Tempura Udon

By
Judy Ung
Judy Ung
Food writer, recipe developer, and blogger who has published hundreds of Japanese home-cooking recipes.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 09/2/22
Tested by
Diana Andrews
Diana Andrews Diana Andrews
Tested by Diana Andrews
Diana has served as head recipe developer and editor for the Emmy-nominated PBS series Moveable Feast, food editor and test kitchen manager at Fine Cooking Magazine, and recipe developer and product tester at Food Network. 
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Tempura udon Tempura udon

The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 35 mins
Servings: 4 servings

If you've ever slurped on a bowl of hot udon noodles, then you know how deliciously chewy and thick these noodles are. Floating in a rich umami broth, udon noodles are a comforting and classic Japanese meal that can be dressed with all sorts of additional ingredients. For this recipe, the thick wheat noodles and broth are garnished with crisp pieces of fried tempura vegetables and shrimp. But you can choose to use either alone, as the variations on the dish are endless and each person has a favorite way of eating and seasoning these fun noodles.

For our recipe, you can use premade, frozen, or leftover tempura. Easily available in Asian markets and online retailers, the udon noodles come precooked, frozen, or dry, so it's up to you to choose the most convenient form in which you want to buy them. Or you can make them at home, which is also a fun weekend project. The udon broth is easily made from scratch by using three staple items in any Japanese kitchen: soy sauce, mirin, and dashi broth. Dashi is the backbone of hundreds of Japanese dishes that you can either make from scratch or buy premade. Many great brands of dried dashi are available, and they're the best shortcut to a flavorful broth. Dashi is not a standardized recipe—its rich flavors and variations come from using different mushrooms, kombu, fish, and seasonings.

Depending on the region of Japan, the broth for udon noodle soup varies from dark brown to light brown with varying degrees of saltiness. For this reason, the recipe below can be adjusted by changing the amount of soy sauce that is used. If you are used to a lighter flavor, we recommend starting with less soy sauce and adding more to taste. If you’re in a hurry, use a premade "udon soup," which is readily available in all Japanese grocery stores and some Asian supermarkets.

"This Tempura Udon was extremely delicious and satisfying. There’s a lot of fantastic variety in this single bowl to keep the diner interested, including crispy tempura veggies and shrimp, chewy-springy udon noodles, fish cakes, and an intensely flavored broth. A sprinkle of shichimi togarashi at the end gives it the right amount of spicy kick." —Diana Andrews

Tempura Udon/Tester Image Tempura Udon/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 16 to 20 pieces store-bought or homemade vegetable and/or shrimp tempura

  • 4 (8-ounce) servings frozen udon noodles, preferably Sanuki style

  • 8 cups water

  • 2 tablespoons dried bonito (katsuobushi) powder or dashi powder

  • 2/3 cup mirin

  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup soy sauce

  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar, optional

  • 8 slices fish cake (kamaboko), optional

  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced, for garnish

  • Shichimi togarashi seasoning, or chile flakes, to taste, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for tempura udon recipe gathered Ingredients for tempura udon recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  2. Prepare the tempura. To reheat leftover or premade tempura, simply place it in a dry nonstick pan without any oil over medium-high heat, turning over frequently until crisp. Set aside.

    Tempura covered shrimp and vegetables in a pan Tempura covered shrimp and vegetables in a pan

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  3. In a large pot, bring sufficient water to a boil and cook the frozen udon noodles for 1 to 2 minutes until just tender. Rinse the udon in cold water to stop cooking.

    Udon cooking in a pot Udon cooking in a pot

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  4. Divide the udon between 4 bowls.

    Udon noodles in bowls Udon noodles in bowls

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  5. In a separate large pot, combine the 8 cups of water and dried bonito powder over medium-high heat. Alternatively, use homemade dashi.

    Water and dried bonito in a pot Water and dried bonito in a pot

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  6. Add mirin and soy sauce and bring to a rolling boil. Taste the udon soup. Add the sugar if desired, and adjust the flavor of the broth by adding more soy sauce, if desired.

    Mirin and soy sauce added to the pot Mirin and soy sauce added to the pot

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  7. Ladle the hot broth over the udon noodles in the bowls and top with the crispy tempura. Garnish with the fish cake slices, and green onions and shichimi togarashi, if using. Serve immediately.

    Tempura udon served in a bowl Tempura udon served in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

Tempura Options

If you're pressed for time and don't want to make tempura, use leftover tempura, or premade tempura, which can be purchased in the deli section of most Japanese grocery stores, or buy some from your favorite take-out Japanese restaurant. Alternatively, use premade frozen shrimp tempura, which can quickly be fried prior to serving.

What are Japanese fish cakes?

Japanese fish cakes are, simply put, processed white fish of various types, that are then mixed with agglutinants and preservatives to make a homogenous paste that is then cooked and usually packed in cylindrical form. Sold in small loaves, the kamaboko come in many textures, but most have a sweet fishy flavor that is mild and enjoyable. A staple in Japanese cuisine, these cakes are used in many preparations, added to soups, grilled, or eaten directly from the package as they don't need further cooking and come ready to eat. You'll find red and white fish cakes—some have spiral designs inside like narutomaki, but all are a delicious addition to udon soups. Japanese fish cakes are easy to find at Asian markets and online retailers.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
2077 Calories
66g Fat
249g Carbs
119g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 2077
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 66g 85%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 854mg 285%
Sodium 6407mg 279%
Total Carbohydrate 249g 90%
Dietary Fiber 23g 82%
Total Sugars 43g
Protein 119g
Vitamin C 236mg 1,179%
Calcium 555mg 43%
Iron 12mg 66%
Potassium 3167mg 67%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)