Description
Kitsune Udon is a classic Japanese noodle soup featuring thick, chewy udon noodles in a savory dashi-based broth, topped with sweet and tender inari age (seasoned deep-fried tofu) and fish cake. This comforting dish balances rich umami flavors with subtle sweetness, making it a perfect meal for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Inari Age (Seasoned Deep-Fried Tofu)
- 2 pieces Aburaage (deep-fried tofu)
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sugar
Udon Soup
- 2 servings Udon noodles
- 8 cups water
- 2 cups dashi stock
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp mirin
Toppings
- 4 slices Naruto fish cake
- 1 tbsp chopped scallions
- Pinch of shichimi togarashi (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Inari Age: Place the aburaage (deep-fried tofu) on a sieve in the sink and pour boiling hot water over it to remove excess oil. Once cooled enough to handle, gently squeeze out any remaining moisture. Cut each piece diagonally in half.
- Simmer Inari Age: In a saucepan, combine 3/4 cup water, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons sugar over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then add the prepared aburaage. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes to allow the tofu to absorb the flavorful broth. Turn off the heat and set aside, leaving the tofu in the sauce.
- Prepare Soup Broth: Bring 8 cups of water to a boil in a large pot over high heat. Meanwhile, in a separate saucepan, combine 2 cups of dashi stock with 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 1 tablespoon mirin. Heat gently until simmering, then turn off the heat and set aside to keep warm.
- Cook Udon Noodles: Once the water is boiling, add the udon noodles and cook for 1 minute (if using frozen noodles). Drain the noodles well.
- Assemble the Dish: Place the cooked udon noodles into serving bowls. Ladle the warm dashi-based soup over the noodles. Top with the simmered inari age pieces and slices of naruto fish cake. Garnish with chopped scallions and, if desired, a pinch of shichimi togarashi for a touch of spice.
Notes
- Aburaage should be blanched in boiling water to remove excess oil before simmering.
- Adjust the sweetness of the inari age by modifying sugar quantity to taste.
- Frozen udon noodles are convenient and only require a brief cooking time.
- Shichimi togarashi adds a spicy kick but can be omitted for a milder flavor.
- Use high-quality dashi stock for the best umami flavor; homemade or instant dashi works well.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Japanese
Keywords: Kitsune Udon, Japanese noodle soup, Inari age, Udon noodles, Dashi broth, Fish cake, Naruto, Comfort food
