Udon is the ideal comfort noodle, with its chewy texture and plumpness. For simple evening meals, slurp these thick Japanese wheat flour noodles in soups, stir-fries or salads. Most supermarkets have them fresh, frozen or dried in the Asian foods area. When it comes to cuisine, Japan is a separate realm. There are many things you can eat there that may appear unusual or disagreeable at first glance.
You can't, however, assess a dish by its appearance. Once you've had a few of these dishes, you'll agree that they're all fantastic. So, without further ado, here are the best udon noodle side dishes.
Yaki-Onigiri
A popular dish to serve with udon noodles is yaki-onigiri. They're just grilled rice balls that have been seasoned with soy sauce. You can stuff them with anything you want, from tuna to curry.
Tempura
The Japanese form of fried food is tempura. A serving of tempura on the side is always welcome. Tempura is typically served as a communal meal, allowing everyone to sample it at the same time. It's usually a light battered mixture of vegetables and fish.
Aemono
It is a traditional Japanese meal in which various vegetables are chopped into little pieces and fried together. There are many different types of aemono meals, with ingredients ranging from daikon radish to cucumbers. Aemono is one of the best side dishes to offer with udon noodles; it's quick and easy to prepare, takes up little space, and tastes delicious.
Nukazuke
It is a Japanese pickled vegetable dish made with black vinegar, brine, rice bran and other ingredients. The result is a tangy, crispy side dish that pairs well with udon noodles. Cucumbers, eggplants and radishes are cut and marinated in a sweet vinegar marinade.
Scattered Sushi
Chirashizushi or scattered sushi is a single-serve of rice with various toppings strewn across the surface. It commonly includes sashimi, veggies, and an egg. It's ideal to serve as a side dish because it's single-serving sized. In fact, that's probably the best way to eat it.
Fermented Soybeans
Despite the fact that some people dislike the concept of eating natto, it is a popular meal in Japan. Natto is a sort of fermented soybean that has a very strong odour and a sticky texture. It's also highly healthy and full of vitamins, making it ideal for serving as a side dish. From udon noodles to rice ball sushi, natto can be found in a variety of Japanese foods.
Pickled Radish Hand Rolls
Although it may not appear to be much, you must experience shinko temaki before forming an impression about it. Shinko temaki (pickled radish wrapped in nori (dried seaweed) and rice) is a traditional Japanese dish. After that, it's wrapped into a cone and served with soy sauce. This dish may not sound appealing to you, but it is absolutely delicious.
