This simple and delicious recipe for Wafu Pasta is a Japanese western-fusion style pasta flavored with savory bacon, mushrooms, tossed in a soy-based sauce.
What is wafu?
Wafu means Japanese-style, which in this case refers to the use of soy sauce and mirin in this Western fusion pasta dish.
Japanese Wafu dressing is a common vinaigrette-style sauce typically consisting of vegetable oil, soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, and can contain other ingredients such as yuzu or wasabi.
Wafu sauce is typically used on salads, as a marinade for meats and tofu, or in dumpling sauces.
Why you'll love this recipe
This recipe for Japanese style pasta is a little different than other recipes which typically call for a rich soy butter sauce.
Not overly rich: since the bacon already has plenty of fat and flavor, there's no need for additional butter or olive oil.
Minimal in ingredients: this Wafu pasta sauce is really simple to make with only a few ingredients.
Ingredients you'll need
For the pasta:
- pasta: your choice of spaghetti, angel hair, or linguine
- white onion: sliced thinly
- minced garlic
- bacon: cut into pieces
- mushrooms: cut into pieces; you can use any type of mushroom, including king, oyster, shiitake
Wafu sauce & garnish:
- soy sauce: also known as shoyu in Japanese
- mirin: is a sweet Japanese white rice wine; you can sub with dry sherry or sake, with a touch of sugar
- reserved pasta cooking water: from cooking the pasta; it has residual starchiness that will help the sauce come together and cling to the pasta
- green onions: chopped
- roasted nori seaweed: cut into thin pieces
- bonito flakes: optional; is made from smoked skipjack tuna and is an ingredient for dashi broth and okonomiyaki
Where to find?
Find soy sauce (shoyu), mirin, nori and bonito flakes at Asian supermarkets, large grocery stores with an International aisle, or in Japanese grocery stores.
How to make wafu pasta
Cook pasta according to the package directions, minus 1 minute (to ensure al dente texture).
Reserve about 1 C of pasta cooking liquid and drain the pasta. Set aside.
Heat a large pot or frying pan over medium heat and add in the bacon. Cook until the bacon renders.
Add in onions and garlic, and saute, cooking until onions are slightly softened and aromatic.
Add in the mushrooms and continue to cook, stirring every so often.
Reduce the heat.
In a small bowl, combine soy sauce and mirin.
Add in the pasta, along with the soy sauce and mirin mixture.
Use a pair of tongs to coat the pasta with the sauce.
Pour in enough reserved pasta cooking liquid to loosen.
Remove from heat and garnish with chopped green onions, nori and bonito flakes.

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How to serve
Serve the Japanese pasta with side dishes such as garlic bread or chicken yakitori.
How to store & reheat
Store the Wafu pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat the mushroom wafu pasta in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until warmed through.
Tip: add a splash of water and cover with a lid to help the pasta noodles steam.
Substitutions & additions
For this Japanese mushroom pasta, you can use any long-strand pasta noodle such as spaghetti, angel hair, or linguine. Swap with rice noodles or udon noodles to make a soy mushroom udon.
Feel free to add different types of mushrooms such as enoki, king, oyster, or vegetables such as cabbage or leafy greens such as bok choy or yu choy.
For more savory umami flavor, try adding miso paste to make a miso wafu pasta.
Instead of pasta water, you can also use dashi broth to help flavor the pasta, but you may need to reduce the amount of soy sauce to prevent the dish from being over salty.
Expert tips
Don't overcook the pasta noodles. Just cook them according to the package, less a minute or so for al dente texture.
Save the pasta cooking water -- the residual starchiness in the pasta water helps the soy mixture cling to the noodles.
Other Japanese-inspired recipes you may like
Did you make this recipe?
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Wafu Pasta (Japanese-Style Pasta)
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
Pasta:
- 1 lb pasta your choice of spaghetti, angel hair, or linguine
- ¼ white onion sliced thinly
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 4 slices bacon cut into pieces
- 300 g mushrooms cut into pieces
Wafu sauce:
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon mirin
- ¾ C - 1 C reserved pasta cooking water
Garnish:
- 1 stalk green onions chopped
- nori seaweed cut into thin pieces
- bonito flakes optional
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to the package directions, minus 1 minute (to ensure al dente texture).
- Reserve about 1 C of pasta cooking liquid and drain the pasta. Set aside.
- Heat a large pot or frying pan over medium heat and add in the bacon. Cook until the bacon renders.
- Add in onions and garlic, and saute, cooking until onions are slightly softened and aromatic.
- Add in the mushrooms and continue to cook, stirring every so often.
- Reduce the heat.
- In a small bowl, combine soy sauce and mirin.
- Add in the pasta, along with the soy sauce and mirin mixture.
- Use a pair of tongs to coat the pasta with the sauce.
- Pour in enough reserved pasta cooking liquid to loosen.
- Remove from heat and garnish with chopped green onions, nori and bonito flakes.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
Healthy World Cuisine
Love the simplicity of this easy wafu pasta. The combination of bacon, mushrooms and onions and the dried nori is delightful - perfect comfort food.
Michelle
Indeed, really can't go wrong with those savory flavors combined together -- my kids loved it!
Tasia
This was perfect for a weeknight! So flavorful and super easy to put together. Thanks for another winning recipe Michelle.
Michelle
Thanks Tasia! Isn't it lovely how quickly it comes together 🙂
Raymund | angsarap.net
Your Wafu Pasta recipe sounds like a delicious twist on traditional pasta dishes! I love how you've combined savory bacon, mushrooms, and that umami-rich soy-based sauce. all with minimal ingredients. It's perfect for those days when you want something flavorful yet uncomplicated. Can't wait to give it a try!
Michelle
Thanks Raymund! Enjoy!
David @ Spiced
What a fun idea! I do love fusion food, and I have to admit that I've never come across Wafu Pasta before. The flavors are right up our alley, though. In fact, I'm pretty sure we have all of these ingredients in the pantry/fridge!!
Michelle
Yes, it's such a simple pasta since all the ingredients are not too difficult to find and may already be in your pantry 🙂
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
I've never heard of wafu sauce nor had it with pasta, but it sounds great! And the additions? Mushrooms and bacon - what not to like about this combo?
Michelle
It's such a delicious and easy to prepare sauce -- you'll have to give this one a try Ben! 🙂
Dawn
Such a flavour-packed recipe, Michelle! I've been craving pasta lately, so this is perfect timing. Those garnishes sound like delicious additions too!
Michelle
Thank you Dawn! The bonito flakes and nori are just *chefs kiss*! 🙂
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
This is pasta perfection... it's a real feast for the eyes! I especially love the flavor added from the wafu dressing... YUM!!
Michelle
Thank you Heidi! The wafu dressing is so delicious on so many things!
Healthy World Cuisine
Your wafu pasta looks incredible - just the perfect seasoning base to make simple pasta noodles extra special. Would love a little of our homemade furikake seasoning on top too.
Michelle
Thanks Bobbi, it's such a simple pantry meal -- easier than having to open up a jar of marinara sauce! 😉