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    Home » Recipes » Rice, Pasta and Noodle

    6 Easy Japanese Udon Recipes

    Jan 21, 2023 by JURI · This post may contain affiliate links

    5 from 2 votes
    JUMP TO RECIPE

    Satisfy those udon cravings! You will love these flavorful Japanese udon noodle recipes. From hot soups to refreshing cold dishes, there are many ways to enjoy these chewy noodles!

    6 udon noodle recipes.

    Udon noodles are a Japanese comfort food! They are made from wheat flour and are thick and chewy, creating a delicious meal to satisfy cravings.

    These six easy recipes are perfect for a quick lunch or a busy weeknight dinner. Enjoy a delicious bowl of soup or stir-fry today!

      This recipe is for you if:
    • You love Japanese udon noodles.
    • You are looking for easy udon recipes.
    • You want to make stir-fried udon noodles.

    Let's get started!

    Jump to:
    • 6 Easy Japanese Udon Recipes!
    • How To Make Stir-fried udon noodles
    • How to make hot udon noodles
    • How to make cold udon noodles
    • Which udon noodles to buy
    • The difference with other Japanese noodles
    • Where to buy Japanese ingredients
    • Thanks For Stopping By
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Udon Noodle Recipes

    6 Easy Japanese Udon Recipes!

    6 udon noodle recipes.

    Dive into deliciousness with my top 6 recipes! From stir-fried udon noodles to cold ones - these simple, easy-to-make meals will quickly become your favorites. Let's get cooking!

    1. Vegetable Yaki Udon (Vegan)
    2. Miso Udon Carbonara (Vegetarian)
    3. Kake Udon (Udon Noodle Soup)
    4. Easy Curry Udon Recipe
    5. Cold Udon Noodles
    6. Chilled Natto Udon Noodle Bowl

    1. Vegetable Yaki Udon (Vegan)

    Vegetable Yaki Udon (Vegan)
    5 from 1 vote
    This Yaki Udon recipe is a great dinner idea for busy weekdays. It's so easy delicious, and you can make it in under 15 minutes from start to finish!
    Make This Recipe
    Vegetable yaki udon in a large pan

    2. Japanese Style Miso Udon Carbonara (Vegetarian)

    Japanese Style Miso Udon Carbonara (Vegetarian)
    5 from 1 vote
    If you're feeling like some light yet satisfying comfort food today, try this Miso Udon Carbonara! Thick chewy udon noodles are perfectly paired with creamy carbonara sauce.
    Make This Recipe
    楕円形のお皿に盛り付けられたカルボナーラ風うどん

    3. Kake Udon (Japanese Udon Noodle Soup)

    Kake Udon (Japanese Udon Noodle Soup)
    5 from 2 votes
    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!
    Make This Recipe
    kake udon (udon noodle soup) in a bowl

    4. Easy Curry Udon Recipe

    Easy Japanese Curry Udon Recipe
    5 from 2 votes
    Fill your cravings with this delicious and easy-to-follow Curry Udon recipe! Enjoy an inviting combination of chewy noodles in a flavorful curry soup.
    Make This Recipe
    curry udon in a serving bowl.

    5. Cold Udon Noodles with Summer Vegetables

    Cold Udon Noodles with Summer Vegetables
    5 from 1 vote
    Summer is best for cold udon noodles. Just top the boiled udon with fresh summer vegetables and pour flavorful noodle soup. It's simple and easy recipe.
    Make This Recipe
    Cold Udon Noodles with Summer Vegetables

    6. Chilled Natto Udon Noodle Bowl

    Chilled Natto Udon Noodle Bowl
    5 from 2 votes
    Natto, udon noodles, and egg, all combined in a bowl make a good meal. If you're interested in natto recipes, this natto udon noodle bowl is easy to start with.
     
    Make This Recipe
    chilled natto udon noodle bowl

    How To Make Stir-fried udon noodles

    yaki udon

    Have you ever tried Yaki Udon (stir-fried udon noodles)? It's a quick meal 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 frying 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!

    6 toppings for yaki udon noodles.

    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).

    How to make hot udon noodles

    hot udon noodles.

    If you're looking for an authentic udon noodle dish, try hot udon noodle soup! Kake udon, the most basic form of udon noodle soup, is worth trying. Here's how you can make it!

    Ingredietns for kake udon:

    • Udon soup - it's called mentsuyu, made from dashi broth, 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 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 udon noodles.

    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.

    Hot udon noodle variations

    hot udon noodle 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

    How to make cold udon noodles

    cold udon noodles.

    If a steaming bowl of soup isn't your thing, why not try cold udon noodles? 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).

    Which udon noodles to buy

    varieties of udon noodles.

    Let's go through the varieties of udon noodles you can buy at a store.

    • Frozen udon noodles - are super easy to use as you can thaw in the microwave or quickly boil them before using them. The chewy texture is the best for any udon dish. Plus, the shelf life is long.
    • Pre-cooked udon noodles- are also a quick and easy option. They are already boiled, so you can add them to a pan and cook. You can find them in a refrigerated array.
    • Dry udon noodles - take about six minutes to boil, so they are not suitable when you are in a hurry. They are usually thinner than others.

    I hope you can find udon noodles easily at your local Asian market or Japanese supermarket. Frozen is my go-to as they are thick, chewy, and quick to cook.

    The difference with other Japanese noodles

    Soba noodles and ramen noodles are also popular in Japan, but do you know the difference between udon noodles?

    Click here to find the key differences between these three delicious Japanese favorites.

    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

    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

    6 udon noodle recipes.

    Udon Noodle Recipes

    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep: 10 minutes
    Cook: 10 minutes
    Total: 20 minutes
    Servings: 2 servings
    Author: JURI
    Satisfy those udon cravings! You will love these flavorful Japanese udon noodle recipes. From hot soups to refreshing cold dishes, there are many ways to enjoy these chewy noodles!
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • Udon noodles

    Instructions

    • Pick a recipe from these udon noodle recipes
      Vegetable Yaki Udon (Vegan), Miso Udon Carbonara (Vegetarian), Kake Udon (Japanese Udon Noodle Soup), Easy Japanese Curry Udon Recipe, Cold Udon Noodles, Natto Udon Noodle Bowl
    • Follow the recipe instructions and enjoy the delicious dish!

    Notes

     
      •  
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Japanese
    Keyword: udon noodles
    Did You Make this recipe?Please Leave a star rating!

    More Rice, Pasta and Noodle

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

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