Easy Miso Noodles

Welcome to a delightful twist on traditional flavors with our Easy Miso Noodles recipe. With garlicky chicken and thick udon noodles glazed in a nutty miso sauce, this quick weeknight stir-fry is sure to be a family favorite.
This recipe is created by Marc Matsumoto (No Recipes®)
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Easy Miso Noodles

Udon is a classic Japanese noodle, and although it’s most commonly served in a comforting broth, noodle soups aren’t all they’re good for Udon’s firm, chewy texture takes center stage in this vibrant stir-fry, enriched with the mellow yet complex flavor of white miso paste. When paired with succulent chicken and an array of fresh vegetables, this recipe offers a balanced, one-pan meal that’s as nutritious as it is flavorful.

Why This Recipe Works

  • The mellow yet umami-rich taste of white miso creates a flavorful stir-fry sauce. To save time, you can mix the miso sauce ingredients in advance.
  • Toasted sesame oil adds a nutty flavor while also preventing the udon from sticking together.
  • A combination of colorful vegetables, chicken, and udon makes for an easy and balanced one-pan meal.

Ingredients for Miso Noodles

  • Udon Noodles  – Thick, chewy, and satisfying, these wheat noodles are ideal for this recipe because they will absorb the beautiful flavors of the sauce without becoming soggy. Defrosted frozen udon works best, but you can also boil dry noodles according to the package directions. Cooked ramen noodles, soba noodles, or rice noodles are all alternatives that would work for this recipe.
  • White Miso -This fermented soybean paste is the star of our miso noodles recipe. It’s milder and slightly sweeter than red miso, making it perfect for a light yet umami-packed dish.
  • Sugar – A touch of sugar balances the saltiness of the miso. Brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup can be used as alternatives.
  • Toasted Sesame Oil – Adds a rich, nutty flavor to the sauce mixture and helps prevent the udon from sticking. If unavailable, you can experiment with other flavorful oils, such as olive oil or pumpkin seed oil.
  • Chicken – This noodle recipe was made with boneless skinless chicken thighs for their juiciness and flavor; breast meat will also work. Alternatively, you can use any fast-cooking protein such as shrimp, beef, or pork. For a vegetarian version, firm tofu or mushrooms are great substitutes.
  • Garlic – A generous amount of minced garlic infuses the chicken with flavor.
  • Soy Sauce – Marinating the chicken with Japanese dark soy sauce adds umami flavor while ensuring the protein is seasoned all the way through. Light soy sauce, low sodium soy sauce, or oyster sauce both make suitable substitutes. Tamari or coconut aminos are gluten-free alternatives.
  • Vegetables – A combination of carrots, cabbage, and green onion (spring onions) add color, flavor, and sweetness to this easy noodle dish. Bell peppers, snap peas, yellow onion, and bok choy are other great alternatives.

How to Make Miso Noodles

To make the miso sauce, whisk together the white miso paste, water, sugar, and toasted sesame oil until the sauce ingredients are smooth.

Next, marinate the chicken pieces in minced garlic and soy sauce. You’ll want to do this regardless of your choice of protein. For an extra boost of umami, try marinating the chicken in oyster sauce.

Heat a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Spread the marinated chicken and carrots out in a single layer so they’re making direct contact with the pan. Once the chicken begins to brown on one side, stir-fry the mixture until the meat is nearly cooked through. Add the cooked udon and cabbage and continue stir-frying until they start to caramelize at the edges. Drizzle the miso sauce over the udon and veggies and toss the mixture to coat the noodles in the sauce. Finish this easy stir-fry recipe with the green onions and toss them in.

Spicy Miso Noodles

For a fiery variation on this simple recipe, try adding chopped fresh chili peppers, hot sauce, chili crisp, or doubanjiang (chili bean paste) to the miso sauce.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 2

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons ORGANIC MISO WHITE
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 boneless skinless chicken thigh (150 grams, cut into bite-sized pieces)
  • 2 large cloves garlic (14 grams, minced)
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/3 carrot (50 grams, cut into matchsticks)
  • 2 servings cooked udon noodles (420 grams)
  • 2 leaves cabbage (75 grams, chopped)
  • 3 green onions (50 grams, cut diagonally)

Instructions

  • Add 3 tablespoons ORGANIC MISO WHITE, 3 tablespoons water, 2 teaspoons sugar, and1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil to a bowl and stir until the miso sauce is smooth and free of lumps.
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  • Marinate 1 boneless skinless chicken thigh with 2 large cloves garlic and 2 teaspoons soy sauce.
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  • Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, the marinated chicken,and 1/3 carrot to a large skillet preheated over medium-high heat. Spread theingredients into a single layer and let them cook undisturbed until they startto brown.
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  • Stir-fry the mixture until thechicken is mostly cooked through.
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  • Add 2 servings cooked udonnoodles and 2 leaves cabbage, and stir-fry until the cabbage is vibrant greenand the udon begins to brown around the edges.
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  • Add the miso sauce and toss to coat evenly. When mostof the liquid has evaporated, add 3 green onions and toss to incorporate.
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Product used in this recipe

organic-white-miso

Organic Miso White
17.6 oz (500 g)

Our Organic Miso White is the traditional Shinshu-style miso made from organic rice and soybeans, with bright beige in color, excellent balance of refreshing aroma and umami. Most versatile among Hikari Miso organic miso series to match with any cooking.

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