Spicy Tofu Udon Noodle Bowl Recipes

STIR-FRIED SPICY GARLIC UDON NOODLES

Steps:

• If you're using instant fresh udon noodles or 'cakes' in packets, you can simply soak them in hot water for a few minutes or run them through hot water to carefully separate them. These noodles can also easily break apart so don't force it when they're clumped together.
• Prepare the sauce by mixing everything together. You can see the notes below and adjust the spice level according to your reference. Set the sauce aside.
• Heat a large wok or non-stick pan over medium high heat. Add in the oil.
• One hot, add in the tofu. You can continue to crumble this as needed, especially if there are big chunks.
• Leave the tofu untouched over medium heat for 3-4 minutes for it to lightly crisp and brown at the bottom. It'll also start to dry up and resemble minced 'meat' as it cooks and the water evaporates.
• Season the tofu with the dark soy sauce. Mix well.
• Leave the tofu to cook for another 3-4 minutes until it completely dries up and resembles minced meat. Afterwards, move the tofu to the side of the pan.
• Add 1 tbsp oil into the pan. Over medium heat, sauté the minced garlic.
• Afterwards, add in half of of the chopped scallions or green onions. Cook for 1 minute.
• Add in the shiitake mushrooms and then stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until tender.
• Once the mushrooms are cooked to your liking, add in the noodles.
• Pour the sauce over the noodles and mix well.
• Leave the noodles to cook over medium high heat for 2-3 minutes.
• Add in some water to cook down the noodles, if needed. You can start with 1-2 tbsp and mix well. You can see the notes below.
• Taste the noodles and feel free to season with some salt and upper, if desired. Once the noodles are cooked to your liking, turn off the heat.
• Top the noodles with more chopped scallions or green onions. Serve and enjoy while hot!

SPICY STIR-FRIED UDON NOODLES

Steps:

• Mix soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, Sriracha, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic powder, and pepper together in a small bowl. Combine 1/2 of the marinade with pork in a bowl. Refrigerate, 4 hours to overnight. Reserve remaining marinade for noodles.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook udon in boiling water for 2 minutes; add broccoli to blanch slightly and continue to boil until noodles loosen, about 1 minute more. Strain and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a wok or deep pan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; stir-fry until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add pork, bean sprouts, and carrot; stir-fry until pork is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add drained udon noodles and broccoli. Pour in remaining marinade and toss noodles to absorb flavors, 2 to 3 minutes. Add green onion; toss lightly, 1 to 2 minutes.

SPICY RICE NOODLES WITH CRISPY TOFU AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. As the oven heats, press the tofu (you can do this by sandwiching the block in paper towels and placing a cutting board, plus a heavy pot, can or book on top).
• Cut the tofu into 1/2-inch cubes and place in a medium bowl. Add the salt and oils, and toss to combine.
• Sprinkle the cornstarch, panko and sesame seeds, if using, and toss gently so the tofu cubes are coated.
• Spread on the prepared sheet and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, flipping once, until golden-brown and crisp.
• While the tofu bakes, start the noodles: Put the dry rice noodles in a big, wide bowl. Fill a kettle, bring the water to a boil, and pour the boiling water over the noodles to cover. Set aside for 6 to 10 minutes, until the noodles are fully rehydrated and soft. (Time may vary by brand.) Then drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again. Transfer noodles to a large bowl.
• As the noodles soak, prepare the spicy sesame oil: In a small pot, combine sesame oil, peanut oil, garlic, ginger, red-pepper flakes and sesame seeds. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook on the lowest heat for 10 to 12 minutes, until the garlic slices turn golden.
• Meanwhile, on your cutting board, make a small mound with the teaspoon of salt. Place the basil and the scallions on top, and use your knife to furiously chop and smash until you have a rough paste.
• Mix the basil paste into the bowl of rice noodles. Pile the baby spinach on top. Pour at least half of the hot oil immediately over the spinach, tossing so that the heat wilts the leaves slightly. Then add the juice of the 1/2 lime and toss to combine. Taste for salt and lime juice, and add more oil as you see fit.
• Arrange the tofu on top of the noodles, or mix them in so that the cubes hide like little treasures. For extra flair, garnish with additional sesame seeds and a drizzle of toasted sesame oil.

SPICY TOFU UDON NOODLE BOWL

Steps:

• Cook noodles according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain.
• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms to pan; sauté 3 minutes or until tender.
• Add broth and next 6 ingredients (through serrano); bring to a boil. Cook 4 minutes.
• Stir in milk, lime juice, and Sambal oelek; reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes.
• Add tofu; cook 5 minutes. Place about 1 cup noodles into each of 4 bowls.
• Ladle about 1 1/4 cups soup into each bowl; sprinkle each serving with 2 tablespoons green onions and 1 tablespoon cilantro.

UDON WITH TOFU AND ASIAN GREENS

Steps:

• Cook the udon noodles as the label directs. (Don't overcook or they will get mushy.) Drain, reserving about 1/3 cup of the cooking water.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Pat the tofu dry and season all over with salt and pepper. Add the tofu to the skillet and sear until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Set aside and keep warm.
• Add 1 tablespoon oil and the greens to the skillet. Cook, tossing, until just wilted. Add the scallions, red pepper flakes, the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, the soy sauce and sugar. Add the reserved cooking water; heat to create a broth. Divide the noodles and greens among 4 bowls and top with the tofu.

SESAME & SPRING ONION STIR-FRIED UDON WITH CRISPY TOFU

Steps:

• Drain and pat the tofu dry with kitchen paper. Cut into cubes, wrap in more kitchen paper, and place a heavy board over the top. Leave to drain for 15 mins.
• Mix the cornflour, chilli flakes and ground peppercorns together in a bowl with a pinch of salt, then add the drained tofu. Toss well to coat.
• Heat half the vegetable oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a high heat, and fry the tofu pieces for 5-6 mins until golden all over. Scoop out of the pan, and leave to drain on kitchen paper.
• Add the remaining oil to the pan and stir-fry the spring onions and beans for 3-4 mins until tender and lightly golden. Pour a kettle of boiling water over the noodles in a sieve to loosen. Drain well, then tip into the pan. Fry for a few minutes until piping hot. Add the sesame oil and sesame seeds, and sizzle for a few seconds. Splash in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, then add the tofu. Toss well, then serve in bowls with a pinch of sesame seeds on top and more soy sauce on the side.

MUSHROOM UDON NOODLE BOWL

Steps:

• Make the broth: In a large pot, bring 8 cups water to a boil over high heat. Add scallion, dried mushrooms, seaweed (if using), ginger, garlic, fresh mushroom trimmings and salt. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Strain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a separate pot, cook udon noodles until al dente, then drain, rinse well with cold water, and keep at room temperature.
• In a soup pot, melt butter over medium-high heat and swirl to coat the bottom of the pot. Add leeks and sliced shiitake and cook, stirring, until softened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add ginger, garlic, mirin, sesame oil and soy sauce and cook for 1 minute. Turn heat to high, add reserved broth and bring to a simmer.
• Add bok choy and reserved noodles and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until greens are cooked and noodles are heated through. Gently stir in miso and tofu. Turn off heat.
• Using tongs, divide noodles among 4 to 6 bowls. Ladle hot soup over noodles. Sprinkle with scallions and serve. Pass togarashi or crushed red pepper at the table.

SWEET AND SPICY TOFU WITH SOBA NOODLES

Steps:

• Drain the tofu in a colander, or dry on paper-towel lined plate while you prep the remaining ingredients, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, bring a small pot of water to a boil for the soba noodles.
• Cut tofu into 1-inch cubes. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil. When the oil shimmers, add the tofu in a single layer, in batches if needed and cook until golden on all sides, turning as needed when the tofu releases easily from the pan, about 8 to 10 minutes total. Lift the tofu out of the pan with a spatula and transfer to a new paper-towel-lined plate.
• Meanwhile, cook the soba in boiling water for 5 to 8 minutes (or according to package directions), until just al dente, stirring frequently. Drain and rinse in cold water until the noodles no longer feel sticky.
• Add garlic, ginger and whites of the onions to the skillet, along with the remaining tablespoon sesame oil, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the oil is fragrant, stirring constantly, about 1 minute.
• Add cooked and drained soba noodles to the pan, along with soy sauce, sugar, black pepper, red pepper and reserved green onions; toss together until the noodles are coated. Gently toss in the tofu until all the pieces are covered in the sauce.
• Remove from the heat, and sprinkle cucumber, radish and cilantro on top. Serve warm or at room temperature, with lime.