Chicken Yakisoba

This recipe is definitely quick and easy for a weeknight meal.  The recipe calls for the chicken to be marinated for 30 minutes.  I cut the chicken up and put it in the soy sauce while my daughter was doing her homework and then gave them showers while it marinated.  I think marinating the chicken overnight may make it too salty from the soy sauce.  The marinade did give the chicken added flavor, but if you don't have that kind of time, I recommend skipping it.  Unfortunately, this was the kids' first time trying soba noodles and they didn't like it at all!  I tried telling them it was Japanese spaghetti but my daughter was put off by the "black dots" on the noodles.  I told her to eat with her eyes closed so she didn't have to look at them.  She did eat enough for a treat, but she didn't really enjoy it.  My son on the other hand tried one bite and refused to eat.  My husband and I thought that it tasted pretty good though!

Chicken Yakisoba
Cooking Light, March 1998

Ingredients:
7 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, divided
1/2 pound skinned, boned chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
2 teaspoons vegetable oil, divided
2 cups vertically sliced onion
1 cup (2-inch) julienne-cut carrot
6 cups coarsely shredded napa (Chinese) cabbage
1/4 cup sake (rice wine) or dry sherry
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 1/2 cups cooked soba (about 9 ounces uncooked buckwheat noodles)

Preparation:
Combine 3 tablespoons soy sauce and chicken in a zip-top plastic bag; seal and marinate in refrigerator 30 minutes, turning occasionally.

Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 3 minutes or until done. Remove chicken from skillet; keep warm. Add 1 teaspoon oil, onion, and carrot to skillet; stir-fry 2 minutes. Add cabbage; stir-fry 2 minutes or until cabbage begins to wilt.

Combine 1/4 cup soy sauce, sake, ginger, sugar, and salt. Pour sake mixture over cabbage mixture. Add chicken and soba; toss well to coat. Cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated.

Mommy & Daddy Rating: 1 1/2 thumbs up.  (quick, easy, and pretty good).