Wednesday, July 17, 2019
So today we’re making some Hibachi noodles. Keep in mind, I’m basing this off what my eyes told me after countless Hibachi dinners. It’s one of my favorite parts of the Hibachi experience and after several trips over many years, I’ve come to realize what makes the noodles so addictive and special. The butter. There’s just tons of it. And this makes for the creamiest Asian-inspired noodle dish you can eat.
It seems deceptively easy but who knows. I know there’s copious amounts of butter and then some garlic. Then in went the linguine (I’m not sure what noodles they use at your Hibachi place but at Kobe’s Japanese Steakhouse it looks suspiciously like linguine…small in width but not as wide as rice noodles and flat) and some thin, watery black sauce that looks suspiciously like soy sauce but isn’t as salty. Or maybe the saltiness is balanced out by the sugar that follows. I’m beginning to suspect that black sauce is a mixture of some kind; soy sauce and maybe something with teriyaki sauce elements. When someone asked at my table, they said it was Coca-Cola. Uh huh, Back to the cooking: sugar, salt and pepper and more mixing and finally it’s heaped onto everyone’s plate and topped with sesame seeds. And if you want to give it some kick, toss in a few red pepper flakes.
Well that’s my take anyway. If you know any better or if you are/were a Hibachi chef in training and don’t mind divulging the secrets, I’m all ears. Give it to me! For now, this is the best I can do. Since I don’t have those fancy grill thingies they have at hibachi places, I cooked mine in a stir-fry pan big enough to handle the mixing of the noodles. You won’t get the slightly charred and mixed flavor from all food being cooked in one place (rice, meat, noodles) but it works.
Simple. Delicious noodles.
It seems deceptively easy but who knows. I know there’s copious amounts of butter and then some garlic. Then in went the linguine (I’m not sure what noodles they use at your Hibachi place but at Kobe’s Japanese Steakhouse it looks suspiciously like linguine…small in width but not as wide as rice noodles and flat) and some thin, watery black sauce that looks suspiciously like soy sauce but isn’t as salty. Or maybe the saltiness is balanced out by the sugar that follows. I’m beginning to suspect that black sauce is a mixture of some kind; soy sauce and maybe something with teriyaki sauce elements. When someone asked at my table, they said it was Coca-Cola. Uh huh, Back to the cooking: sugar, salt and pepper and more mixing and finally it’s heaped onto everyone’s plate and topped with sesame seeds. And if you want to give it some kick, toss in a few red pepper flakes.
Well that’s my take anyway. If you know any better or if you are/were a Hibachi chef in training and don’t mind divulging the secrets, I’m all ears. Give it to me! For now, this is the best I can do. Since I don’t have those fancy grill thingies they have at hibachi places, I cooked mine in a stir-fry pan big enough to handle the mixing of the noodles. You won’t get the slightly charred and mixed flavor from all food being cooked in one place (rice, meat, noodles) but it works.
Simple. Delicious noodles.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. linguine or noodles of your choice, cooked al dente
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon teriyaki sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions:
- Over medium high heat in a wok, melt the butter
- Toss in garlic and saute until fragrant
- Toss in noodles and stir to mix
- Add sugar, thin soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and combine
- Season with salt pepper
- Remove from heat and drizzle in sesame oil, tossing to mix
- Dish and serve hot sprinkled with sesame seeds