Japanese Udon With Mushroom-Soy Broth, Stir-Fried Mushrooms, and Cabbage (Vegan) Recipe (2024)

Why It Works

  • Using the right combination of dried and fresh mushrooms makes this vegan broth incredibly flavorful and umami-rich.
  • The dried powder found on kombu is glutamic acid that forms as it's dehydrated, and it's a major flavor-booster (this is what MSG, monosodium glutamate, is made with.)

I decided before I even began my Vegan Experience that an excellent vegan ramen broth would be one of my ultimate goals.

But one does not simply jump into ramen. Its rich tastes are created by more than just pork. There is flavor there that goes quite deep. The chef's eye must be ever watchful. It is a filling taste, man. Riddled with garlic, oil, and...I don't know how much longer I can go on with this overused meme, so I'll stop right there.

Suffice it to say, ramen is a high mountain to climb. Given that its Chinese origins make it generally a far punchier, richer dish than its other Japanese noodly brethren soba (buckwheat noodles) or udon (thick wheat noodles), I decided that I'd start my much-expected journey by exploring the foothills of mount ramen. Namely, by coming up with a vegan udon broth that could compete with the real thing in terms of flavor potency and sheer deliciousness.

Traditional udon is made with dashi, a Japanese broth made from kombu (giant sea kelp) and katsuobushi (dried, smoked, shaved bonito flakes). If you've ever seen a piece of kombu, you'll notice a white, powdery coating on it. These are crystals of glutamic acid that forms on its surface as it is dehydrated. That's the same glutamic acid that powdered monosodium glutamate is made with. Indeed, until modern methods of synthesis were developed, kombu was where all the MSG in the world was derived from.

MSG gets a bad rap in the Western world, but if you've ever had a really good Japanese soup—ramen, udon, miso soup—then you've been eating it, whether extracted from a natural source like kombu, or added in powdered form. It's the chemical compound that makes meats, broths, and other foods like mushrooms and aged cheese taste savory to us.

And it's definitely the start to a good vegan broth.

Many recipes for vegan Japanese soup base end right there, but I find a kombu-only broth to be rather bland, especially when I'm used to the flavor punch of katsuobushi in my dashi. Some recipes call for reinforcing that savory flavor using dried shiitake mushrooms, but after trying it, I can't recommend it—the shiitakes overwhelm everything with their intense flavor, which is far more potent in dried form than in fresh.

Japanese Udon With Mushroom-Soy Broth, Stir-Fried Mushrooms, and Cabbage (Vegan) Recipe (1)

Shiitakes were out, but how about other mushrooms? I made a series of broths using various dried and fresh mushrooms—shiitake, shimeji, enoki, matsutake, wood ear—but it wasn't until I tried to use some traditional Western mushrooms that I really struck gold. Both dried morels and dried porcini added tons of depth and aroma to the broth. Balancing them out with milder wood ears and the scraps from a few other fresh mushrooms (I used a mix of enoki, shimeji, and shiitake—fresh shiitakes don't have the same intense flavor as dried), along with a few alliums (an onion, some garlic, and the bottoms of a few scallions), made for a broth base that was intense, rich, and ready for seasoning.

Japanese Udon With Mushroom-Soy Broth, Stir-Fried Mushrooms, and Cabbage (Vegan) Recipe (2)

A dash of good quality soy sauce and some sweet mirin were all it needed to become every bit as satisfying as any udon broth I'd ever had, and a good deal more satisfying than most.

The good news: Using mushroom scraps to make my broth left me with a whole bunch of mushrooms which I could subsequently stir-fry and use as a topping.

Topping udon is an easygoing affair—you can use whatever vegetables you like. But since I already had the wok out to fry my mushrooms, I decided to use it to stir fry some Napa cabbage as well. I love the nutty, sweet aroma cabbage takes on when you char it. Finally, I had a bit of fried tofu in my freezer (you can buy packages already fried!) that I added to round out the dish into a full meal.

Japanese Udon With Mushroom-Soy Broth, Stir-Fried Mushrooms, and Cabbage (Vegan) Recipe (4)

I hope everyone's brought their oxygen masks, because we're now deep into the foothills of mount ramen, and the air up there gets mighty thin!

February 2013

Recipe Details

Japanese Udon With Mushroom-Soy Broth, Stir-Fried Mushrooms, and Cabbage (Vegan) Recipe

Active30 mins

Total60 mins

Serves2 servings

  • 1/2 ounce dried wood ear mushrooms (see notes)

  • 1/2 ounce driedmorel mushrooms (see notes)

  • 4 ounces mixed small fresh mushrooms (shiitake, shimeji, oyster, and enoki are all good options), trimmed, stems and scraps reserved (see notes)

  • 8 scallions

  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed

  • 1 small yellow onion, skin-on, split in half

  • 1 (4-inch) piece of kombu (see notes)

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

  • 2 tablespoons mirin(see notes)

  • Kosher salt

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

  • 1 cup Napa cabbage, cut into 3/4-inch strips

  • 2 servingsfresh or dried udon noodles

  • 2 to4 pieces fried tofu (see notes)

Directions

  1. Combine wood ear and morel mushrooms in a medium saucepan and cover with 1 1/2 quarts water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then remove from heat and let rest 10 minutes while mushrooms rehydrate. Remove mushrooms with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add fresh mushroom scraps and stems, bottom 1-inch of scallions, garlic cloves, onion, and kombu to pot. Bring to a boil and reduce to a low simmer. Cook for 20 minutes.

    Japanese Udon With Mushroom-Soy Broth, Stir-Fried Mushrooms, and Cabbage (Vegan) Recipe (5)

  2. Meanwhile, rip out the tough central stems from the wood ear mushrooms and discard. Slice wood ears and morels into strips and transfer to a small bowl. Slice fresh mushrooms and add to bowl (if using enoki, reserve separately). Finely slice remaining scallion tops and set aside.

    Japanese Udon With Mushroom-Soy Broth, Stir-Fried Mushrooms, and Cabbage (Vegan) Recipe (6)

  3. When broth is simmered, strain through a fine-mesh strainer and return to pot, discarding solids. Add soy sauce and mirin and season to taste with salt. You should have about 1 quart of broth. Keep warm.

    Japanese Udon With Mushroom-Soy Broth, Stir-Fried Mushrooms, and Cabbage (Vegan) Recipe (7)

  4. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a wok or a 12-inch skillet over high heat until lightly smoking. Add mushrooms (except for enoki, if using) and stir-fry until lightly browned and completely tender, about 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and transfer to a plate. Add remaining tablespoon oil and heat until lightly smoking. Add cabbage and stir-fry until tender and charred in spots, about 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt. Transfer to plate with mushrooms.

    Japanese Udon With Mushroom-Soy Broth, Stir-Fried Mushrooms, and Cabbage (Vegan) Recipe (8)

  5. Cook udon in boiling water according to package directions, adding fried tofu to the water as they cook to heat. Strain and divide noodles between 2 serving bowls. Pour hot broth over noodles. Top with chopped scallions, stir-fried mushrooms and cabbage, raw enoki (if using), and fried tofu. Serve immediately.

    Japanese Udon With Mushroom-Soy Broth, Stir-Fried Mushrooms, and Cabbage (Vegan) Recipe (9)

Notes

Dried wood ear mushrooms can be found in most Asian grocers. Dried morel mushrooms can be found at specialty grocers and many supermarkets. If unavailable, substitute porcini, chanterelle, or any other dried mushroom.

Kombu is dried sea kelp and can be found in most Asian grocers. Mirin is a sweet Japanese rice-based wine that can be found in most Asian grocers. Fried tofu can be found packaged in the refrigerated section of most Asian grocers.

Japanese Udon With Mushroom-Soy Broth, Stir-Fried Mushrooms, and Cabbage (Vegan) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is Japanese udon vegan? ›

Generally yes, udon is vegan-friendly as it's simply made from wheat flour and water. They're one of the few types of noodles that don't commonly contain egg. However, it's always worth double-checking an ingredients list or asking at a restaurant to make sure.

What is the name of the broth in udon noodles? ›

The most common way to serve udon, hot udon soup is any dish where udon noodles are served in a hot savoury broth called kakejiru, which is made from a mixture of soy sauce, dashi stock, and mirin rice wine.

Is Japanese udon soup healthy? ›

Aside from the flavourful textures and all-around taste that's tied to udon soup, the soup as a whole is greatly beneficial for you to eat. After all, it's filled with essential vitamins and minerals from its broth, noodles, and veggies that are in it to consume. Udon soup is such a versatile cuisine.

What is Kitsune udon made of? ›

Yes, kitsune udon is a nourishing and reinvigorating meal since it's a blend of whole-wheat udon noodles, dashi stock, narutomaki fish, and protein-rich tofu. Since the hero of the meal is deep-fried tofu, you must know how healthy the tofu is.

Is Japanese soy sauce vegan? ›

Simply consisting of soybeans, water and salt that have been left to brew and ferment, it is most definitely a vegan-friendly product. Originating in China, soy sauce made its way all around the Far and South East — from the Philippines to Korea — where it has evolved into many regional variations.

Are Japanese mostly vegan? ›

Japanese cuisine is known for its heavy use of meat and fish, and even stocks and sauces usually have some ingredients containing meat. Vegetarianism and veganism are not as popular in Japan as it is in the West, so you'll find there's often some confusion as to what you can and can't eat.

What does udon mean in Japanese? ›

Udon (うどん or 饂飩) is a thick noodle made from wheat flour, used in Japanese cuisine.

Are you supposed to drink udon broth? ›

The slurping enhances the flavors and helps cool down the hot noodles as they enter your mouth. If there is a broth, it is drunk directly from the bowl, eliminating the need for a spoon. It is not considered rude to leave some unfinished soup in the bowl at the end of the meal.

Which is better, soba or udon? ›

Which is Healthier, Udon or Soba? With its wholegrain like appearance and buckwheat heavy base, Soba is the healthier choice when it comes to your Asian noodle game. This is because buckwheat is lower in carbohydrates and lower in calories so it's a good choice for those trying to cut back.

Which is healthier ramen or udon? ›

What's the healthiest? While both dishes brim with flavor, Udon could be considered the healthier of the two noodle type dishes as it tends to have cleaner, simpler toppings and has lower sodium as it doesn't use kansui (the alkaline solution that gives ramen its unique flavor).

What does udon do to your body? ›

Studies show that this type of carbs contributes to weight loss. Moreover, Udon noodles are light and well absorbed by the body. Unlike simple carbohydrates, Udon's complex of carbohydrates reduces the possibility to develop heart diseases and type 2 diabetes.

Is udon okay for weight loss? ›

Health Benefits of Udon Noodles

They also contain complex carbohydrates, which help to improve weight loss, as well as reduce the risks of various heart diseases and type 2 diabetes.

What is the pink thing in udon? ›

Steamed Fish Paste

Sold in small semi-circular loaves, kamaboko is a convenient way of getting all the goodness of fish, without having to go to the trouble of preparing it. Pink and white slices of kamaboko are served chilled with soy sauce and wasabi or are placed in bowls of udon or ramen soup.

What is Niku Udon made of? ›

Niku Udon features sliced beef with sweet soy sauce atop plain Udon. If you're familiar with “Gyu-don,” the topping will seem quite similar. What enhances the savory experience of Niku Udon is its flavorful soup.

What is Sakura udon? ›

Sakura Udon Noodles is thick wheat flour noodles used frequently in Japanese cuisine. Often served hot as a noodle soup in simplest form.

What are Japanese udon noodles made from? ›

Udon is made with flour and some salt. It is then kneaded and shaped like noodles. Soba, on the other hand, is made from powdered buckwheat, though in some areas, flour is also used. It is also kneaded and shaped like noodles.

Is udon or soba vegan? ›

While ramen, udon, and soba, in their standard forms, aren't vegetarian or vegan, this article shows that a bit of creativity can transform them into dishes that meet those dietary preferences.

Are the Japanese pan noodles vegan? ›

Japanese Pan Noodles: Containing caramelized udon noodles in a sweet soy sauce, broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, black sesame seeds, and cilantro, this Noodles & Company staple is vegan as-is!

References

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