This Japanese curry udon features rich, warm Japanese curry broth, thick, chewy udon noodles, thinly sliced beef, carrots, and sweet slightly caramelized onions. The thick and flavorful Japanese curry hugs every noodle for a perfectly tasty bite. This curry udon noodles recipe is my favorite cozy easy weeknight recipe that can be made in under 30 minutes!

Ingredients

You can find all of the ingredients for this Japanese curry udon recipe at your local Asian or Japanese grocery store.

• Thinly Sliced Beef: can be found at any Asian grocery market in the shabu shabu section. You can use any cut of beef you’d like.
• Yellow Onion: adds a sweet aromatic, umami flavor to the curry udon broth.
• Carrots: carrots add nutritious vitamins and fiber while also adding a touch of sweetness.
• Dashi Broth: dashi broth adds a complex level of umami and comfort. You can instantly make dashi broth with dashi powder and water. See the expert tips below for the ratio.
• Japanese Curry Roux: is a sweeter, milder, and thicker curry than Indian and Thai curries. I used the brand Kokumaro, but you can choose whichever brand you’d prefer.
• Soy Sauce: adds a touch of umami saltiness. Taste to adjust the soy sauce as needed.
• Mirin: or rice wine adds a sweet and tangy flavor.
• Honey: adds a touch of natural floral sweetness.
• Frozen Udon Noodles: yield the best texture and freshest tasting udon. Make sure to not overcook the noodles to maintain their signature chewiness.

Substitutions and Additions

Substitutions

• Broth: instead of dashi broth, you can alternatively use your choice of stock, such as chicken, beef, or vegetable broth. Make sure to use low-sodium stock.
• Sugar: instead of honey, you can alternatively use brown sugar, or sugar as a sweetening agent.
• Udon: instead of frozen, you can use dehydrated or packaged vacuum-sealed udon.

Additions

• Garlic: for added aromatics and flavor, add minced garlic.
• Potatoes: for a heartier dish you can always add diced potatoes.
• Soft-boiled egg: for added protein and a delicious garnish.

How to Make Curry Udon

Here are the step-by-step instructions for how to make this Japanese curry udon recipe in under 30 minutes! See the recipe card below for the detailed measurements and instructions.

1. In a medium pot over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil until hot. Next, add the sliced onions and saute for 3-4 minutes or until softened and lightly browned.
2. Next, carrots and cook for about 2-3 minutes until the carrots are just tender. Push everything to the side and then add the beef. Cook until just done, about 1-2 minutes.

3. Add the dashi broth, soy sauce, and mirin. Cover and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Skim the scum off the stock and simmer for 3 minutes.

4. Scoop about 1/2 cup of stock in a mixing bowl and mix in the chopped curry roux until dissolved. Then add the dissolved curry back into the soup and mix until combined. Simmer the soup until the soup has thickened. Then add the honey and mix until combined.

5. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the udon according to the package instructions.

6. Place the udon in a bowl, ladle the Japanese curry in, and garnish with chopped green onion.

Storage Instructions

You can store the Japanese curry udon noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheat: you can either heat the curry udon covered over medium heat on the stove-top until warm or in a microwave covered until warm.

Pairing Suggestions

You can pair this comforting Japanese curry udon with the following pairing suggestions.

• Fried pairings such as ebi tempura, chicken katsu, or air fryer tonkatsu.
• Vegetables such as sunomono salad, Korean bean sprout salad, and garlic bok choy.
• Desserts such as Japanese cotton cheesecake, Japanese cake roll, or Japanese strawberry shortcake.

Frequently Asked Q’s and A’s

What type of udon do I use?

The best tasting udon is the frozen udon packs that are typically found in the frozen aisle at most Asian grocery stores. However, you can use dried udon as well!

How do I make dashi broth?

You can use either instant dashi powder or create dashi from scratch by boiling kombu seaweed and smoked bonito flakes. I used an instant dashi powder called Hondashi and mixed 3 teaspoons in 3 cups of water to make the dashi broth.

What kind of Japanese curry roux do I use?

Pre-made Japanese curry roux comes in various spice levels and sizes. I like to use Kokumaro Medium curry roux, but you can use whichever brand and spice level you prefer.

Can I use other proteins for my Japanese curry udon?

Yes! You can customize your curry udon by using other proteins such as chicken or pork instead. Make sure to cook the protein until done before adding the broth.

Curry Udon Recipe