Spicy Creamy Udon

Easy and quick creamy udon noodles recipe that's bowl-licking good! Incredibly chewy udon noodles with smooth, creamy, and spicy sauce that's packed with flavours from the dashi broth and shiitake mushrooms. A really delicious meal on your dinner table in less than 30 minutes!

The inspiration behind the dish

During our trip in Japan back in 2016, we discovered a new love for udon. We also loved how they would often make Italian inspired dishes with these chewy and satisfying noodles. We loved this idea of fusion dishes so much that we decided to make our own version! It's got the perfect blend of Western (from the creamy sauce texture) and Eastern (from the Asian flavours and udon noodles) cuisines. It's the such an addictive Asian fusion dish and it's super easy to make at home.

What we love about spicy creamy udon

This creamy spicy udon is so flavourful and has the most luxurious, smooth, creamy spicy sauce. The flavours of the sauce mostly come from 3 important ingredients: Korean red pepper paste (gochujang), dashi broth, and shiitake mushrooms. Made in a single pan, these creamy udon are the ultimate comfort meal after a long day at work or on a cold breezy day. The noodles have such a satisfying texture and they're so easy to prepare! The delicate, yet incredibly flavourful sauce wins us every time. This is a vegetarian friendly dish that we love to make when we're not craving protein, but want a satisfying dish. If you love udon noodles, check this Japanese curry udon or our 30-minute fried udon noodles & pork stir-fry.

Where to get udon noodles

Udon noodles are easy to find in any Asian local supermarket. Usually, two main types can be found: fresh or frozen. Personally, we suggest getting the frozen one, as they are not only very convenient and can be stored in the freezer for months, but they are also easier to use for stir-fries. The frozen kind end up having a better chewy bouncy texture and are less prone to being overcooked. Usually, to prepare udon noodles, simply rinse them under hot water and gently loosen the noodles. Let them drain and set aside. Always make sure to read the label of the package and follow instructions!

Ingredients

• Udon noodles, preferably frozen as they are easier to manipulate for a stir-fry,
• Shiitake mushrooms for the extra umami flavor and delicious fragrance that it adds,
• Garlic and onion for added texture and garlicky flavor,
• Gochujang will add spiciness and depth to the dish. It can easily be found in local Korean or Asian grocery stores. With the popularity of Korean food these days, this red pepper paste is becoming easier to find,
• Low-sodium soy sauce and sesame oil is necessary for complex salty and nutty flavors, we always buy this one,
• Dashi broth is used in Japanese cooking and it gives the dishes that unique, authentic, and ocean-y flavour. You can make your own dashi broth with bonito flakes, kelp, shiitake mushrooms, and dried anchovies. But if you're opting for an easier way to make this broth, you can also use dashi powder. Of course, dashi powder contains some preservatives and may not be as healthy as making your own dashi broth, but it's definitely an option if you're only using it once in a while! This powder can be found in Korean and Japanese grocery stores or online.
• Cooking cream to make the sauce extra creamy, it can also be replaced by milk of your choice,
• Unsalted butter and all-purpose flour to thicken the creamy sauce,
• White pepper to season,
• Green onions for toppings.

We made this dish very simple, but feel free to add a protein of your choice, such as tofu or chicken!

Instructions

Cook the udon noodles according to packaging's instructions. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Prep the sauce. In a small bowl, combine the red pepper paste, low-sodium soy sauce, and sesame oil. Set aside.

Cook the sauce. In a pan, heat about 2 tbsp of unsalted butter over medium high heat. Once the butter has melted and starts to slightly bubble, add the garlic and onions and stir fry until fragrant and tender, about 1 minute. Add all-purpose flour and stir for another minute, or until there is no more visible uncooked flour. Pour the dashi broth and stir using a whisk until well combined. Add in the red pepper paste mixture and stir well using a whisk until smooth. Add in the shiitake mushrooms and let cook in the sauce for about 2 minutes. Pour the cooking cream, stir, and let sauce come to a simmer and thicken. Season with white pepper and mix well. Stir in the cooked udon noodles and mix until all the noodles are equally covered with the sauce.

Serve in a bowl with chopped green onions.