Name: Creamy Kimchi Udon
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 2 portions frozen udon; 1 tablespoon mirin; 2 teaspoons soy sauce; 1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon; 280 ml milk; 100 g pork belly; 1/2 medium onion; 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil; 100 g kimchi (made from napa cabbage); salt and pepper, to taste; 2 green onions

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This creamy kimchi udon with pork belly features a light cream sauce loaded with flavour that clings perfectly to the plump and chewy udon noodles. The kimchi adds a nice touch of spice. And you will love how quick and easy this dish is to make. Hello delicious, new weeknight meal favourite.

A white bowl of creamy kimchi udon on a grey cloth napkin.

This is a type of Japanese fusion dish, incorporating the Korean flavour of kimchi into a traditional Japanese dish. For another scrumptious udon dish, delightful beef curry udon is my recommendation. Or, try this cold soba noodle salad with lemon for something light and refreshing,

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Ingredients
Substitutions
Instructions
Equipment
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📖 Recipe

Chopsticks in a bowl of creamy kimchi udon on a grey cloth napkin.

Ingredients

Udon - I used a frozen, Sanuki-style udon. This type has a wonderful chewy texture.
Pork belly - I purchased pork belly from a Korean marketplace.
Kimchi - Select one made from napa cabbage.
Onion - For extra flavour.
Sesame oil - This adds a wonderful flavour element to the dish.
Soy sauce - For seasoning.
Mirin - The sweetness brings balance to this noodle dish.
Chicken bouillon - This adds depth to the flavour. Don't substitute with water.
Milk - Adding milk gives this dish its light creaminess.
Salt & pepper - For seasoning.
Green onion - For fresh flavour and colour.

See the recipe card below for quantities.

Substitutions

You can easily modify this recipe to suit your diet or preference.

Dairy-free - Use unsweetened soy milk instead of dairy
Vegetarian - Replace the chicken bouillon and pork belly with vegetable bouillon and mushrooms
No pork - Switch the pork belly out for mushrooms (shiitake or cremini) or chicken (I like to use thighs in this dish)
Make it spicy! - Add a touch of chili oil for more spice.

A close up of creamy kimchi udon in a white bowl.

Instructions

Cook udon according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

Prepped ingredients in different dishes: chopped kimchi, sliced pork belly and onions, green onions, and cream sauce.

Prep: Make cream sauce by mixing together mirin, soy sauce, bouillon, and milk in a bowl. Cut pork and kimchi into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the onion. And thinly slice the green onion on a diagonal.