How to Make Udon Soup
In the 9th century, a Buddhist priest named Kukai introduced Chinese udon noodles to the Japanese province of Sanuki. Since then, udon soup has become a popular dish in Japanese cuisine. Usually, udon soup consists of homemade udon noodles served in a Japanese broth called dashi. The soup is served hot and often topped with chopped scallions, tempura, tofu and a Japanese fish cake. Shichimi, a Japanese spice mix, may also be added for extra taste.
Things You'll Need
- Large pot
- Paper towels
- Mixing spoon
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 8 ounces udon noodles
- 6 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/3 ounce katsuobushi (dried bonito) flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoons mirin (Japanese rice wine)
- 8 large prawns, with shells removed
- 14 ounces firm tofu, diced
- 4 cups baby spinach leaves
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced
- Shichimi (optional)
- Sesame oil (optional)
Cook Udon Noodles
-
Fill a large pot with water and add 2 tablespoons of salt.
-
Bring the water to a boil and add the udon noodles.
-
Cook the noodles until they become tender, about 5 minutes.
-
Drain the noodles and rinse them with cold water. Set the noodles aside.
Make Dashi Broth
-
Place 6 1/2 cups of water into a large pot. Turn the burner to a medium heat.
-
Add the katsuobushi flakes to the pot just before the water boils.
-
Once the water reaches a boil, add the dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, sugar and mirin. Stir the mixture to dissolve the sugar.
-
Remove any foam that rises to the surface with a large mixing spoon.
-
Taste the broth and adjust seasonings if necessary. You may add some shichimi for extra spice.
-
Take the pot off of the stove and strain the broth with a paper towel.
-
Place the pot back onto the burner and bring to a boil again.
Assemble the Soup
-
Add the prawns and tofu to the dashi broth. Allow the prawns to cook through, about 3 to 5 minutes. The prawns will float when they are fully cooked.
-
Turn off the burner. Add the udon noodles and spinach leaves.
-
Top off the soup with chopped scallions and a drizzle of sesame oil.
-
Dish the soup into four bowls and serve immediately.
Japanese Food
- How to Cook & Store Kombu
- How to Make a Sake Bomb (4 Steps)
- What does meal mean in Japanese?
- Restaurants Similar to Benihana
- Why do Japanese people make curry?
- How to Build a Bento Box
- What Is the Pink Stuff Served With Sushi Called?
- What is teri don japanese cuisine?
- How do you write in Japanese?
- How to Cook Miso Salmon (9 Steps)
Japanese Food
- African Food
- Asian Food
- Chinese Food
- European Food
- French Food
- Greek Food
- Indian Food
- Italian Food
- Japanese Food
- Kosher Food
- Latin American Food
- Mexican Food
- Middle Eastern Food
- Soul Food
- Southern US Food
- Spanish Food
- Thai Food
- World & Regional Food


