I might have mentioned before that Salmon is my favourite fish. It’s not only healthy with choke full of Omega 3 fatty acids, a good source of protein, high level of vit D (good for your bones), it’s also super versatile. You don’t really have to do too much to the already flavourful flesh. Usually I would pan fry the fillets with just a bit of salt and pepper and then drizzle with lemon (yum), but I thought I’d try something different and make a Japanese inspired dish with Teriyaki sauce. Just imagine the nice caramelised surface, the crispy skin and soft supple flesh, it’s just such a joy to eat.
I have a slight obsession with noodles lately. Well, who am I kidding really… I’m basically a noodle addict. However, recently I’ve been craving for thick chewy Udon noodles, for some reason. I suppose you don’t really need a reason for a craving anyway. Instead of making udon noodles soup as I usually do, I thought I’d try making Yaki Udon to complement the Salmon. I bought some Shimeji Mushrooms to pair with the noodles too.
By the way, did you know that Udon noodles are traditionally kneaded by feet? Check out NotQuiteNigella’s post about making Udon from scratch. Seems like a pretty therapeutic exercise. Although if I had done that, I gotta make sure Frank don’t find out about it. Haha!
This meal is incredibly easy and quick to make. If you don’t count the time for marinating, the cooking process takes no longer than 15 minutes. Great for a career woman, a busy college/uni student, and suitable for beginners.
Teriyaki Salmon
1 Salmon fillet
2 tablespoons Light Soy Sauce
2 tablespoons Mirin
2 tablespoons Sake
1 teaspoon sugarMix soy sauce, mirin, sake and sugar together and stir until sugar dissolved. Marinate Salmon with half the sauce for at least 30 minutes. Pat the skin side dry before cooking to achieve crispy skin.
Heat up a pan over medium heat, add a mixture of peanut and sesame oil and pan sear the marinated Salmon skin first for 2 minutes. Turn the other side and pour in the rest of the teriyaki sauce. You can either finish this in an oven or leave on pan for 2 more minutes for medium well doneness.
Yaki Udon
1 packet of fresh Udon noodles (for 2)
2 cloves Garlic, minced
1 packet of Shimeji Mushrooms, separated
1 Carrot, julienned
Half a head of Broccoli, cut into florets
1 tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
1 tablespoon Dark Soy Sauce
1 tablespoon Mirin, dilute in a bit of water
1 tablespoon Sake
1 tablespoon Miso Paste
Coriander (Optional) or ParsleyHeat oil in pan and saute garlic until aromatic. Add carrot, broccoli and shimeji mushrooms and stir fry for 2-3 minutes until soft.
Deglaze the pan with mirin and sake, add noodles, followed by the rest of the seasoning. Add about 1/2 cup of water and stir fry everything for 2-3 minutes. The noodles should be remain slightly wet so add more water if required. Sprinkle some coriander or parsley before serving if preferred.
Obviously I had forgotten about the herbs before I took these photos. Teriyaki sauce goes extremely well with Salmon and gives it all sort of umaminess but also balanced with the sweet note, I especially love the slightly charred edges. And the noodles! Let’s just say they are addictive. In fact I went and bought more Udon and Shimeji yesterday.
Option 2: Letting the noodles shine
You could also crumble the Salmon into the noodles so you get more even distribution of noodles vs fish without the need for a knife. I call it the lazy eater way. Also, you get 2 serves out of one fillet.
So which version do you prefer? I have to say I actually prefer the second one.
Next post, I’ll share an Italian version of a Salmon Noodles (Pasta) that I just had today. I can tell you first it was pretty damn delicious too.
Kelly Siew Cooks 
OMG, pls give me a plate for second version one.
Thank you! 🙂
Sure! Extra noodles!
Mmm love a good salmon too!
What’s not to love right?
Hi Kelly! Option 1 for me! 😛
I knew you would pick that!
That looks really nice. Not crazy about salmon though…but I love noodles/pasta in any form. Hehehehehe! I’m cooking pasta in tomorrow’s post too, kampung-style, but not really that nice, unfortunately – need to work on it some more.
Ooh looking forward to seeing your kampung style pasta! 😀
Hubby doesn’t like these thick noodles, but I love them if they’re cooked just right.
Yeah generally I prefer thinner noodles but the chewy udon noodles can be pleasurable to eat too.
I’m pretty sure you’ve mentioned it before that you like salmon 🙂 and I do too ~ This looks super yum great for lunch!
Yeah that was a great lunch! I actually had the second option for noodles. I suspect I might prefer it because the flavours had time to sit and develope a bit. Nevertheless both very yummy.
Never liked yaki udon tat is too sweet…I prefer d second approach too =)
No sugar in that Yaki Udon (I did it without an recipe btw) because there’s already a bt of sugar in the teriyaki sauce. Don’t like sweet noodles either.
I like eating salmon. That’s a yummy plate of udon with nice slab of salmon!
Indeed that was a great meal. 🙂
Kelly, I’ll take both options hah! hah! At one time I was crazy over salmon. Would have it steamed or grilled and couldn’t get enough until one day it was like ughs…no more salmon, please! But I do eat it from time to time 🙂
Hahaha I don’t think I will get sick of salmon. Maybe just need to alternate the cooking style…
I think you are on to something here. I actually have some udon noodles in the freezer but did not want to make soup again for my boys. This is a wonderfully easy and light Japanese dinner that I know my family will love. I love the second version as I love cilantro.
The cilantro did go very well with the dish. Yeah I think frying the udon is a rather refreshing way to enjoy the noodles.
I love unagi! I kept thinking it’s unagi despite the post title and multiple references. Haha!
I think it looks better with Option #1 – having the fish on top instead of it being distributed evenly should taste better. 🙂
Great cooking Kelly!
Hahaha you funny la! That doesn’t look like unagi. But it should go very well with the noodles too. To be fair both version tasted lovely, I guess it’s the fact that I only need to eat option 2 with chopsticks which means less work! I’m lazy like that sometimes.
I love yaki udon… this looks like a quick and great lunch!
I made the same combination twice within one week (partly to take daytime pictures for the blog). Love it!
I think Salmon goes with anything… pasta, noodles, rice, etc… its just a beautiful oily fish that really taste lovely raw or cook! Beautiful recipe… will try this soon cos the little one loves his noodles…especially udon!!
Luckily it also comes with lots of health benefits. 😀
I cooked and shot teriyaki salmon over the weekend too. You have beautiful glaze on the salmon and great idea to put on top of yaki udon!
Oh wow! I’m sure your pictures are amazing. I need to investing in a real camera for my food pics when I can.
Mmmm…the glistening salmon looks so appetising! I’ve a salmon fillet waiting to be treated the same, probably with egg noodles instead, cause that’s what I have! =D
It will be lovely with egg noodles, or even rice!