8 Best Side Dishes to Serve with Udon Noodles

If you’re anything like me, you’re constantly looking for simple, easy-to-prepare dinners that your whole family will like. That is why I am here to teach you what you may serve with udon noodles to make your supper a smashing success!

This list of side dishes is based on my time living in Japan. When it comes to cuisine, Japan is a separate planet; there are many things you may eat there that may seem unusual or disagreeable at first look.

However, if there is one thing I’ve learned from living over there, it’s that you can’t judge a cuisine by its appearance! When you taste them, many of these foods are extremely excellent!

So I want to make sure you give each of these foods a fair shot before judging whether or not it’s worth it!

So, without further ado, here are the ten finest udon noodle side dishes!

What To Serve with Udon Noodles: 8 Best Side Dishes

Before I begin listing all of these delectable side dishes, bear in mind that any of them may be served with any kind of noodle, so don’t worry about whether or not they will go well with udon!

If you like, you may serve them with ramen, Soba noodles, spaghetti, or any other kind of noodle dish!

1. Nukazuke (pickled vegetables)

Nukazuke is first on our list of side dishes to offer with udon noodles! Nukazuke is a traditional Japanese meal that consists of pickled vegetables with black vinegar, brine, rice bran, and other ingredients.

The outcome is a tangy yet crunchy side dish that goes well with udon noodles.

Shibazuke is one of the most common pickled vegetables used to produce nukazuke. It’s created with sliced cucumbers, eggplants, and radishes marinated in sweet vinegar.

2. Yaki-Onigiri (Grilled Rice Balls)

Another popular dish to offer with udon noodles is yaki-onigiri. They’re just grilled rice balls that have been seasoned with soy sauce.

Consider it like Japanese arancini; you can stuff it with anything from tuna to curry!

3. Chirashizushi (Scattered Sushi)

I know what you’re thinking: how can sushi be considered a side dish?

I chose to add Chirashizushi on our list of side dishes to serve with udon noodles since that is how it is eaten in Japan.

Chirashizushi is a single plate of rice topped with various toppings. It commonly includes sashimi, veggies, and an egg.

Because it is single-serving sized, it is ideal for serving as a side dish; in fact, it is probably the greatest way to enjoy it!

4. Gomoku Soba (Five-Ingredient Udon Noodles)

Gomoku soba is a simple yet delicious udon noodle dish. Udon noodles, dried shiitake mushrooms, konbu (seaweed), sesame seeds, and green onions are the only ingredients.

The flavor is earthy and flavorful, and it works well with a bowl of rice!

5. Tempura (Japanese Fried Food)

Tempura is the Japanese version of fried food.

Whenever I go out to eat udon noodles with friends, we always get tempura as a side dish.

Tempura is often served as a communal meal, allowing everyone to sample it at the same time. It is often a light battered mixture of veggies and fish.

6. Shinko Temaki (Pickled Radish Hand Rolls)

Although it may not seem to be much, you should sample shinko temaki before passing judgment on it.

Shinko temaki (pickled radish wrapped in nori (dried seaweed) and rice) is a traditional Japanese dish. Then it’s curled into a cone and served with soy sauce.

This may not seem like your typical food, but it really is delicious!

7. Aemono (Various Mixed Veggies)

Aemono is a traditional Japanese meal in which various vegetables are chopped up and cooked together.

Aemono meals come in a variety of flavors, with ingredients ranging from daikon radish to cucumbers.

Aemono is one of the greatest side dishes to offer with udon noodles; it’s fast and simple to cook, doesn’t take up much room, and tastes delicious.

8. Natto (Fermented Soybeans)

Although some individuals dislike the thought of eating natto, it is a popular dish in Japan.

Natto is a sort of fermented soybean with a very strong fragrance and a sticky texture.

It’s also highly healthful and high in vitamins, making it ideal for serving as a side dish.

Natto may be found in a variety of Japanese foods, ranging from udon noodles to rice ball sushi.

FAQ

What Meat Goes with Udon Noodles?

It is critical to choose the correct meat to serve with udon noodles! Some may argue that you may offer almost any beef meal as long as it has a strong taste.

However, I would contend that this is not the case! When selecting the meat to serve with your udon noodles, consider the taste you want to achieve.

For example, if you’re serving a rich and creamy soup, it’s preferable to pair it with something light and lean.

This prevents the tastes from becoming overpowering or clashing with one another.

Udon noodles are often served with chicken as the meat, but you may also try pig or beef.

What Soup Goes with Udon Noodles?

A basic dashi broth is the most popular soup served with udon noodles.

Konbu (seaweed), shiitake mushrooms, and bonito (fish flakes) are common ingredients.

Although this is the most common method, you may experiment with various types of soup!

For example, you may prepare a basic soy sauce broth (dashi) and then add miso to it. This will give it a rich, deep taste that will complement the noodles.

You may even try your hand at cooking a hot pot! It may seem unusual, but making a hot pot using udon noodles may be really simple.

To serve, just boil a variety of vegetables and meat in a deep dish and pour a dashi broth on top.

These are just a few suggestions for soups to pair with your udon noodles.

What Sauce Goes with Udon Noodles?

Ponzu sauce is a terrific sauce to use with udon noodles.

Soy sauce, mirin (sweet sake), lemon juice, and katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) are combined to make ponzu sauce.

It has a very nuanced taste and is quite light and refreshing.

What Vegetables Go with Udon Noodles?

If you want to keep things simple, you just need to offer two vegetables: corn and bean sprouts.

I prefer corn and bean sprouts since they both complement the udon noodles really nicely.

This means they may be served raw or stir-fried and will complement the meal.

It is not required to cook your veggies with udon noodles, but I would suggest it if you are serving tempura or Shinko temaki.

Conclusion

As you can see, udon noodles may be used to offer a broad range of side dishes!

I hope this post provided you with some inspiration and ideas for serving delicious side dishes with udon noodles.

Thank you for reading and good luck!