Origin of Udon
Udon arrived in Japan from China around the Nara era (710–794), much like soba. Records reveal that it was initially prepared as a rice cake that had been slightly flattened, similar to a dumpling. It was a premium dish that only the wealthy could enjoy.
The elongated shape wasn’t created until later, during the Edo period (1603–1867), and everyone began to enjoy it.
Mark Bittman describes a previously unknown method of cooking dried udon in How to Cook Everything Vegetarian. He instructs us to continue adding the dried udon noodles to salted boiling water. But you add a cup of cold water to the pot as soon as the water starts to boil again. You add another cup of cold water when the water returns to a boil, and so on until the noodles are cooked.
He doesn’t explain how this process improves the noodles over simple boiling. Our best guess is that by consistently lowering the water’s temperature, more water can be absorbed by the noodles without causing them to gummy or overcook. We’re very interested to try it and see if it affects how the noodles feel.
Fresh udon noodles are thick, chewy, and delicious. Frozen udon noodles are very nearly as good. However, dried udon noodles that are prepared in boiling water like spaghetti are infamously bad. We recently learned of a different kind of cooking technique that might help, so don’t give up hope if dried is all you have access to!
Here are a few alternatives you may like:
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FAQ
How long do you boil udon noodles for?
Before testing, boil the udon for 8 to 9 minutes if it’s semi-dried; for 10 to 12 minutes if it’s dried. Test it by taking a noodle out of the pot, submerging it in cold water, and biting it. The exterior of the noodle should be slick but not overly soft, and the interior should be soft with no hard center.
Can you boil fresh udon noodles?
Cook the noodles in boiling, salted water for about 3 minutes, then cook them for an additional 2 minutes once they float to the top. Be careful not to overcook the noodles because they will become slightly rubbery. Test for fineness before removing from water.
Do you have to boil udon noodles first?
While frozen udon can typically be used after a brief soak in hot water, dried udon must be boiled.
Do you fry or boil udon noodles?
Use warm water to soak dried udon noodles for at least 20 minutes before cooking if you’re using them. There are several ways to prepare udon noodles, including boiling, stir-frying, and even deep-frying. Make sure to flavor your udon noodles in some way, whether it be with a sauce, broth, or seasonings.
