Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (2024)

Home Recipes Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles with Sweet Potato & Mushrooms

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (1)

by: Sarah

39 Comments

Jump to Recipe

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (2)

Ever since we started The Woks of Life, we’re always looking for new and creative ideas to experiment with onthe blog. As such, I’ve started looking at every visit to a new restaurant as “research.” (As you can imagine––especially when the four of us are together––this can lead to major cases of over-ordering. Because apparently it’s ok to order enough food for 8 when you’re doing it in the name of academic inquiry).

On a recent (work-related) trip to Las Vegas, I ate at a restaurant called China Poblano––a restaurant whose concept is,somewhat inexplicably, a mixture ofboth Chinese and Mexican cuisine. It’s not fusion food or anything. They weren’t trying to put Char Siu on a taco. They just had both Chinese dishes and Mexican dishes side-by-side on the same menu. So basically, you could order chips and guacamole as an appetizer, eatnoodles, siu mai, and more noodlesfor amain course, and wash it all down with a margarita.

It was weird, but it kind of worked.

One itemon the menu that stood out to me(not sure if it’s still there) was a soy sauce noodles dish with sweet potatoes and shiitake mushrooms. It was kind of a brilliant combination.I rarely think to do carb on carb kind of dishes, i.e. putting ingredients like noodles and potatoes together. But the earthiness of the mushrooms and the natural sweetness of the sweet potato were both amazing when combined with the caramelized soy sauce noodles and the toasty wok hei flavor from the stir-frying process. I decided to replicate it at home, and came up with this recipe.

Give it a try, let me know what you think, and don’t be afraid to get quirky and serveit with some tortilla chips and guac on the side. (Kind of a joke, but also kinda not.)

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (3)

Recipe Instructions

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (4)

In a medium bowl, mix together the light or regular soy sauce, dark soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, sesame oil, brown sugar, and water.

Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a wok over medium high heat, and add the julienned sweet potatoes.

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (5)

Stir-fry for about 5 minutes, allowing the sweet potatoes to brown. Remove from the wok and set aside.

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (6)

Add another 3tablespoons of oil to the wok (still over medium high heat), and add the shiitake mushrooms.

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (7)

Stir-fry until the mushrooms are softened and slightly browned, splashing in a little more oil if it’s too dry.

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (8)

Crank up the heat to high, and add in the fresh yakisoba, udon, or lo mein noodles, cooked sweet potato, and sauce mixture.

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (9)

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (10)

Stir-fry and quickly toss everything together. Serve, sprinkled with chopped cilantro and scallion (if using).

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (11)

Serve your Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles with Sweet Potato & Mushrooms!

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (12)

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (13)

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (14)

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (15)

Looking for more authentic recipes? Subscribe to our email list and be sure to follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube!

4.86 from 7 votes

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles with Sweet Potato & Mushrooms

This dish of caramelized soy sauce noodles with sweet potatoes and shiitakes is an amazing combination of flavors, and it's super easy to make at home!

by: Sarah

Course:Noodles and Pasta

Cuisine:Chinese

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (16)

serves: 4 servings

Prep: 20 minutes minutes

Cook: 15 minutes minutes

Total: 35 minutes minutes

Print

Rate

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ tablespoons light or regular soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
  • ½ teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 6 tablespoons vegetable oil (divided)
  • 1 medium sweet potato (peeled and julienned)
  • 8 oz. shiitake mushrooms (225g, thinly sliced)
  • 1 pound yakisoba (450g, udon, or lo mein noodles also work)
  • 2 tablespoons each finely chopped cilantro and scallion (optional)

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, mix together the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, wine, sesame oil, brown sugar, and water.

  • Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a wok over medium high heat, and add the julienned sweet potatoes. Stir-fry for about 5 minutes, allowing the sweet potatoes to brown. Remove from the wok and set aside.

  • Add another 3 tablespoons of oil to the wok (still over medium high heat), and add the mushrooms. Stir-fry until the mushrooms are softened and slightly browned, splashing in a little more oil if it’s too dry.

  • Crank up the heat to high, and add in the noodles, cooked sweet potato, and sauce mixture. Stir-fry and quickly toss everything together. Serve, sprinkled with cilantro and scallion (if using).

nutrition facts

Calories: 416kcal (21%) Carbohydrates: 45g (15%) Protein: 10g (20%) Fat: 23g (35%) Saturated Fat: 17g (85%) Sodium: 1211mg (50%) Potassium: 306mg (9%) Fiber: 5g (20%) Sugar: 10g (11%) Vitamin A: 4625IU (93%) Vitamin C: 0.7mg (1%) Calcium: 10mg (1%) Iron: 0.7mg (4%)

nutritional info disclaimer

TheWoksofLife.com is written and produced for informational purposes only. While we do our best to provide nutritional information as a general guideline to our readers, we are not certified nutritionists, and the values provided should be considered estimates. Factors such as brands purchased, natural variations in fresh ingredients, etc. will change the nutritional information in any recipe. Various online calculators also provide different results, depending on their sources. To obtain accurate nutritional information for a recipe, use your preferred nutrition calculator to determine nutritional information with the actual ingredients and quantities used.

Did You Make This?Tag us on Instagram @thewoksoflife, subscribe to our email list, and be sure to follow us on social for more recipes!

@thewoksoflife

You may also like…

  • Gluten-Free Soy Sauce

  • Soy Sauce Braised Wild Mushroom Noodles

  • Japanese Soy Sauce

  • Cantonese Soy Sauce Pan-Fried Noodles

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (21)

About Sarah

Sarah is the older daughter/sister in The Woks of Life family. Creator of quick and easy recipes for harried home cooks and official Woks of Life photographer, she grew up on episodes of Ready Set Cook and Good Eats. She loves the outdoors (and of course, *cooking* outside), and her obsession with food continues to this day.

Previous PostHunan Pork and Tofu Stir-Fry

Subscribe

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

39 Comments

Newest

OldestMost Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Caramelized Soy Sauce Noodles Recipe - The Woks of Life (2024)

FAQs

Which soy sauce is best for noodles? ›

Light soy sauce is golden brown in colour and rich in taste to add flavour during marinating and seasoning stage. It uplifts the flavour of any meat, noodles or rice dishes.

How to make straight to wok noodles? ›

Empty noodles into a microwaveable bowl. Add approx. 10ml water (1 dessertspoon). Cover and heat on full power for 1 minute.

What are the crunchy Chinese noodles called? ›

Mein gon (面干 miàn-gān), informally referred to as crunchy noodles or crunchy chow mein, are a type of noodle-shaped cracker (or dried biscuit) used in American Chinese cuisine.

Why soy sauce is used in noodles? ›

Soy sauce can be added directly to food, and is used as a dip or salt flavor in cooking. It is often eaten with rice, noodles, and sushi or sashimi, or can also be mixed with ground wasabi for dipping. Bottles of soy sauce for salty seasoning of various foods are common on restaurant tables in many countries.

What are the 5 types of soy sauce? ›

The five types, as classified by JAS (Japan Agricultural Standards), are common, light color, tamari, refermented, and extra light color.
  • 濃 Koikuchi Shoyu (Common) ...
  • 淡 Usukuchi Shoyu (Light color) ...
  • 溜 Tamari Shoyu (Tamari) ...
  • 再 Saishikomi Shoyu (Refermented) ...
  • 白 Shiro Shoyu (Extra light color)

What is the difference between Thai soy sauce and soy sauce? ›

Thai soy sauces are similar to Chinese soy sauces in that there are both dark and light varieties. However, there are some key differences. Some say Thai soy sauce isn't as briny or harshly salty as Chinese/Japanese soy sauce, because the salty flavor is balanced by sweetness from added sugar.

Are straight to wok noodles already cooked? ›

How do I cook straight to wok noodles? 4 ways. Straight out the packet (they are already cooked) as a side with meat or vegetables of your choice.

How long do straight to wok noodles last? ›

Store in a cool, dry place. Once opened, keep refrigerated and consume within 3 days. Don't Recycle: Pack.

How do you cook noodles in a wok without sticking them? ›

Toss the noodles with a little vegetable or peanut oil: Return the noodles to the pan you used to cook them and toss them with a little oil. This prevents them from sticking and forming a big mass in the wok.

What is the skinny white thing in Chinese food? ›

Rice Vermicelli Noodles 米粉

Vermicelli is a thin, long, white noodle that is often found in soups, stir-fries and salads in Chinese cuisine.

What is the white stuff in Chinese food? ›

MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is a flavor-enhancing food additive used in Asian cooking, fast foods, and commercially packaged food products. It is a white powder derived from a natural glutamic acid found in seaweed, sugar beets, and certain vegetables.

What is the difference between lo mein and chow mein noodles? ›

In English, chow mein means fried noodles and lo mein translates to tossed or stirred noodles. Because both dishes are variations of noodles, the main difference in chow mein and lo mein lies in how the noodles are prepared.

Why do you put vinegar in soy sauce? ›

In Asian cooking, vinegar is often used to cut saltiness from soy sauce or other ingredients. For me, balsamic vinegar has the perfect mix of sweetness, acidity, and body to combine with the brown sugar and soy sauce here.

Why do Chinese eat so much soy sauce? ›

Soy sauce embraces a little of all the best flavors in Chinese cooking, and that's one of the reasons it's such an essential part of so many Chinese food dishes. You'll find sweet, savory, umami, and even a touch of bitter flavoring, and it all blends well with many other spices and oils in Chinese dishes.

What do you do if you put too much soy sauce in noodles? ›

Lemon Juice Is The Best Way To Counteract Soy Sauce Overuse

Lemon juice can go toe-to-toe with soy sauce's potent flavor, providing a balance for your dish.

Is light or dark soy sauce better for noodles? ›

Light soy sauce is saltier and used more for flavour, and dark soy sauce is generally thicker, less salty and slightly sweeter than light soy sauce, so ideal for adding colour. Dark soy sauce adds intensity and colour to my Soy Sauce Chicken & Noodles.

Is dark or light soy sauce better for noodles? ›

Dark soy sauce has a more intense flavour and stains the noodles a beautiful mahogany colour you can see in the photo below. The light soy sauce adds extra savour without too much colour so the sauce doesn't get too dark.

What is the best soy sauce to cook with? ›

4 Best Soy Sauces for 2024: Navigating the Soy Sauce Aisle
  • Shibanuma Artisanal Soy Sauce - The Exquisite One.
  • Pearl River Bridge Superior Dark Soy Sauce - The Elevated One.
  • Kikkoman Soy Sauce with Dispenser Bottle - The One for Every Day.
  • Mikawa Shiro Shoyu White Soy Sauce - The Unexpected One.
Feb 21, 2024

Which soy sauce is good for cooking? ›

Koikuchi shoyu is a good all-purpose choice; it can be used in marinades, sauces, gravies, braising liquids, and stir-fries. If a recipe calls for soy sauce but doesn't specify a type, koikuchi shoyu is likely what is meant.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Twana Towne Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6764

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Twana Towne Ret

Birthday: 1994-03-19

Address: Apt. 990 97439 Corwin Motorway, Port Eliseoburgh, NM 99144-2618

Phone: +5958753152963

Job: National Specialist

Hobby: Kayaking, Photography, Skydiving, Embroidery, Leather crafting, Orienteering, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Twana Towne Ret, I am a famous, talented, joyous, perfect, powerful, inquisitive, lovely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.