The Best Udon Noodle Recipes With Authentic Japanese Flavors

Udon noodles have long become a favorite dish not only in Japanese cuisine but also around the world. Made from flour, water and salt, udon noodles have a distinctive flavor and natural sweetness, along with their exceptional elasticity and chewiness.

With the ability to flexibly combine with a variety of ingredients and spices, Japanese udon noodles can be processed into many delicious dishes such as liquid udon noodles, stir-fried udon noodles, or hot pot udon noodles. The richness in preparation along with the unique flavor of udon noodles has made this dish one of the most popular and indispensable choices in many people's daily meals. Let's join Kiichin to learn about this delicious and irresistible udon noodle recipe.

1. Why are Udon Noodles Popular?

Japanese udon noodles are famous for their versatility and ease of adaptation to a variety of dishes, providing a delicious chewy texture that distinguishes them from other types of noodles. Udon noodles are often considered a source of warmth and satisfaction, especially in chilly weather.

Udon noodles are an important place in Japanese cuisine

The simplicity of their ingredients, which typically include flour, water, and salt, emphasizes their nutritional profile, providing essential carbohydrates and protein while remaining low in fat and cholesterol.

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Furthermore, Japanese udon noodles boast ease of preparation, making them a great choice for busy people who still want convenient and nutritious meals. Whether using fresh noodles for quick cooking or dry noodles for longer boiling, udon noodles cook quickly.

2. How to Make Udon Noodles with Authentic Japanese Flavors?

2.1. Beef Udon Noodle Recipe

Ingredient for udon

• 200g beef (suitable for soup or quick cooking)
• 200g udon noodles (cooked)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, thinly sliced
• 2-3 cabbage stalks, cut into large pieces
• 2-3 shitake mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 1 liter of dashi or chicken broth
• 3-4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons mirin (if available)
• Scallions and optional spices (like black pepper) for decoration and seasoning

First, you prepare the beef and slice it into thin slices. In a large pot, boil dashi or chicken broth. Afterward, you add onions and carrots to the pot of boiling broth and cook until they are soft. Next step, you add beef to the pot and boil until the beef is cooked. (If desired, you can add mirin to tenderize the beef and add flavor).

When the beef is cooked, you add udon noodles to the pot and boil until the udon noodles are warm and soft. Finally, you add cabbage and mushrooms to the pot, stir well and cook until the cabbage is cooked through but still retains its green color.

You can season it with soy sauce according to your taste and decorate the Beef Udon bowl with green onions and black pepper. To make it more delicious, you should enjoy it while it's still hot.

2.2. Yaki Udon Noodle Recipe

Ingredient for udon

• Udon noodles (fresh or dried)
• Meat (chicken, beef, or seafood like shrimp, scallops)
• Vegetables (carrots, onions, mushrooms, cabbage, Chinese cabbage)
• Sauce soy
• Mirin (optional)
• Sesame oil
• Spices (pepper, green onion, fried onion, hot chili - optional)

Yaki Udon Noodle is also an attractive choice for your meal

Yaki Udon is a traditional Japanese stir-fried Japanese food udon noodle dish, often prepared with vegetables and meat. you start by cooking the udon noodles until they are soft, then you should rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking process. In a large pan, heat sesame oil and add meat or seafood, fry until the meat or seafood is cooked.

Next, you add onions, carrots and mushrooms to the pan and sauté until they are soft. Then, you add udon noodles to the pan and mix well with the other ingredients. Finally, you add soy sauce and mirin to the pan according to your taste and stir well. You can sprinkle green onions or fried onions on top and serve hot Yaki Udon on a plate.

2.3. Curry Udon Noodle Recipe

Ingredient for udon

• Udon noodles (fresh or dried)
• Carrot
• Potato
• Onion
• Chicken or beef or seafood (optional)
• Curry powder
• Cooking oil
• Broth (or coconut milk if you want a richer flavor)
• Sauce soy
• Salt and sugar (depending on taste)
• Scallions and fried onions (decorative - optional)

In a large pot, you heat some cooking oil and fry chicken or beef until the meat is cooked and golden brown. Then you add the carrots and potatoes to the pot and saute them until they are soft. Next, you add onions and continue stir-frying until the onions are fragrant and soft.

Next, you add curry powder to the pot and stir well with the food. If needed, you can add a little broth or coconut milk for a richer flavor. Finally, you add the cooked udon noodles to the pot and stir well with other foods so that the udon noodles absorb the curry flavor. You curry udon noodles will be delicious and attractive.

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2.4. Vegetarian Udon Noodle Recipe

Udon noodle ingredients

• Udon noodles
• Vegetable
• Tofu
• Broth or coconut milk
• Sauce soy
• Salt and sugar
• Spices: Pepper, green onions, fried onions, hot chili, and other spices
• Scallions and fried onions (optional)

In a large pot, you can boil broth or coconut milk if you want a richer flavor. Once the water boils, you add the vegetables to the pot and cook them until soft. Next, add udon noodles to the pot and cook them until the noodles are soft and cooked through. Then, you season with soy sauce, salt, pepper, and other spices depending on your taste.

Once the udon noodles and vegetables are cooked, you can add tofu or imitation seafood to the pot if desired. You mix everything well and cook for a while longer, so the mixture absorbs the flavors. Once cooked, you can add vegetables such as Chinese cabbage or kale to the pot and stir well. You need to make sure everything is cooked evenly.

2.5. Mentaiko Udon Noodle Recipe

Udon noodle ingredients

• Japanese udon noodles (fresh or dried)
• Mentaiko (sturgeon roe)
• Mayonnaise or mentaiko sauce is available for purchase
• Green onions (optional, for decoration)
• Fried onions (optional, for decoration)

If using dry udon noodles, you cook them according to package instructions. If using fresh udon noodles, you just need to boil water and put the udon noodles in to cook for about 1-2 minutes, then take them out to drain. When preparing Mentaiko, you peel the Mentaiko from the fish eggs. You can buy pre-shelled Mentaiko or shell it yourself.

Place Mentaiko Udon on a plate and garnish with green onions and fried onions (if using)

Then, in a small bowl, you mix the Mentaiko with a small amount of mayonnaise or pre-purchased Mentaiko sauce. You can add sauce until you achieve your desired flavor. After the udon noodles are cooked and drained, you pour the Mentaiko mixed sauce over the Japanese udon noodles and mix well until the noodles are evenly covered with sauce.

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3. How Long to Cook Udon Noodles?

The cooking time for udon noodles depends on whether you are using fresh or dried noodles:

Fresh Udon Noodles: Fresh udon noodles typically cook much faster than dried noodles. They usually require about 1 to 2 minutes of boiling in rapidly boiling water. Once the noodles float to the surface and are tender, they are ready to be drained and served.

Dried Udon Noodles: Dried udon noodles take a bit longer to cook compared to fresh noodles. They usually require about 8 to 12 minutes of boiling in rapidly boiling water. It's important to follow the package instructions as cooking times may vary depending on the brand and thickness of the noodles.

To ensure the best texture and flavor, avoid overcooking Japanese udon noodles, as they can become mushy. It's also recommended to rinse the cooked noodles under cold water after draining to stop the cooking process and remove excess starch before using them in your dish.