Udon with Mushroom Broth, Cabbage, and Yams

Ingredients for Udon with Mushroom Broth, Cabbage, and Yams

• 2400ml Light Vegetable Broth or good-quality canned vegetable broth (such as Swanson)

• 3 cups water

• 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped fresh coriander

• 45g dried shiitake mushrooms, rinsed

• 110g thinly sliced peeled fresh ginger

• 2 lemongrass stalks, outer dark layers removed, all but bottom 4 inches cut off and discarded

• 2 6-inch strips dried kombu

• 2 teaspoons tamari soy sauce

• 1 teaspoon unseasoned rice vinegar

• 475ml 1/2-inch cubes peeled yams (red-skinned sweet potatoes)

• 140g snow peas, trimmed

• 4 cups 1/2-inch-wide crosswise slices cored Napa cabbage

• 140g slender carrots (preferably assorted colours), peeled, thinly sliced on diagonal

• 275g Japanese-style udon noodles or soba noodles

• 160g sliced spring onions

• 40g matchstick-size strips peeled fresh ginger

• 4 to 170g semi-firm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (optional)

• Sambal oelek

• Tamari soy sauce

How to make Udon with Mushroom Broth, Cabbage, and Yams

Bring broth and 725ml water to simmer in large pot over medium heat. Add coriander, mushrooms, sliced ginger, and lemongrass. Cover; simmer until mushrooms are tender, about 30 minutes. Rinse kombu; add to broth. Simmer 1 minute. Using tongs, remove kombu and mushrooms; discard kombu. Transfer mushrooms to work surface; cut off stems and discard. Cut each mushroom into 3 to 4 strips. Strain broth through fine-mesh strainer into another large pot; discard solids in strainer. Add tamari and rice vinegar to broth. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill mushrooms. Cool, cover, and chill broth.

Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Cook yams until just tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Using skimmer, transfer to medium bowl. Cook snow peas, cabbage, and carrots separately until crisp-tender (snow peas, 30 seconds; cabbage, 1 1/2 minutes; carrots, 2 minutes). Using skimmer, transfer vegetables to separate bowls. Reserve cooking liquid. DO AHEAD: Vegetables can be cooked 2 hours ahead. Let vegetables and liquid stand at room temperature.

Bring cooking liquid to boil. Sprinkle with salt. Add noodles; cook until tender but still firm to bite, stirring often. Drain; rinse.

Meanwhile, bring vegetable broth to simmer. Add spring onions and ginger strips. Season with salt and pepper.

Using tongs, divide noodles among bowls. Divide mushrooms, yams, snow peas, cabbage, and carrots among bowls, each in separate mound. Divide tofu, if using, among bowls. Ladle broth over and serve, passing sambal oelek and tamari separately.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.