This Easy Udon Noodle Bowl with Kimchi is a simple healthy one-dish meal that can be whipped up in 20 minutes! This bowl meal is flavorful and packed with nutrients, thanks to chard, tofu, and hearty udon noodles. Plus, this entree calls upon the flavor of the Korean classic, fermented kimchi (kimchee), to give it a spicy-sour kick of flavor that completely powers this recipe. While I’m not an expert in Korean foodways, I truly appreciate this beautiful, plant-based food tradition and called upon several traditional ingredients in this recipe. If you want to learn more about this traditional diet, check out the work of my friend and colleague, Maggie Moon, who is a Korean American food and nutrition expert.
Give this completely vegan Easy Udon Noodle Bowl with Kimchi a try! If you don’t have chard, you can swap it with any hardy green, such as spinach, kale, or mustard greens. What about udon vs soba noodles in this recipe? While you can easily substitute soba noodles for udon noodles, the main difference is that udon noodles are made from wheat and they are typically softer and thicker noodles, while soba noodles are made from buckwheat and are a bit thinner.
Nutrition Notes
This simple noodle bowl recipe is packed with nutrition, compliments of tofu, vegetables, kimchi, and udon noodles. You’ll get a good source of plant protein, carbs, fiber, minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals in this meal in a bowl. Another great plus for this nutritionally balanced meal is that it includes fermented foods by way of kimchi, which is a great healthy addition to your diet for promoting a healthy gut microbiota, which can boost your immune system and digestive health. This recipe does contain gluten, but by swapping rice or soba noodles for udon noodles you can make it gluten-free.
What is Kimchi?
Kimchi is a traditional Korean fermented vegetable dish using napa cabbage or Korean radish and seasonings, such as gochugaru, green onions, garlic, and ginger. How to eat kimchi? What to eat Kimchi with? Kimchi is typically used as in addition to soups and stews, and it’s delicious as a condiment for numerous recipes, such as dumplings and rice. What does kimchi taste like? It has a fermented sour taste, along with a spicy kick from the ingredients including in the kimchee recipe. Where to buy kimchi? I can find it in most well stocked supermarkets today, and you can definitely find it in Asian markets. It is stored in the refrigerated section.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Description
Kimchi gives a healthy kick to this vegan Easy Udon Noodle Bowl with Kimchi filled with the goodness of udon noodles, chard, veggies, and tofu. Get it on the table in 20 minutes. Make it gluten-free by swapping out the noodles for gluten-free rice or soba noodles.
- 1 (9.5-ounce) package udon noodles
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, sliced
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 (15-ounce) package extra firm tofu, cubed
- 1 cup canned light coconut milk, stir well
- 3 tablespoons reduced sodium, gluten-free soy sauce
- 1 small bunch Swiss chard, sliced
- 1 cup prepared spicy kimchi, chopped*
- ¼ cup peanuts
Garnish (optional):
- Bring a medium pot of water to boil, and cook noodles according to package directions (do not overcook). Rinse in cold water and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat sesame oil in a wok.
- Add onion, carrots, celery, ginger and garlic and stir-fry for 3 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons water and continue to stir-fry for about 7 minutes, until crisp tender.
- Add tofu, coconut milk, soy sauce, swiss chard, kimchi, peanuts, and cooked, drained noodles. Stir-fry for an additional 2 minutes, just until chard is wilted but still bright green and mixture is heated through.
- Garnish with chili oil and cilantro, if desired.
- Makes 6 servings (about 1 2/3 cups each).
Notes
*Look for prepared kimchi in the refrigerated section of specialty markets, such as natural food stores and Asian supermarkets.
To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute gluten-free noodles, such as rice noodles.
Learn how to press tofu here.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Category: Entree
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 2/3 cup
- Calories: 323
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 366 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
Keywords: vegan Asian dish, vegan Asian recipe, vegan Asian dinner
For more noodle dishes, check out some of my favorites:
Noodle Bowl with Thai Tofu and Vegetables
Thai Tempeh Noodle Skillet
Vegan Pho with Tofu
Soba Noodles Seaweed Salad
Easy Soba Noodles with Peanuts and Seitan
Shirataki Noodle Salad with Ginger Sesame Dressing
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