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    Home » Recipes » Rice, Pasta and Noodle

    Kake Udon (Japanese Udon Noodle Soup)

    Jan 23, 2023 by JURI · This post may contain affiliate links

    5 from 2 votes
    JUMP TO RECIPE JUMP TO VIDEO

    Enjoy a comforting bowl of Kake Udon and delight in the harmony between its chewy udon noodles and flavorful dashi soup. Learn how to make this easy yet satisfying noodle dish!

    kake udon (udon noodle soup) in a bowl with chopsticks.

    If you are craving hot noodle soup, Kake Udon is the perfect dish for you! This classic Japanese noodle soup is just a few simple steps - boil udon noodles, pour dashi broth, and top it off with your favorite toppings. Cozy up with the warm flavors of this delicious Kake udon!

      This recipe is for you if:
    • You love Japanese udon noodles.
    • You want to make simple udon noodle soup.
    • You are looking for kake udon recipe.

    Let me walk you through the ingredients and the instructions. If you want to check the recipe, jump to the recipe. Let's get started!

    Jump to:
    • About this recipe
    • What is Kake udon (udon noodle soup)?
    • 📋 Ingredients
    • Where to buy Japanese ingredients
    • 🔪Instructions
    • Helpful tips
    • Topping Variations
    • Kake udon variations
    • Thanks For Stopping By
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Kake Udon (Japanese Udon Noodle Soup)

    About this recipe

    • Simple udon noodles
    • Authentic Japanese noodle recipe
    • Use flavorful homemade mentsuyu (soup base)
    • Many ideas for toppings

    What is Kake udon (udon noodle soup)?

    kake udon.

    Udon noodle soup is a traditional Japanese dish prepared by pouring the hot savory broth over boiled udon noodles and then topped with some toppings.

    It's a popular quick lunch menu for the on-the-go. You can easily find the noodle stands that serve udon noodle soups (as well as soba noodles) at train stations across the country.

    I will show you how to make Kake udon and introduce various topping ideas below.

    📋 Ingredients

    Here are the ingredients (amounts are in the recipe card below).

    Ingredient list for kake udon noodles.
    • Udon noodles: Dried, fresh, or frozen udon noodles are available at grocery stores. I use frozen udon noodles in this recipe.
    • Mentsuyu: It's a multipurpose noodle soup base with a savory flavor made from dashi broth (Japanese soup stock), mirin, and soy sauce.
    • Toppings: Green onions and wakame seaweed.

    See more details for each in the following.

    Udon Noodles

    Frozen udon noodles.

    Udon noodles, the classic Japanese noodle made with wheat flour and water, are a staple of Japanese cuisine. These thick and white noodles have a chewy texture and can be enjoyed both hot and cold.

    At a store, you can find dried, fresh, or frozen udon noodles. Frozen noodles are my go-to - they're handy to stock in your freezer.

    Mentsuyu (Noodle soup base)

    Mentsuyu in a glass jar.

    Mentsuyu is a Japanese soup base crafted with just three main ingredients--flavorful dashi stock (Japanese soup stock), soy sauce, and mirin. With a rich flavor and simple preparation, this homemade soup pairs perfectly with any noodles. I use homemade mentsuyu in this recipe. See the recipe below.

    For those short on time, store-bought mentsuyu is an easy way. I always keep one in my fridge as this versatile sauce is perfect for cooking various Japanese dishes.

    Mentsuyu
    5 from 1 vote
    Try this authentic mentsuyu recipe for a deliciously rich taste!! Enjoy the irresistible umami flavors, perfect for slurping up with your favorite Japanese noodles.
    Make This Recipe
    Mentsuyu in a glass jar.

    Toppings

    As I mentioned, Kake udon is the simplest noodle soup topped with one or two ingredients. The popular one is green onions (scallion), and I added my favorite wakame seaweed to this recipe. You will find more toppings below.

    Where to buy Japanese ingredients

    If you live in the US, you can find Japanese ingredients in the list below.

    • Japanese grocery stores: Mitsuwa marketplace, Marukai
    • Asian grocery stores
    • Whole foods market
    • Health food stores
    • Online stores: Instacart, Walmart, Amazon

    🔪Instructions

    Let e show you how to make it! Click here to watch the recipe video.

    Instructions for kake udon.
    1. Prepare toppings. I picked green onions (scallion) and wakame in this recipe.
    2. Cook udon noodles according to the package instructions (a couple of minutes for frozen ones).
    3. Drain and quickly rinse under running cold water to remove the extra starch.
    4. Make udon soup. Dilute mentsuyu with water and warm it up.
    5. Serve the noodles in a bowl, and pour the soup.
    6. Place the toppings.
    kake udon (udon noodle soup) in a bowl with chopsticks.

    Here you go! Once it's served, please eat immediately. Otherwise, the udon noodle soaks up the soup and becomes soggy.

    If you like a little spice, sprinkle with shichimi togarashi (Japanese spice mix) and enjoy!

    Helpful tips

    • If the mentsuyu soup is too salty, dilute it with water. If it's too light, add more mentsuyu.
    • Udon noodle cooking time - a couple of minutes for frozen ones. 10 minutes or more for fresh and dried ones.
    • Try various toppings from the "Topping variations" section below.
    • If you use store-bought mentsuyu, follow the instruction on the package. How much water to add depends on the product.

    Vegan Adaptable

    Mentsuyu is not vegan-friendly as it's made from katsuobushi (bonito flakes). But it's vegan and adaptable if you substitute katsuobushi with dried shiitake mushrooms. Click here to find out more about vegan dashi.

    Topping Variations

    Toppings for Kake udon (udon noodle soup).

    Kake udon is the simplest noodle soup, but the topping variations are limitless! Here are my favorite toppings you can try:

    • Green onions (scallion, spring onion)
    • Wakame Seaweed
    • Kamaboko fish cake - A type of fish cake
    • Onsen Tamago - A half-boiled egg. Place eggs in boiled water and leave for 15-20 minutes to cook slowly
    • Agedama - Tempura bits or tempura flakes (Crunchy pieces of tempura batter)
    • Spinach - Boil for 1 minute
    • Tororo Kombu - Flakes of kombu seaweed
    • Aburaage - Thin deep-fried tofu. Bake on both sides with a toaster to make it crispy

    Kake udon variations

    kake udon variations.

    Japanese restaurants offer a wide range of udon noodle soups on their menu - each variety has its unique name by toppings. Some of the most popular ones include:

    • Tsukimi udon - Raw or half-boiled egg on top
    • Kitsune udon - Seasoned aburaage (thin deep-fried tofu) on top
    • Chikara udon - Mochi (rice cake) on top
    • Tempura udon - Shrimp tempura on top
    • Chikuwaten udon - Tempura of chikuwa (a type of fish cake) on top
    • Kakiage udon - Kakiage (a type of tempura) on top

    By the way, zaru udon is a popular cold dish served with its flavorful dipping soup.

    Thanks For Stopping By

    kake udon (udon noodle soup) in a bowl with chopsticks.

    Thank you for taking the time to read my blog♡ If you've tried this recipe (or any other recipe on the blog), please give it a star rating below!

    Also, feel free to leave comments if you have any questions. I love hearing from you!

    Chef JA Cooks is a Japanese food blog that shares simple and healthy Japanese home cooking recipes, including vegan and vegetarian. From traditional Japanese recipes to modern recipes with step-by-step instructions.

    More Japanese Noodle Recipes You Might Like

    • Kake soba (Soba noodle soup)
    • Yakiudon
    • Cold Udon Noodles with Vegetables
    • Natto udon noodles
    • Soba Noodle Salad

    📖 Recipe

    kake udon (udon noodle soup) in a bowl

    Kake Udon (Japanese Udon Noodle Soup)

    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep: 5 minutes
    Cook: 10 minutes
    Total: 15 minutes
    Servings: 2 servings
    Author: JURI
    Enjoy a comforting bowl of Kake Udon and delight in the harmony between its chewy udon noodles and flavorful dashi soup. Learn how to make this easy and simple yet satisfying noodle dish!

    Equipment

    • 1 Medium saucepan 18 cm/7 inches
    • 1 Strainer
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 packs Udon noodles, about 360g
    • 600 ml Homeade mentsuyu
    • 200 ml Water
    • 1 inch Scallion, 2.5cm, chop
    • 1 tablespoon Dried wakame Seaweed, rehydrate and drain

    Instructions

    • Prepare toppings
    • Cook udon noodles: Boil plenty of water (not in the ingredients list) in a medium saucepan, add udon noodles, and cook according to the package instructions. Stir the noodles with chopsticks to separate them while cooking.
    • Drain the noodles: Drain using a strainer and quickly rinse under running cold water to remove the extra starch.
    • Udon soup: Put mentsuyu and water in the same saucepan and warm it up.
    • Serve: Serve the drained noodles in a bowl, pour the soup, and place the scallions and wakame on top.

    Video

    Notes

    • If the udon soup is too salty, dilute it with water. If it's too light, add more mentsuyu.
    • Udon noodle cooking time - a couple of minutes for frozen ones. 10 minutes or more for fresh and dried ones.
    • Try various toppings from the "Topping variations" section.
    • If you use store-bought mentsuyu, follow the instruction on the package. How much water to add depends on the product.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 4g | Vitamin C: 1mg
    Course: Noodles
    Cuisine: Japanese
    Keyword: kake udon, udon noodle soup
    Did You Make this recipe?Please Leave a star rating!

    More Rice, Pasta and Noodle

    • What are udon noodles?
    • 6 Easy Japanese Udon Recipes
    • Easy Japanese Curry Udon Recipe
    • Mentsuyu (Japanese Noodle Soup)

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