What Are Udon Noodles? How Do You Cook With Them?

Udon noodles are one of the most popular noodles in Japanese cuisine and are used in various types of dishes. They are a great choice for switching from your regular instant ramen. No offense to ramen; they are absolutely delicious; yet, a change in flavour every once in a while is never a bad idea. So, let’s look more into the details of “What are udon noodles?” and the different ways you can cook them.

What are Udon Noodles?

Udon noodles are made from wheat flour and have a thicker, springier texture similar to soba noodles. With their pleasant and smooth texture, they can easily absorb the flavours from the other ingredients of the dish. Udon noodles are cooked in many different ways, from soupy to stir-fried, or you can add them to your salad. You can relish them hot or cold, which makes them extremely versatile!

Types of Udon Noodles

Let’s explore some of the most common types of Udon noodles:

1. Hot Udon Soup:
   As mentioned earlier, hot udon soup is savoured by people all over the world. This soup is made of traditional Japanese broth called “dashi,” seasoned with soy sauce, mirin rice wine, sugar and salt. It is garnished with several toppings, such as spring onions, fried tofu pockets, tempura prawns and kamaboko.
2. Nabeyaki Udon:
   Nabeyaki udon is said to be more complex than other udon dishes. However, if you want to relish different favours, then it is an ideal choice. Nabeyaki udon is a noodle soup which is cooked in kekejiru broth with miso, soy sauce, kimchi and different veggies and meat. The toppings for this dish are prepared separately, such as blanched spinach and tempura prawns.
3. Yaki Udon:
   Yaki udon is a delicious dish made from smooth and thick udon noodles with soy-based sauce, different vegetables and meat. It is a Japanese stir-fry dish similar to Chinese noodles, yaki-soba. It is served with pickled ginger and bonito fish flakes.
4. Cold Udon Salad:
   This is a simple and healthy Japanese noodle salad which goes perfectly with your summer vibes. Prepare a bowl full of fresh veggies, grilled chicken, or prawns with a simple Japanese dressing of minced onion, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, peanut oil, lemon, sugar and salt. To add more flavour to your salad, you can also add some authentic sauces. Toss some udon noodles in it and you’re done! Now savour this delicious salad anytime you want.

So, these were some of the most common dishes made from udon noodles. The best part is that udon noodles are available fresh, pre-cooked and dry. If you are new to Japanese cuisine, then try instant udon noodles, which are ready to cook. They are definitely a must-try if you want to expand your culinary horizons in Japanese cuisine. You can buy udon noodles from Moi-Soi, which saves you a trip to the supermarket. Moi Soi is an online store which satisfies your Asian cuisine with its authentic Asian sauces, noodles and ready-to-eat Thai curry.

For more information, visit Moi Soi’s website now!