to create unique flavors. Both are popular dishes enjoyed around the world. 

Are yakisoba noodles the same as ramen?

Yakisoba and ramen noodles are the same. Soba means noodles. They are just used differently. Yakisoba is a stir-fried dish, while ramen is a soup dish.

More Stir Fry Recipes You’ll Love!

• Easy red curry green beans with shrimp
• Pad Mee Korat
• Pad Mee, recipes for Thai rice noodles
• Morning glory stir-fried recipe
• Tom Yum fried rice using turkey meat
• Thai fried rice with leftover turkey stir-fried (using white jasmine rice)

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