Spicy Tuna Udon Noodles (Print Version)
Tender udon noodles with spicy tuna, crisp vegetables, and toasted sesame in a savory sauce.
# What You'll Need:
→ Protein & Noodles
01 - 7 oz fresh or frozen udon noodles
02 - 4.2 oz canned tuna in water, drained
→ Vegetables
03 - 1/2 cup julienned carrot
04 - 1/2 cup thinly sliced cucumber
05 - 2 spring onions, sliced
06 - 1 tablespoon pickled ginger, finely chopped (optional)
→ Sauce
07 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (preferably Japanese Kewpie)
08 - 1 tablespoon Sriracha (adjust to taste)
09 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
10 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
11 - 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
12 - 1/2 teaspoon sugar
→ Toppings
13 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
14 - 1 sheet nori, torn into small pieces
15 - Fresh chili slices (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Prepare the udon noodles according to package instructions. Drain well and rinse briefly under cold water to halt further cooking. Set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine the drained tuna, mayonnaise, Sriracha, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and sugar. Stir thoroughly until a uniform spicy tuna sauce forms.
03 - Add the julienned carrot, sliced cucumber, spring onions, and pickled ginger to the tuna sauce mixture. Fold gently to distribute the vegetables evenly without breaking them down.
04 - Add the cooled udon noodles to the bowl with the spicy tuna mixture. Toss until every strand is evenly coated with the sauce.
05 - Divide the dressed noodles between two serving bowls. Finish with a generous sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds, torn nori pieces, and fresh chili slices if desired.
06 - Serve immediately, either chilled or at room temperature, for the best texture and flavor.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in under thirty minutes with ingredients you probably already have tucked away in your pantry and fridge.
- The creamy, fiery sauce clings to every strand of udon in a way that makes it genuinely hard to stop eating.
02 -
- Do not skip rinsing the noodles, because any residual starch will turn the sauce gummy and thick within minutes.
- Letting the dressed noodles sit for five minutes before serving actually improves the flavor, as the sauce seeps into every fold and crevice of the udon.
03 -
- Drain the canned tuna by pressing the lid down firmly into the can and tilting it over the sink, because excess water will dilute your sauce and make it slippery instead of creamy.
- Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for two minutes instead of buying pre toasted ones, since the flavor difference is genuinely noticeable and takes almost no effort.