Udon Know Noodles Until You Try These 11 Tasty Vegan Udon Noodle Recipes

Fat, chewy, soft, and satisfying, udon noodles are nothing short of magic we wouldn’t be surprised if they managed to usurp the ever-trendy ramen’s throne, considering Food and Wine called them out as an up-and-coming trend.

Made from wheat flour, udon noodles are a staple of Japanese cuisine, and are beloved for their long, chewy texture and their fairly neutral flavor — they’re at home in cozy soups and cold noodle salads alike. Check out 11 of our favorite udon recipes below, courtesy of the Food Monster App, and let us know how you enjoy your udon!

1. Kake Udon

Kake Udon is a traditional Japanese noodle dish consisting of fresh udon noodles in a simple dashi broth. Ginger, mirin, and soy sauce are also mixed in for added flavor, and you can add Shichimi togarashi (a spice mix) for a kick, as well. This Kake Udon by Raymund Macaalay is comforting, satisfying, and packed with umami flavor.

2. Udon Noodle Salad Jars 

Udon Noodle Salad Jars by Kyra Howearth features chewy udon noodles, crisp veggies, and creamy tahini dressing that will have your mouth watering before you even dig in. This is a great and easy lunch to pack and take to work, school, or even on a picnic.

3. Udon Noodles

Udon Noodles by Jessica Meyers Altman a type of noodle that is traditionally made with wheat flour gets a gluten-free makeover so everyone can have a chance to enjoy their slippery, chewy goodness. Whether you avoid gluten or not, you should make these gluten-free udon noodles at home and use them in your favorite noodle dishes!

4. Udon Noodle Soup

Udon Noodle Soup by Jessica Edny is great for autumn. Thick and substantial, yet slippery and melting, udon is wonderful comfort food. Despite the common opinion stating that udon noodles are high in calories, a medium portion in a broth like this is wonderfully healthy. Don’t worry if you can’t find mirin (a Japanese rice wine); you could substitute in dry sherry.

5. Spicy Peanut Udon Noodle Bowl

Spicy Peanut Udon Noodle Bowl by Maria Koutsogiannis features spicy udon noodles, creamy peanut sauce-covered zucchini noodles, marinated figs, a topping of fresh vegetables, and, of course, avocado! This dish is nutty, citrusy, and will fill you up without making you feel weighed down. Enjoy!

6. Vegetable Udon Stir-Fry With Spicy Sauce

Not only is this spicy Vegetable Udon Stir-Fry With Spicy Sauce by Sonja Trurnit done in under 30 minutes, but it’s also a perfect weekday dinner. Broccoli and carrots give it some crunch while black-eyed peas and tofu add a boost of protein. Got people in your family who aren’t keen on heat? The spicy sauce is easily adjusted to taste

7. Chilled Udon Noodles With Wasabi Avocado

These light and fresh chilled Chilled Udon Noodles With Wasabi Avocado Dressing by Medha Swaminathan combine cooling cucumber, beets, and carrots. It’s then topped with creamy and spicy avocado and wasabi dressing. Bring this noodle salad to work, or enjoy it at home with a side of miso soup.

8. Kitsune Udon

This Kitsune Udon by Elizabeth Yeung is possibly one of the easiest Japanese dishes you can make. Kitsune udon translates to “fox udon,” named according to folklore that fox spirits love fried tofu. The key to making this hot, soupy dish an umami success is really in the aburaage (fried tofu skins) and dashi (broth). This dish is open to variations too. You can add some vegetables, preferably leafy ones like spinach. You can also replace the noodles with soba, or something gluten-free, such as rice or kelp noodle

9. Cold Udon Noodles With Spicy Bibimbap Sauce

These Cold Udon Noodles With Spicy Bibimbap Sauce by Jessica DeMarra are amazing. Bibimbap (literally meaning “mixed rice”) is a beloved Korean dish consisting of seasoned vegetables and spicy fermented red pepper paste (gochujang) artfully arranged over a bed of warm rice. It’s a very delicious and filling meal, and this recipe pays its homage. The traditional rice is replaced with chilled udon noodles, and the already quite flavorful gochujang paste is amped up even more with the addition of fresh garlic and sesame oil. Baked tempeh gives this bowl a boost of plant-based protein, and of course, no Korean-inspired recipe is complete without a healthy portion of kimchi!

10. Miso Roasted Pumpkin and Grilled Tofu Over Udon Noodles

Move over pumpkin pie…there’s some savory competition in town! This Miso Roasted Pumpkin and Grilled Tofu Over Udon Noodles by Betsy DiJulio dish is a light and lovely Japanese-inspired meal in a bowl.

11. Crispy Tofu Over Thai Peanut Udon Noodles

This recipe for Crispy Tofu Over Thai Peanut Udon Noodles by Lee Khatchadourian-Reese will yield a simple yet flavorful meal, with a yummy peanut sauce that you’ll love.

Still on the hunt for more? Check out this feature on How to Make Udon Noodles at home.

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Unfortunately, dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend purchasing one of our many plant-based cookbooks or downloading the Food Monster App which has thousands of delicious recipes making it the largest vegan recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
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