Udon Soup
A satisfying Japanese side built around udon noodles, mirin and spinach — roughly 65 minutes start to finish, and rated medium to make. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 6 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for large pot and saucepan. At medium difficulty across 6 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (7)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Bring the dashi to a simmer in a large pot, stir in the soy sauce, mirin and sugar, then add the sliced shiitake and let them soften in the broth for about 4 minutes.
- Blanch the spinach in the simmering broth for 30 seconds, lift it out, squeeze gently and set aside, then slice the scallions thinly and cut the nori into strips.
- Cook the udon in a separate pot of boiling water until tender, 2 minutes for fresh or frozen and 8 to 10 minutes for dried, then drain and divide among four deep bowls.
- Keep the broth at a steady gentle simmer and slip in the eggs one at a time, cover and poach for 3 to 4 minutes until the whites are fully set but the yolks still soft; do not crack raw eggs straight into the serving bowls, as the broth there will not stay hot enough to cook them safely.
- Ladle the hot seasoned broth and mushrooms over the noodles, then arrange a poached egg, the blanched spinach and a scattering of scallions on top.
- Finish with nori strips and a pinch of shichimi togarashi, and serve immediately while the broth is steaming.
You'll use: Large pot · Saucepan · Steamer
Ingredient substitutions
- Soy Sauce
- tamari (gluten-free) · coconut aminos
- Eggs
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (baking) · 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water per egg
What to serve with Udon Soup
- Teriyaki Chicken Casserole Chicken
- Honey Teriyaki Salmon Seafood
- Katsu Chicken curry Chicken
- Chicken Karaage Chicken
Tips & common questions
How long does Udon Soup take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 11 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of soy sauce?
Try tamari (gluten-free). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Udon Soup vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Udon Soup is an original Japanese recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Mixed Vegetables with Singapore Laksa Noodles Soup with Japanese Udon Noodles - Noodles Street 2025-10-15.jpg (CC0) via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.