Stir-Fried Udon With Bacon, Parmesan & Gochujang Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Play Me a Recipe

by: Hana Asbrink

July12,2021

5

46 Ratings

  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Cook time 10 minutes
  • Serves 2

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Author Notes

No one can resist a chubby udon noodle, and this recipe is no different. I've already shared my love for frozen udon bricks, which I always have at the ready in the freezer. You're never far from a quick meal when these pre-cooked noodles are around, as they need less than a minute in a hot water bath before being resuscitated to chewy goodness.

This recipe for spicy udon noodles is how I like to off-road family-favorite carbonara (which I acknowledge this dish certainly is not!) when I'm in the mood for something with a kick. The dish takes inspiration from the Korean pantry, Japanese-style wafu pasta, and the saucy technique from beloved Roman carbonara. As with all stir-fry recipes, the key to success here is to have all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go as it all comes together very quickly.

First, bacon chunks, chopped scallions, and garlic get sautéed before meeting gochujang and udon noodles. Gochujang is in a class of its own in terms of flavor. While it lends spice and heat, there's also an inherent smokiness, slight sweetness, and umami that is highly addictive. Outside of Korean cuisine, I like to experiment with gochujang in recipes that might call for tomato paste to help give a nuanced layer of heat in the background. By all means, add a bit more in this recipe if you prefer it more spicy.

The whole thing gets even better after being combined with eggs and Parmesan, helping to mute some of the heat and give the noodles a silky richness. The heat from the noodles will be just enough to emulsify the cheese and egg yolk mixture, creating a beautiful, thick sauce that you can loosen a bit with the addition of the udon cooking water.

These chubby, silky noodles are just the ticket for zapping you out of your weeknight dinner doldrums.

Looking for more customizable noodle recipes for an easy weeknight meal? Check out this episode of Play Me a Recipe, where Peter J. Kim makes instant ramen carbonara.

Helpful tools for this recipe:
- Five Two Essential Knives
- Food52 x Rosti Mixing Bowl
- Ekobo Bamboo Colander

Hana Asbrink

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

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Stir-Fried Udon With Bacon, Parmesan &Gochujang

Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoonneutral oil
  • 2 slices of thick-cut bacon, sliced into 1/4-inch strips or lardons
  • 3 to 4 scallions, thinly sliced (reserve 1 tablespoon scallion greens for garnish)
  • 2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced or crushed
  • 2 egg yolks, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cupgrated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoonsoy sauce
  • 1 tablespoongochujang
  • 2 blocks frozen udon noodles
  • 1/2 cupreserved udon cooking water (you will not be using this all)
  • 1/4 teaspoontoasted sesame oil
  • 1 pinchkosher salt (optional) and coarsely ground black pepper (not optional), plus more to taste
Directions
  1. Bring a medium pot filled with water to boil for the udon.
  2. In a skillet, heat oil over medium-low heat. Add the bacon, scallions, garlic, and a pinch of salt. Let the bacon fat render slowly and saute all until golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Monitor the heat and lower it if it browns too quickly.
  3. In the meantime, in a medium or large mixing bowl, add the egg yolks. Add the cheese, pinch of salt and coarsely ground pepper (at least 8 to 10 turns). It will look like a paste at this point, but the udon cooking water will loosen it up shortly. Set aside.
  4. Lower the skillet’s heat to low. Add the soy sauce and gochujang and "fry" in the bacon's oil. Coat the bacon mixture with the gochujang.
  5. Cook udon noodles according to package instructions (usually 45 to 60 seconds). They are already cooked, so you are just warming them through and gently releasing them from their caked state with tongs or chopsticks. It’s important not to overcook them. Reserve about ½ cup of udon cooking water. Drain in a colander and add the udon noodles to the pan (alternately, you can also use a spider strainer to lift up and drain the udon noodles from the pot and into the skillet—it’s okay to have a bit of the residual water clinging on). Toss until well-combined and udon noodles are coated in the gochujang-bacon sauce. Turn off the heat.
  6. To the mixing bowl with the egg-cheese mixture, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of the reserved udon cooking water and mix to form a slightly looser paste. Add the udon noodles and toss until well- combined (you can also add the egg-cheese mixture to the pan that’s off the heat, being careful not to curdle or scramble the eggs). Drizzle in a bit of sesame oil. Season with salt (optional) and pepper (not optional), to your taste. Give it another toss before plating. Top with reserved scallion greens and more coarsely ground pepper, if you’d like. Serve immediately.

Tags:

  • American
  • Korean
  • Play Me a Recipe
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

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47 Reviews

Beth B. March 15, 2024

so good! I've made this several times as written. But, if I'm out of frozen Udon, any pasta will do! Recently I made it with DeCecco Fusilli and it had that same bite or mouth feel that the udon usually gives.

JillyB January 11, 2024

This was a little difficult to pull together with timing, so next time I will do better. The payoff was great though. A delicious blend of flavor and texture. I did not find frozen udon noodles but was able to use a refrigerated version that seemed to work.

ErinC September 14, 2023

Made this today - it was delightful! Went heavy on the bacon and gochujang, recommend! :) Garnished with scallions and added white/black sesame seeds for visual appeal

Nancy M. July 11, 2023

I haven't made this yet so this is a review of the video. I watched it 3 times today. I would watch this woman cook anything. So entertaining. I bought my udon and scallions, and I have everything else, so I will make it tomorrow (tonight I'm having leftover Quick Fried Cabbage with Noodles and Bacon from recipetineats, so delicious, can you detect a pattern here) and I am pretty excited.

GraceE23 June 4, 2023

Loved this recipe. Gochujang is fast becoming one of my store cupboard staples. I’m vegetarian, so swapped out the bacon for broccoli, and cooked it in butter for a higher fat content to melt the gochujang into. It came out delicious. What I like the most is that you can easily swap out the main ingredient for whatever you have in the fridge!

dryakumo March 22, 2023

This is so good! Just slightly spicy, super creamy, and savory from the Parmesan. I added about 6oz of small cooked shrimp to the pan right before adding the noodles since my partner likes a little more protein. He called it a banger!

ik13 February 5, 2023

This is amazing. Watch the heat on this one if you don't want spicy, just lessen the Guchugang. My kids love this. So easy to make too.

caroline February 4, 2022

this is beyond fabulous. So quick and easy and so very flavoursome. You have inspired me to go on and make several variations- adding salted blackbeans,or hoisin, substituting dried shrimp for the bacon,different types of pasta and noodles- all wonderful. Thank you very much for sharing your delicious recipes

kikimm January 16, 2022

Shockingly good. Humble ingredients that punch above their weight. Already want to make this again. Thanks!

Darian January 13, 2022

The whole family LOVED this dish. I doubled for 4 servings and it turned out perfectly. I will definitely be adding to our regular rotation.

Shree December 30, 2021

This was insanely good. Instead of using the neutral oil the recipe calls for, I went rogue and melted a dollop of mascarpone before adding the bacon, garlic, and scallions. Highly recommend periodically adding that into your rotation of this recipe to add even more unctuousness to the sauce.

Luv2Cook December 27, 2021

Where would I find udon noodles?

Marian December 27, 2021

Most grocery stores have udon noodles in the Asian section. I have not found the frozen blocks of udon, but I have used "Kame" brand, which are already cooked, vacuum-packed and just need to be lightly heated before using.

courttan December 28, 2021

You could also try a few asian grocer websites: https://umamicart.com/

Luv2Cook December 28, 2021

Thank you for the suggestion. Unfortunately the website does not deliver in Colorado.

Luv2Cook December 28, 2021

Thank you.

Brad September 17, 2021

I love this recipe. Is there any way of using large shrimp for Tiger prawns with the bacon mixture. What do you think

courttan June 20, 2021

Is it possible to make this recipe too much? So, so good!

CherylB June 7, 2021

Yum! This dish is so easy and satisfying. A great fusion of italian and korean. I used 10oz. dry udon as I can't find frozen in my local grocery store.

jeliao March 29, 2021

Hana's recipes always hit the spot. This udon is so incredibly delicious, I think I'll make it every week since it was simple to put together. It's creamy and decadent—everything you could possibly want in a noodle dish. If you haven't tried her sushi bake yet, I highly recommend it as well!

Yoree March 16, 2021

Delicious and dangerously addictive! We can't eat this often enough. Thanks Hana!

Alexis D. March 10, 2021

I've been dreaming about this dish since I made it the first time. I think I'd be happy eating this for the rest of my life. 10/10

Kayoko21 March 3, 2021

I can’t get enough of this dish. I’ve made this recipe 4x since seeing this post. So delicious!

Mel M. February 24, 2021

Is there anything I can sub for the bacon? I don’t eat pork but love the sound of this dish!!

Hana A. February 25, 2021

Hi Mel - Thanks so much for your interest! I've had some vegetarian/vegan friends have good luck with shiitakes (I think both dried and fresh could work), as well as as smoked tempeh. Also vegan cheese, if that's up your alley. Good luck and enjoy! :)

Mel M. February 25, 2021

Awesome thanks for responding!! I will definitely try with shiitakes or maybe some other kind of meat! So so excited to try this!

StreetSong January 9, 2022

I'm going to try to veganize this for our household. Challenging, but it looks too good to not give it a try!

Stir-Fried Udon With Bacon, Parmesan & Gochujang Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

How to cook udon stir fry from Costco? ›

Pulmuone Teriyaki Stir-fry Udon is available at Costco. Add 1 tbsp of oil, 4 tbsp of water, vegetable topping and Udon Noodles into a sauce pan. Then turn on the heat and stir fry 1-2 minutes over hight heat 2. Add Teriyaki Seasoning and stir fry for another minute over low heat.

Do you have to boil udon noodles before frying? ›

If you have freshly made or dried udon noodles, cook them according to the packet directions but subtract 1 minute since you'll be cooking them more in the stir fry. Be sure to rinse them in cold water afterwards and drizzle on a little oil if you're not using them right away.

How do you cook pre packaged udon noodles? ›

COOKING STORE-BOUGHT UDON NOODLES

If cooking semi-dried (slightly flexible, shelf stable) udon, boil for 6-7 minutes before testing for tenderness; if cooking dried (brittle, shelf stable) udon, boil for 9-10 minutes. Test by plucking a noodle from the pot, plunging it in cold water, then biting.

What is the cooking method for udon? ›

To cook udon noodles, add noodles to a pot of boiling water and bring back to the boil. Stir noodles, add more cold water to the pot and bring back to boil again. Turn down the heat and cook noodles until tender. Drain noodles and run under cold water.

How do you cook frozen Japanese udon noodles? ›

Take the Frozen Udon noodle directly from the freezer, do not defrost, and place the noodle in the boiling water. Cook on medium heat for approximately 40-60 seconds or until al dente. Stir-fry: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large wok or skillet and stir-fry with desired meat or vegetables. Product from Japan.

Is packaged udon already cooked? ›

The beauty of the sanuki udon blocks—in addition to their unmatched texture, of course—is that they're ready in a flash. They're pre-cooked, so all they need is a gentle zhush-ing in hot water, straight from frozen, to release them from their caked state.

How do you know when udon noodles are done? ›

To check if the noodles are done, take one out of the pot and taste it. The noodle should be tender but still slightly chewy. If it's too hard, continue to cook for another minute or so. It's important not to overcook the noodles, as they can become mushy and lose their texture.

Is udon good for you? ›

They can also be used as stir-fry noodles or served cold with a healthy dip like miso sauce. However you want to use them, udon noodles made from whole wheat flour are very satisfying, and in moderation, they provide a healthy dose of carbohydrates and fiber as well as several nutrients to benefit your health.

What do you eat udon with? ›

Udon is traditionally served as a hot noodle soup topped with scallions, tempura or fried tofu. We also love adding udon to stir-fries, particularly this amazing recipe from Chicago chef Takashi Yagihashi, who combines udon with shrimp, chicken, cabbage and mushrooms for a simple yet flavorful dish.

How long to boil packaged udon noodles? ›

If cooking semidried udon, boil 8 to 9 minutes before testing; if cooking dried, boil 10 to 12 minutes. Test by plucking a noodle from pot, plunging it into cold water, then biting. Noodle should be tender with no hard core; outer surface should be slippery but not overly soft.

How do you get rid of the sour taste in udon? ›

Jam, honey, syrup, anything like that will take away the sour bite.

Why is my udon chewy? ›

Udon noodles are white flour-based noodles that are thick, chewy and silky. What gives udon noodles their characteristic chew is a low water-to-flour ratio. This means the dough is tough to knead by hand—but not impossible—and is often traditionally kneaded with the feet!

What is special about udon noodles? ›

Udon noodles are made out of wheat flour; they are thick and white in color. Best as fresh, they are soft and chewy. Due to their neutral flavor, they are able to absorb strong-flavored ingredients and dishes.

How do you cook Costco udon noodles in the microwave? ›

Microwave Directions – Place udon noodles, teriyaki sauce, topping & 1/4 cup of water in a microwave safe dish. Cover and heat on high for 3-4 minutes. Stir well and enjoy.

How long to cook precooked udon? ›

These udon noodles are almost too easy! Add one packet of noodles per person to a pot of boiling water (approx. 500ml per packet). Cook for 2-3 minutes before draining.

How do you cook Costco yakisoba noodles? ›

Using a large saute pan, heat pan to medium high and add 2 oz oil. Add the vegetables and cook for 2 minutes. Add the chicken and cook for 2 minutes. Add the noodles and sauce and cook for 1 minute until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees as read by a thermometer.

How to cook Costco vegetable noodles? ›

Add 1 cup water to skillet and bring to a boil. Tear off tab "B" to open package and add to water vegetable side down. Cook approximately 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, then flip noodles. Cook an additional 3-4 minutes, adding an additional ¼ cup water if needed to get the center-most noodles warmed through.

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