Loaded with udon noodles, this recipe is a little more filling than the average soup. Udon noodles are characterized by their thickness, which adds a unique texture to this dish.
This recipe will be especially delicious when the weather is cold, as this udon noodle soup is extremely hearty.
Another benefit of this recipe is that it is super straightforward to make. Ready in just a few minutes, you won’t have to worry about spending ages in the kitchen.
This soup will make a substantial lunch or appetizer. So if this traditional Japanese dish has piqued your interest, this recipe will guide you through the process of making an irresistible udon noodle soup.
Quick Answer
Made with noodles, broth, soy sauce, and various flavorings, udon noodle soup is a popular dish in Japan. This super simple recipe will teach you to make a fantastically flavorsome udon noodle soup in just 15 minutes.
Udon Noodle Soup: What Is It?
Udon soup is a popular fixture of Japanese cuisine (Also check out How To Make Japanese Clear Soup). As the name suggests, it is made with udon noodles, which are thick and chewy noodles made with wheat flour.
In Japanese cuisine, udon soup has become popular thanks to its simplicity and fantastic flavor. Typically, it can be made in less than 20 minutes. This soup is commonly sold in Japanese restaurants.
To make this soup, the noodles are cooked in a flavorsome broth. This broth can come in a variety of different fabulous flavors.
The noodle soup is traditionally made with vegetables. In particular, green onions are a beloved addition to this succulent soup.
In terms of taste, udon noodle soup is quite mild. It has a pleasant savory taste that makes it a versatile option. Many people opt to boost the taste of this soup by adding meat or vegetables, such as green onions or spinach.
Authentic Udon Noodle Soup Recipe
With this recipe, you can make a succulent udon noodle soup from the comfort of your home. This Japanese dish is made with soft noodles, nutritious vegetables, and a beautiful broth. This hearty soup is the perfect comfort food.
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes
Servings: 5
Ingredients
To make this Japanese-inspired udon noodle soup, you will require a large number of ingredients. Fortunately, most of these ingredients are easy to get your hands on, as they are sold in most supermarkets.
If you are unable to obtain some of these ingredients, it may be worth visiting an Asian supermarket for authentic cuisine. You will need:
10 ounces of udon noodles
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 cups of dashi stock
2 green onions
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon of grated ginger
4 ounces of chestnut mushrooms
1 tablespoon of soy sauce
1 tablespoon of mirin
A pinch of salt
Equipment
One of the many advantages of following this recipe is that you will only require a few pieces of equipment. Namely, you will require the following tools to make this soup:
A chopping board
A sharp knife
A garlic press (optional)
A colander
A frying pan
A boiling pot
A wooden spoon
Cutlery and a bowl for serving
Instructions
Once you’ve gathered all the equipment and ingredients that you need to make this udon noodle soup, you can start the preparation of the soup. This simple soup can be made by obeying the following steps:
Using a chopping board and sharp knife, chop the mushrooms and green onions into small pieces.
Cook the udon noodles according to the instructions on the packet, which will usually involve boiling them. Once they have been cooked, drain the noodles in a colander. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to the noodles to stop them from sticking. Set the noodles aside as you prepare the rest of the dish.
In a frying pan, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. On a medium hob setting, heat the oil until it is hot. Once ready, add the mushrooms, garlic, and ginger. Stirring regularly with a wooden spoon, sautee these ingredients for approximately 2 minutes until the mushrooms have started to brown. Take off the heat.
Add the dashi stock to a pot. Bring it to a boil and cook for roughly 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the mushrooms, garlic, and ginger to the dashi. Stir the mirin and soy sauce into the mixture. Sprinkle the salt into the mixture for extra flavor.
Pour the noodles out of the colander and into the pot, stirring thoroughly. Cook the soup for around one minute at a low temperature to ensure that the noodles are warm.
Serve the udon noodle soup in a bowl. Generously sprinkle the soup with green onions to increase the flavor and improve its aesthetic value.
Udon Noodle Soup Pairings
This recipe can be served on its own for an amazing appetizer or an indulgent lunchtime meal.
However, you may want to make this soup a little more substantial if you are having it as part of a main meal. Perhaps the best way of doing this is by pairing the udon noodle soup with some side dishes.
The good news is that this soup recipe is extraordinarily versatile, meaning that you can accompany it with a wide assortment of different side dishes. To help you find the best side dish, here are some of the best suggestions for you to try:
Nukazuke
Nukazuke refers to a Japanese side dish in which vegetables are pickled, thus allowing them to last for longer. These vegetables will be preserved in rice bran and other ingredients, including black vinegar.
Practically any vegetable can be preserved to make Nukazuke. Yet, commonly used vegetables include cucumbers, cabbage (Also check out Easy Cabbage Soup), and carrots.
This side dish will pair well with udon soup. This idea is particularly incredible if you enjoy healthy side dishes, Nukazuke is sure to add a bit of color to the dish, thus making it extremely aesthetically pleasing.
Tempura
If you want to pair your udon soup with an authentic Japanese dish, tempura is a great option. Tempura is typically made with a vegetable or meat that has been deep-fried in a batter. Seafood is also commonly deep-fried to make traditional tempura.
Tempura is a fun side dish for udon noodle soup, especially as a dish that you share with your fellow diners. They can add a source of protein to the soup, which is often lacking.
Aemono
Aemono is an amazing Japanese dish in which vegetables are chopped up and served in a sauce, including salad dressing. This vibrant side dish will make your soup appear much more appealing.
This appetizer can be made with a plethora of vegetables, such as broccoli, cucumber, green beans, or spinach. As a result, this is an incredibly nutritious side dish that contains a range of flavors and textures.
Aemono is a great side dish for your udon noodle soup if you want to create genuine Japanese cuisine.
Garden Salad
A garden salad is one of the most versatile side dishes out there. This mouth-watering side dish will pair beautifully with a combination of different dishes, including udon noodle soup.
One of the benefits of making garden salad as a side dish is that it is super straightforward to make. It will often require just a handful of ingredients and should be ready in just five minutes.
In addition, garden salad is loaded with nutritious ingredients. You can use delicious vegetables like cucumber, lettuce, bell peppers, and spinach to make a simple yet effective garden salad.
Chirashizushi
Chirashizushi is yet another authentic Japanese side dish. This style of sushi is popularly served during parties and other celebrations. It is known for its eye-catching appearance.
This side dish is commonly made with rice, vegetables, and seafood. The rice dish will be scattered with a range of different toppings.
Chirashizushi is a superb dish if you want to give your soup a seafood-like flavor.
Bread Rolls
Last but not least, bread rolls and soup are regularly served together. This is an ideal combination because the bread will absorb all of the flavors when dipped into the soup.
When eating bread rolls with your udon noodle soup, you can dip the bread into the broth once you have finished all of the noodles. This side dish will ensure that you feel full after eating this soup.
Fresh homemade bread rolls will work especially when with your udon noodle soup. However, store-bought varieties will also suffice. You can also try using sliced bread or baguettes if you don’t have any bread rolls.
Udon Noodle Soup Variations
This udon noodle soup is an extremely delicious recipe. Yet, you may want to customize the flavor of this soup to better fit your preferences. To help inspire you, consider trying some of these variations to adjust the taste and texture of the dish:
Add cooked chicken to the soup to make it a little more substantial. This will give the dish a meaty taste. Not to mention, it will give the dish a source of protein. Of course, this variation will not be suitable for vegetarians or vegans.
In Japanese cuisine, udon soup is often topped with an egg. Boiled or fried eggs will work particularly well.
To increase the nutritional value of the dish, try adding a bag of spinach. Spinach is a superb source of iron, vitamin K, vitamin C, and folate. This spinach can be added toward the end of the recipe.
Use togarashi as a terrific topping. This refers to a common Japanese spice mixture consisting of seven ingredients. Togarashi is a wonderful way of giving this soup a spicy kick. Simply sprinkle these spices on top of the soup once it’s ready.
Udon Noodle Soup Storage
If you have any leftovers, you may be wondering how to correctly store this udon noodle soup. To reduce unnecessary leftovers, simply reduce the number of ingredients that you are using. This recipe is designed to serve around 4 adults.
To store any leftovers, it is recommended that you separate the noodles from the broth. To do this, simply drain the broth using a colander so that the liquid drops into a container.
Once the broth and noodles have been separated, place them in two different airtight containers.
Put these containers into the fridge, where they should remain fresh for between two and three days. After this time, it is recommended that you discard the soup.
You can simply reheat your leftovers to enjoy them at a later date. Just be sure to reheat it thoroughly for a pleasant eating experience.
Is This Recipe Vegan Or Vegetarian?
No, this recipe is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans. This is because it contains dashi stock, which often comes from niboshi. In Japan, niboshi refers to small dried fish.
Luckily, you can easily make this recipe edible for vegans or vegetarians by using a different type of dashi stock.
Kombu dashi is an outstanding option because it is made from seaweed or kelp. As a result, it has a seafood-like flavor but is free from animal products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Udon Noodle Soup Healthy?
Generally, udon noodle soup is considered a relatively healthy dish. Yet, the health benefits will differ depending on the recipe. Recipes that are packed with vegetables tend to be more nutritious than versions that exclude them.
Udon noodles are high in carbs but low in fat. Just remember to have a healthy portion of noodles.
Are You Meant To Drink Udon Broth?
Yes, the broth of udon soup is intended to be consumed. However, you do not have to consume all of this broth.
It will not be considered rude if you leave behind some of this broth, as it is not the main part of the dish.
What Is The Difference Between Udon And Ramen?
Ramen and udon are often confused with one another. Luckily, there are some key differences between them that you can use to differentiate ramen from udon.
Firstly, udon is much thicker than ramen. Udon noodles are renowned for their thickness. Additionally, ramen is made with eggs, while udon does not typically contain eggs. As a result, udon noodles are often vegan.
Final Thoughts
Ideal for people with a passion for Japanese food, this authentic udon noodle soup recipe is loaded with fantastic flavors.
When you taste this homely soup, you will feel as though you are in Japan. This soup is also superbly versatile, as there are loads of different variations and pairings that you can try. So why not experiment with this sensational soup recipe?
Using a chopping board and sharp knife, chop the mushrooms and green onions into small pieces.
Cook the udon noodles according to the instructions on the packet, which will usually involve boiling them. Once they have been cooked, drain the noodles in a colander. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to the noodles to stop them from sticking. Set the noodles aside as you prepare the rest of the dish.
In a frying pan, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. On a medium hob setting, heat the oil until it is hot. Once ready, add the mushrooms, garlic, and ginger. Stirring regularly with a wooden spoon, sautee these ingredients for approximately 2 minutes until the mushrooms have started to brown. Take off the heat.
Add the dashi stock to a pot. Bring it to a boil and cook for roughly 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the mushrooms, garlic, and ginger to the dashi. Stir the mirin and soy sauce into the mixture. Sprinkle the salt into the mixture for extra flavor.
Pour the noodles out of the colander and into the pot, stirring thoroughly. Cook the soup for around one minute at a low temperature to ensure that the noodles are warm.
Serve the udon noodle soup in a bowl. Generously sprinkle the soup with green onions to increase the flavor and improve its aesthetic value.
Add cooked chicken to the soup to make it a little more substantial. This will give the dish a meaty taste. Not to mention, it will give the dish a source of protein. Of course, this variation will not be suitable for vegetarians or vegans.
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