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A Quick Fix – Asian Udon Noodles

Ingredients needed for udon noodles

Instead of celebrating Mardi Gras in a skimpy costume to the beat of steel drums in Trinidad, I’m stuck in freezing cold New York stuffing two gigantic suitcases, preparing to take off for Finland. On days like this when food is just an afterthought, I often stop by the wonderful Japanese-Korean convenience store in my neighborhood, m2m, to pick up a tray of sushi and a few contrasting kimchi. (Boringly enough, I always choose the standard-issue white radish pickled in hot red pepper sauce, although they also carry a dozen more exotic varieties, such as lotus root, squid, or dried shrimp). Best of all, the store is cheap, cheap, cheap, at least by Manhattan standards.

I’ve never really noticed before that they have a tiny fresh produce section tucked away in the dark back corner. Among the vegetables, I was drawn to the alluringly thick fresh jumbo udon noodles, essentially soups in a box. (See this site for more udon ideas – Engrish alert! If you are stuck with the more common instant ramen, check out this quirky Seattle-based website.) Because of the bone-chilling breeze blowing down the river, a bowl of hearty soup sounded a lot more appealing than cold pieces of nigiri and maki.

At home, I quickly boiled some water and, in futile efforts to get rid off stuff that will spoil while I’m gone, threw in some mushrooms and vegetables from the fridge. Normally I’m not a huge fan of the MSG-laden flavor sachets that come with many instant noodles, but the one accompanying the jumbo noodles tasted just fine. Best of all, I was slurping piping hot soup within ten minutes of arriving home.

Quick Udon Noodle Soup

1 serving

5 dl (2 cups) boiling water
1 pkg fresh udon noodles or dried noodles
the flavor sachet of the noodles (this contained soy sauce, fish stock, sugar, salt, powdered kelp, and MSG)
4-5 fresh mushrooms
a handful of baby bok choy
1 sliced spring onion
2 hot thai chilli peppers

Add the noodles to the boiling water, boil for 2 min. Slice the mushrooms, chillies, spring onion and gently pull apart the bok choy. Add the contents of the flavor sachet and all fresh ingredients to the soup, boil for 2 minutes, and serve.

I accompanied the soup with white radish kimchi and warm sake, and had hot steamed Chinese custard buns for dessert. Yum!

Udon noodles, kimchi and a cup of sake


6 Responses to “A Quick Fix – Asian Udon Noodles”  

  1. MM

    I used to eat instant udons all the time! It was great right after I had hit the gym. Suddenly just realised I have not had any in ages … Udon with mushrooms & bak choy … yums …

  2. Anna

    MM, I wish McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, Popeyes, etc. etc. were immediately outlawed and replaced by udon fast food joints ;) To immense public health benefit…

  3. MM

    Er, I actually rather like Burger King … just because of the mushroom swiss burgers … *shamefaced*

    But yeah, I rather have ramen and udon fast food places anytime .. yummers.

  4. Anna

    MM, don’t feel bad ;) BK, the Whopper in particular, is also my guilty pleasure – but only in places where they take care to prepare the burgers properly. In NYC, most fast food joints are simply disgusting – I’m pretty sure it’s some NY State legislation related rule that fast food workers must sit on the sandwich after assembling it – how else do they end up with such soggy, disappointing mess…

  5. mustekala

    I think Asians have some kind of obsession on extremely slippery foods. The more slippery noodles the better. I love those soups. The kinds of filled with different ingredients and not like the bare broth they sometimes serve in asian restaurants in Finland.

  6. Anna

    Hi Mustekala, I found great vacuum packed instant udon noodles at Vii Voan on H?meentie for just €1. Great to have at hand for superbusy workday lunches – udon beat ramen 6-0 ;)




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