Name: Tanuki Udon Soup (Japanese Noodle Recipe)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 2 packs Udon noodles (about 360g); 2 Tbsp Tenkasu (see note for homemade option); 1 Tbsp Dried wakame seaweed; ¼ Scallion; 3¼ cup Water (780ml); 1 tsp Dashi powder; 2 Tbsp Mirin; 2 Tbsp Soy sauce; ½ tsp Salt

5 from 3 votes

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Treat yourself to the heartwarming Tanuki Udon soup—a cozy, satisfying Japanese noodle dish that guarantees a delightful meal experience!

This tasty udon noodle soup combines thick Japanese wheat noodles in a flavorful hot dashi broth and is topped with crunchy tempura bits. Dive into the easy steps to whip up this friendly Tanuki Udon recipe!

This recipe is for you if:

You love Japanese udon noodles.
You want to make tanuki udon soup.
You are looking for a cozy udon noodle recipe.

Let's get started!

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Tanuki Udon
📋 Ingredients
Where to Buy Japanese Ingredients
🔪Instructions
Serve
Helpful tips
Thanks For Stopping By!
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

Tanuki Udon

Tanuki Udon, named after the Japanese raccoon dog, features tenkasu (tempura bits) as an essential topping. The name's origin has various theories, with one suggesting that the color of tenkasu resembles that of the raccoon. Many also enjoy cold Tanuki Udon for a refreshing twist.

📋 Ingredients

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

Udon noodles: See below.

Tenkasu (see below), wakame seaweed, and scallions (green onions) for the toppings.

Dashi powder, salt, mirin, and soy sauce for noodle soup. Dashi, a traditional Japanese soup stock, is the key ingredient in infusing the broth with savory richness (find more in What is dashi). In this recipe, I simplify the process by using store-bought kombu dashi powder. If you like to make homemade noodle soup from scratch, try this Mentsuyu recipe!

Udon Noodles

The popular Japanese noodles, made with wheat flour and water, are a staple of Japanese cuisine. These thick and chewy noodles can be enjoyed both hot and cold.

At Japanese grocery stores or Asian markets, you can find udon noodles in different forms - dried, fresh, or frozen. In this recipe, I opt for frozen udon noodles for their quick preparation, requiring just a few minutes of boiling.

Tenkasu (Tempura Bits)

Tenkasu, or agedama, are crispy tempura flakes—small, crunchy bits made as a byproduct during tempura frying. Tenkasu is often used as a topping in Japanese dishes, adding crunchiness and flavor to soups, noodles, and other dishes.

I use store-bought tenkasu for this recipe, but making your tempura bits is easy. Prepare a tempura batter, apply a generous amount to a brush, and gently drop it into the hot oil. Fry for approximately 2 minutes or until golden brown.

Where to Buy Japanese Ingredients

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

Japanese market: Mitsuwa Marketplace, Marukai
Asian market
Whole Foods Market
Health food stores
Online stores: Instacart, Walmart, Amazon

🔪Instructions

Let's go over how to make this tanuki udon soup.

1. Prepare tenkasu in a small bowl.

2. Place the dried wakame in a small bowl and let it soak for about 5 minutes. Drain the seaweed completely.

3. Finely chop the scallions.

4. Add water, kombu dashi powder, mirin, soy sauce, and salt in a large pot and bring it to a boil over medium heat.

5. While making the soup, add the udon noodles to a separate pot of boiling water and cook them for about two minutes.

6. Drain using a strainer and quickly rinse under running cold water to remove the extra starch.

7. Serve the cooked noodles in a bowl and pour the udon soup.

8. Place the tenkasu, wakame seaweed, and scallions on top.

Serve

Enjoy your Tanuki Udon Soup while it's still warm. If you like a spicy kick, top it with a sprinkle of shichimi togarashi, a Japanese spice blend.

Helpful tips

Adjusting Soup Seasoning: If your udon soup is too salty, you can balance it by diluting it with water. Conversely, if it's too mild, add more salt to enhance the flavor.
Udon noodles typically take a couple of minutes to cook frozen noodles and around 10 minutes or more for dried or fresh noodles. The cooking time can vary depending on the type and brand of udon noodles, so please follow the package directions.
Tenkasu will become soft over time, so add it right before you eat for a crunchy texture.

Thanks For Stopping By!

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.

Tanuki Udon Soup (Japanese Noodle Recipe)