Flour – Udon uses wheat flour for that dense and dreamy thick finish and chewy texture whereas Soba celebrates buckwheat flour with its slightly grainier texture. Color – Udon rocks that glossy white coloring whereas Soba is darker (often a brown color or grey).
Discovering Japanese food is indeed a gastronomic experience. From the wide variety of sushi to the delicious and gorgeous (almost artistic) Japanese desserts, this cuisine has everything from sweet to umami covered. The Japanese dishes that feature various kinds of noodles are something else to learn about. Udon and soba are two well-known brands among these varieties of Japanese noodles. Continue reading to learn the distinctions between udon and soba noodles.
Learn How to Make Soba during Your Trip to Japan
Learn how to make soba noodles at a noodle school where the chef will show you how to grind buckwheat into flour using a stone mortar and then how to make the soba dough by mixing flour, water, and salt.
After that, you can try making raw noodles by yourself by chopping the dough with a regular knife. Once the noodles are cooked, take a seat and savor your mouthwatering, freshly made soba.
Udon vs Soba vs Ramen Noodles
While soba uses buckwheat flour, udon and ramen noodles both use wheat flour as their primary ingredient. However, the appearance of these three noodles is what sets them apart from one another.
The difference between ramen and udon, both of which use wheat flour, is that ramen, a Chinese-style noodle, has thinner and smaller strands than the thick and chewy udon. In addition, ramen noodles contain eggs while udon only uses water as a dough binder, despite the fact that both use wheat flour.
The primary difference between soba and ramen noodles is that soba primarily uses buckwheat while ramen noodles primarily use wheat flour. Soba also usually has brownish thin and straight strands. Ramen noodles, conversely, are usually yellowish in color. The majority of the dehydrated ramen products sold in stores are also typically curly after boiling.
Dishes That Are Good with Both Soba and Udon
Udon and soba noodles can be used interchangeably with some dishes, despite the fact that they have very different textures and flavors and can be prepared in very different ways. We’ve listed some of our favorite dishes that pair well with soba or udon below.
FAQ
Which is healthier soba or udon noodles?
Although our Neds Udon noodles are 95% fat free, Soba noodles are thought to be significantly healthier than other Asian varieties like Udon. Soba noodles are originally from Japan. Typically, buckwheat is used to make soba noodles, which has a number of health advantages.
Are ramen noodles soba noodles?
Despite being one of Japan’s most recent culinary innovations, ramen is the most popular Japanese noodle outside of the country. The flavor of the noodles is where ramen and soba noodles diverge most. While buckwheat is primarily used to make soba noodles, wheat flour is typically used to make ramen.
Which is thicker udon or soba?
They have different textures and colors. Udon noodles have a chewy texture and are thick and white in color. Like spaghetti, soba noodles are thin and brown in color.
Can I use soba noodles for udon?
Soba is typically sold dried and has a strong, nutty flavor. Soba noodles are typically served cold in salads or with dipping sauces, though they can also be found in noodle soups like udon.
