Zaru Udon

Cold udon noodles with dipping sauce

15 min2 servingsJapanese330 kcal/serving8g protein
Zaru Udon — Japanese recipe, finished and plated

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Ingredients

  • 400 g Udon noodles
  • 150 ml Mentsuyu (noodle base)
  • 2 Scallions (optional)
  • 1 sheet Nori sheets (optional)
  • 1 tsp Wasabi paste (optional)

Method

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil for the udon.
  2. While the water heats, thinly slice the scallions and shred the nori.
  3. Dilute the mentsuyu with cold water in small cups to make the dipping sauce.
  4. Boil the udon until tender, following the packet timing, then drain and rinse under cold running water until the noodles are cold and no longer starchy.
  5. Pile the chilled noodles on a draining tray or plate and top with the shredded nori.
  6. Serve with the dipping sauce, scallions, and wasabi alongside for each diner to mix to taste.

Nutrition per serving

330Calories
8gProtein
68gCarbs
1gFat
3gFiber

Estimated from ingredients; varies with exact portions and brands.

About Zaru Udon

Zaru udon is a chilled Japanese noodle dish, the summer counterpart to hot udon soups, named for the bamboo draining tray (zaru) it is traditionally served on. Thick udon are boiled, then rinsed under cold water and piled up to be dipped, mouthful by mouthful, into a cup of tsuyu sauce. It is minimalist by design, letting the chew and clean wheat flavor of the noodles take center stage.

The eating ritual is half the point: you dip a bundle of cold, slippery noodles into the mentsuyu-based sauce, which each diner customizes with scallion, wasabi, and shredded nori to taste. Rinsing the udon under cold running water until they are truly cold and no longer starchy is the essential step, since it tightens the noodles and gives them their signature springy bite. Refreshing and quick at around fifteen minutes, it is exactly what you want on a hot day, and it pairs well with a few pieces of tempura or a light side to round out the meal.

Zaru Udon: frequently asked questions

How many calories are in Zaru Udon?

One serving of Zaru Udon has about 330 calories, with 8g of protein, 68g of carbs, 1g of fat and 3g of fiber. These are estimates based on the ingredient amounts in this recipe and will vary with your exact portions and brands.

Is Zaru Udon gluten-free?

As written, no — it contains Udon noodles, Mentsuyu (noodle base). You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for those ingredients to make it gluten-free.

Do I need every ingredient to make Zaru Udon?

The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out scallions, nori sheets, wasabi paste — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.

How many servings does Zaru Udon make?

This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.