Learn how to cook udon noodles perfectly and discover 8 easy and delicious Japanese udon recipes! From hot soups to refreshing cold dishes, there are many ways to enjoy these chewy noodles!
Satisfy your udon cravings with these flavorful noodle dishes that bring the taste of authentic Japanese cuisine to your table!
Follow my step-by-step guide for cooking udon noodles, and enjoy these mouth-watering recipes for a quick lunch or a busy weeknight dinner. Whether you prefer a delicious bowl of soup or a flavorful stir-fry, these udon dishes are sure to hit the spot!
- This recipe is for you if:
- You love Japanese udon noodles.
- You are looking for easy udon recipes.
- You want to learn how to cook udon noodles.
Let's get started!
Jump to:
- How To Cook Udon Noodles
- Types of Udon Noodles and The Cooking Time
- 3 Ways To Make Udon Noodle Dish
- 1. How To Make Stir-fried Udon Noodles
- 2. How to Make Hot Udon Noodles
- 3. How To Make Cold Udon Noodles
- 8 Easy Japanese Udon Recipes!
- Japanese Udon Noodles
- A Comprehensive Guide For Udon Noodles
- Where to Buy Japanese Ingredients
- FAQ
- Thanks For Stopping By!
- 📖 Recipe
- 8 Easy Japanese Udon Noodle Recipes
- 💬 Comments
How To Cook Udon Noodles
How to cook udon noodles are super easy! Just follow the instructions below and use the cooked noodles in a variety of dishes, such as stir-fried udon noodles or hot udon noodle soup.
- Add udon noodles to boiling water: To cook udon noodles, bring a large pot of water to a boil on medium-high heat. Add the noodles and cook according to package directions.
- Drain and rinse: Drain the noodles and rinse them with cold water. Rinsing helps to cool them down quickly, making them easier to handle and preventing them from becoming mushy.
Types of Udon Noodles and The Cooking Time
There are generally three types of udon noodles available at grocery stores, and how to cook and the cooking time can vary depending on the type you choose and the different brands:
- Frozen udon noodles - These are very convenient as they can be quickly thawed in the microwave or boiled for a few minutes before use. The chewy texture is the best for any udon dish. Plus, the shelf life is long.
- Pre-cooked udon noodles - Same as frozen udon noodles, quickly warm up in the microwave or boil for one minute before use. If you use them for stir-frying dishes, you can add them to a skillet without boiling.
- Dry udon noodles - These noodles take around 6 to 8 minutes to boil, which is longer than the other types of udon noodles. They are typically thinner than others.
Frozen one is my go-to as they are thick, chewy, and quick to cook.
3 Ways To Make Udon Noodle Dish
Udon noodles, with their thick and chewy texture, are a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes.
Here are three delicious ways to prepare udon noodles:
- Stir-fried udon noodles
- Hot udon noodle soup
- Cold udon noodles
Let's dive right into each cooking method!
1. How To Make Stir-fried Udon Noodles
Stir-fried udon noodles, or Yaki udon in Japanese, is a perfect dish for quick meals that you can make in 15 minutes! Let me give you brief instructions on how to make it.
Ingredients for stir-fried udon noodles:
- Choice of protein - meat, fish, tofu, and beans or without any. I often choose aburaage (deep-fried tofu).
- Choice of vegetables - choose something quick to cook, such as green onions, onions, bell peppers, bok choy, spinach, napa cabbage, shiitake mushrooms (or any mushrooms), moyashi (bean sprouts), eggplant, and many more.
- Stir fry sauce - Soy sauce is the perfect condiment. I use a mixture of soy sauce and mirin. Or you can use oyster sauce or any other thick, flavorful sauce. Adding some spice would be great if you like spicy food.
How to prepare: Stir your ingredients in a large pan with oil (sesame oil would be perfect), add boiled udon noodles, stir fry sauce, and stir fry until combined. Garnish with sesame seeds or black pepper if you like.
Add these delicious toppings!
Adding toppings is a great way to make your yaki udon irresistible. Try these delightful topping options!
- Fried egg
- Scallions, green onions, or spring onions
- Nori - is seaweed, and this shredded type is a popular topping for Japanese noodles.
- Katsuobushi - is bonito flakes and the most common topping for yaki udon in Japan.
- Furikake - is a simple Japanese rice seasoning mix used to flavor plain steamed white rice, and it works well for udon noodles.
- Aonori - is fine seaweed powder and has a stronger flavor. Often used for okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancakes).
2. How to Make Hot Udon Noodles
If you're looking for an authentic udon noodle dish, try the hot udon noodle soup recipe! Kake udon, the most basic form of hot udon noodle soup, is worth trying. Here's how you can make it!
Ingredients for hot udon noodle soup:
- Udon soup - it's called mentsuyu, made from dashi broth (or dashi powder for convenience), soy sauce, and mirin (See below for more information).
- Toppings - Green onions (scallion, spring onion), wakame seaweed, kamaboko fish cake, half-boiled egg, shichimi togarashi (red pepper flakes).
How to prepare: Put boiled udon noodles in a serving bowl, pour fresh umami-packed udon soup over, and finish with toppings.
Mentsuyu (Noodle soup base)
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 udon noodles.
Hot udon noodle soup 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
3. How To Make Cold Udon Noodles
If a steaming bowl of soup isn't your thing, why not try cold udon noodles called Zaru udon? Generally, the dish is served with noodles and soup in separate bowls; dip the noodles in a flavorful broth and enjoy!
Ingredients for cold udon noodles:
- Dipping soup - mentsuyu (same as hot udon noodles)
- Toppings - Green onions (scallion, spring onion), grated ginger, natto, grated daikon, and fresh vegetables.
How to prepare: Put boiled udon noodles in a serving bowl, add some toppings, and serve dipping soup in a small bowl (or you can pour the soup over the noodles).
8 Easy Japanese Udon Recipes!
Dive into deliciousness with my top 8 recipes! From stir-fried udon noodles to hot soup and cold ones - these simple, easy-to-make recipes will quickly become your favorite weeknight meals!
Stir-fried noodles
Hot noodle soup
Cold noodles
- Cold Udon Noodles
- Chilled Natto Udon Noodle Bowl
- Zaru Udon (Japanese Cold Udon Noodles)
- Bukkake Udon
1. Vegetable Yaki Udon (Vegan)
2. Japanese Style Miso Udon Carbonara (Vegetarian)
3. Kake Udon (Japanese Udon Noodle Soup)
4. Easy Curry Udon Recipe
5. Cold Udon Noodles with Summer Vegetables
6. Chilled Natto Udon Noodle Bowl
7. Zaru Udon (Japanese Cold Udon Noodles)
8. Bukkake Udon
Japanese Udon Noodles
Udon noodles, the classic Japanese noodle made with wheat flour, are a staple of Japanese cooking. These white and thick noodles have a chewy texture and can be enjoyed both hot and cold.
There are plenty of delicious udon dishes, from classic Kake udon to tasty yaki udon. Udon noodles have a mild flavor and pair well with any soup and sauce.
They are 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.
How To Make Udon Noodles
Udon noodles are made of wheat flour, potato starch, and salt. Rather than using bread or cake flour, all-purpose flour is selected to give udon its signature bouncy bite.
To make udon noodles from scratch, mix the ingredients and gradually add water to form a dough. Knead the udon dough until smooth, roll it out into a thin sheet using a rolling pin, and slice it into thick, long noodles.
Click here for how to make homemade udon noodles.
A Comprehensive Guide For Udon Noodles
Learn more about udon noodles and udon noodle dishes in "What are Japanese udon noodles: A Beginner's Guide"
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
FAQ
The boiling time for udon noodles can vary depending on the type of noodle you are using. Here are some general guidelines for boiling time - Frozen udon noodles: a few minutes, Pre-cooked udon noodles: one minute, and Dry udon noodles: 6 to 8 minutes.
No, you don't. Udon noodles are made with some salt to enhance their flavor and preservation. Therefore, when boiling the udon noodles, in general, you don't need to add salt. Some of the excess salt is removed by boiling and resulting in a better balance of saltiness.
Yes. You should always rinse udon noodles after cooking to remove excess starch and stop the cooking process. Rinsing the noodles also helps to cool them down quickly, making them easier to handle and preventing them from becoming mushy.
No, they are not. While udon noodles are generally made from wheat flour, you can find gluten-free versions made from rice flour. With a chewy, smooth texture, they can be used in any dish, just like regular udon.
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.
More Japanese Noodle Recipes You Might Like
- Kake soba (Soba noodle soup)
- Yaki udon
- Cold Udon Noodles with Vegetables
- Natto udon noodles
- Soba Noodle Salad
📖 Recipe
8 Easy Japanese Udon Noodle Recipes
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Instructions
- Follow the recipe instructions and enjoy the delicious dish!
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