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Tanuki udon
Udon with tempura bits
Tanuki udon: hot udon in dashi with crunchy tempura bits
In Tokyo and the Kanto region, tanuki udon is the cheapest, fastest bowl at a standing noodle bar: thick udon in hot soy-dark dashi, crowned with tenkasu, the crisp bits of tempura batter, and spring onion. The broth uses bonito dashi and mirin, a sweet rice seasoning that contains alcohol; it is simmered, but for an alcohol-free version use sugar as noted. The mistake is adding the tenkasu too early so it turns soggy before the bowl reaches the table. Chef's tip: frozen sanuki udon cooks in a minute and has a much better bite than the vacuum-packed kind.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
For the broth
- 3 cups dashi stockmade from kombu and bonito flakes, or from dashi powder
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp light (usukuchi) soy sauceor more soy sauce
- 2 tbsp mirinfor alcohol-free use 1 tbsp sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
For the bowls
- 2 portions frozen udon noodlesabout 400 g
- 4 tbsp tenkasu (tempura bits)
- 2 spring onionsthinly sliced
- 1 pinch shichimi togarashi (optional)
- 1 tsp dried wakame (optional)soaked
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Put 3 cups dashi stock, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp light (usukuchi) soy sauce, 2 tbsp mirin and ¼ tsp salt in a saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer for 2 minutes. Taste: it should be savoury and lightly sweet.
4 minStep 2: Meanwhile cook 2 portions frozen udon noodles in a large pan of boiling water until they separate and are hot through, usually 1–2 minutes from frozen. Drain well.
4 minStep 3: Put the noodles in deep warmed bowls and pour the hot broth over.
1 minStep 4: Top with 2 spring onions, 1 tsp dried wakame if using, and 4 tbsp tenkasu (tempura bits) right at the table so it stays crunchy. Sprinkle with 1 pinch shichimi togarashi if you like heat.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 13 g
- Carbs
- 78 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tanuki udon take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of soy sauce?
- Tamari, same amount (gluten free).
- What can I use instead of mirin?
- Rice vinegar with ½ tsp sugar per tbsp.
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