Basic Udon Soup 基本うどん Food

SIMPLE UDON SOUP

Steps:

• 「PREP」Cut the naganegi into thin diagonal slices. Crack open the egg into a bowl and lightly beat.
• Put the dashi broth into a large pot and bring to the boil. Add the mirin and soy sauce.
• Add the udon and boil 1 minute less than package instructions (usually 2-3 minutes for pre-cooked or frozen udon).
• Pour the egg in, add the negi and cook for 1 additional minute. Serve hot!

BASIC UDON SOUP (基本うどん)

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients for the broth in a pot and leave for 10 minutes. Bring to a boil and remove the kelp. Lower the heat, cover and simmer on low for 5 minutes. If you are using shiitake mushrooms for topping, add them to the broth and simmer together.
• Bring a pot of water to boil and add your udon noodles. Cook noodles according to the directions on the package. Save some of the water (about a cup), drain and set aside.
• Divide the noodles and broth between two bowls and add topping of your choice. Serve hot.
• Add a little of the hot udon water that you saved to dilute the broth if it's too strong.

SIMPLE UDON SOUP

Steps:

• Open udon noodles. Boil in water for about 5 minutes until cooked. Drain. Rinse. Set aside.
• Boil dashi.
• Boil the spinach for 30 seconds. Drain. Cut the spinach into 2-inch pieces; the leeks into 1-inch diagonal slices; and the chicken breast into 4 equal slices.
• Divide the udon into four bowls. Arrange the spinach, leeks, chicken, kamaboko, and mushrooms on top of the noodles, around the sides. Pour the boiling stock equally into the bowls.
• Optional: Traditional udon has a raw egg in the center of the soup, but I don't like eating eggs. Chicken breast, kamoboko, mushrooms, spinach, and leeks CAN be omitted if you're desperate, but it won't be as filling.

MAKE-IT-YOUR-OWN UDON NOODLE SOUP

Steps:

• Prepare noodles according to package directions, and drain. Toss with a teaspoon of sesame, olive, vegetable or canola oil to prevent them from sticking together, and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil until it shimmers, and sauté the grated ginger and garlic until you smell it (less than a minute). Do your best not to burn it. Add 2 cups of stock to the pot. Be careful - it might splatter.
• Bring the stock to a boil, and lower the heat to a simmer (about medium-low). Add carrots (or any hard, root vegetables, if using), and cook until they are crisp-tender, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add tofu or any vegetables (except spinach), and cook until tender but still bright in color, about 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off heat, and cover to keep warm.
• In a small pot, heat the remaining 1 cup of stock until it steams. Remove from the heat, and whisk in the miso paste until the miso is completely dissolved, then pour the entire miso mixture into the pot with the soup. (If using soy sauce instead of miso, skip this part and add the rest of the stock and soy sauce.) Stir in the cooked noodles and fresh spinach, if using, and heat through over medium-low, if necessary. Do not bring the soup to a boil with the miso: Some cooks believe this can ruin the miso's delicate flavor. Top as desired and season additionally, if desired, with soy sauce.