Rating: 3.69
(113)

Seaweed and Seafood Udon Soup

August 8, 2023

If you’re craving something warm, satisfying, and full of umami, look no further than seaweed and seafood udon soup. This Japanese-inspired noodle soup combines the richness of the sea with the chewy comfort of thick udon noodles. It’s a dish that feels nourishing, light yet filling, and packed with depth in every spoonful.

The base of the soup is a gently flavored dashi broth. Traditionally made from kombu (dried kelp) and bonito flakes, this broth is subtle but deeply savory. It’s the perfect canvas for fresh seafood and delicate seaweed to shine. The broth can be homemade or store-bought, and adding a splash of soy sauce and mirin brings the flavor to life with a balance of salty and sweet.

Seafood options are flexible, so you can use what’s fresh or available. Shrimp, scallops, mussels, and small chunks of white fish are all excellent choices. They cook quickly in the hot broth, releasing their natural juices and infusing the soup with even more flavor. Adding wakame seaweed is key here. It softens as it simmers, adding a silky texture and a mineral-rich taste that complements the seafood beautifully.

Udon noodles are thick, slightly chewy, and incredibly satisfying. Whether you use fresh, frozen, or vacuum-packed noodles, they should be cooked separately and added to the broth just before serving. This keeps them from becoming too soft and allows you to control the final texture.

To finish, garnish the soup with sliced green onions, a soft-boiled egg, a few drops of sesame oil, or even a sprinkle of togarashi (Japanese chili powder) for a hint of heat. The result is a comforting bowl of soup that brings together the sea’s best ingredients in a way that’s both simple and elegant.

Seaweed and seafood udon soup is a great weeknight dinner or a soothing meal for when you want something wholesome and quick. With just a few ingredients and 20 to 30 minutes, you can enjoy a flavorful bowl that warms you from the inside out.

Seaweed and Seafood Udon Soup
Seaweed and Seafood Udon Soup
3.69 from 113 votes
A delicious and hearty udon soup with seaweed and seafood.
Servings 4 people
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 250 g udon noodles
  • 200 g assorted seafood squid, and mussels), such as shrimp
  • 2 sheets dried seaweed
  • 4 cups stock vegetable or fish
  • 1 onion thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp mirin
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • salt to taste
  • Spring onions for garnish

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot, bring water to a boil and cook the udon noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  • In another pot, heat the sesame oil and sauté the garlic and onion until fragrant.
  • Add the seafood and cook until they are slightly firm.
  • Add the stock, soy sauce, mirin, and dried seaweed. Bring to a boil and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
  • Add the cooked udon noodles and let it simmer for another 5 minutes.
  • Season with salt to taste.
  • Serve hot, garnished with spring onions.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 20gFat: 4gFiber: 3g
Calories: 350kcal
Meal Type: Lunch
Cuisine: Japanese
Keyword: Japanese cuisine, soup, udon
Cooking Method: Boiled
Time: >45 Min
Level: Easy
Tried this recipe?Mention @coolinarco or tag #coolinarco!
Join the Conversation
  1. User avatar grady.considine89 says:

    2 stars
    I messed up step 3—my seafood cooked too long and got chewy. The flavor still came through, but texture was off. Lower cook time helps!

  2. User avatar Dulce Metz Jr. says:

    3 stars
    The instructions were a bit confusing. What’s mirin? Will using just soy sauce work?

  3. 1 star
    Seafood??? No way, I don’t eat fish! Gave it a try, but it’s not going to be a favorite.

  4. 4 stars
    I didn’t have mirin, so I used vinegar, and it still tasted good lol.

    1. User avatar Gandalf the Grey says:

      5 stars
      Glad you enjoyed it! Vinegar is a good substitute, who knew? 😂

    2. 2 stars
      I dunno about that. Isn’t vinegar too strong? I always thought mirin was sweet.

  5. 5 stars
    Wow. Seaweed in soup is underrated. The sesame oil and garlic/onion combo made my kitchen smell amazing. Will make again for sure.

  6. User avatar jacob.legros says:

    5 stars
    Yum! Best meal ever! I added some extra shrimp though, family loved it!

    1. User avatar jayna.bergstrom98 says:

      5 stars
      Wow, extra shrimp sounds great! I’ll have to try that next time! 🦐

  7. User avatar adalberto.morissette35 says:

    4 stars
    My kids loved this! Easy and fun to make. Will make again for sure!

    1. User avatar rolf.deckow1973 says:

      5 stars
      That’s awesome to hear! It’s great when you can get the kids involved in cooking too! 😊

  8. User avatar basementDweller says:

    2 stars
    Took me too long to cook the noodles. Is udon even supposed to take that long?

  9. 5 stars
    This soup is a total game changer! So comforting and hearty! I doubled the seafood.

  10. User avatar rigoberto.cole41 says:

    4 stars
    I made it for my family and they liked it, but my brother said the noodles were ‘a little too bouncy’ lol. I think I should simmer them less after adding.

  11. User avatar Frodo Baggins says:

    4 stars
    The recipe says ‘assorted seafood squid, and mussels), such as shrimp’—that punctuation is chaos 😅 Still, flavors sound legit.

    1. User avatar enda.purdy1958 says:

      5 stars
      Haha yes, that punctuation is definitely doing the most 😅 But I agree—the combo of seafood + seaweed + udon sounds really legit.

  12. User avatar dusty.schumm32 says:

    1 star
    Too complicated for me. Like, I’m not measuring soy sauce, mirin, sesame oil, salt… I’ll just buy ramen 😅

  13. User avatar Luke Adam Go says:

    4 stars
    Who knew you could make something so good with just noodles and sea stuff?😲

  14. User avatar cristopher.beier71 says:

    3 stars
    I didn’t have dried seaweed sheets so I used what I had (nori packs) and… it worked, but the texture was different. Also my mussels took longer than expected.

  15. User avatar patti.labadie1991 says:

    2 stars
    Recipe looks easy, but I think it’s too fancy for me. I prefer simpler things like ramen or instant.

  16. User avatar Gaius Helen Mohiam says:

    1 star
    Udon soup should not have seafood! That’s not how it’s done in my country. Just stick to traditional recipes, please.

  17. 5 stars
    Seafood is really good! Will make again for sure. Yum!

  18. User avatar merlene.gutkowski61 says:

    2 stars
    Why use udon? Just get ramen or something else! Udon isn’t right for this.

  19. User avatar chung.heller1979 says:

    2 stars
    I dunno, the seaweed was kinda slimy for me. I guess it’s just not my thing.

    1. User avatar drew.kohler1952 says:

      4 stars
      I totally get you! Seaweed can be kinda weird texture-wise. Have you tried it in other dishes? Maybe it’s just not your flavor.

  20. User avatar rhett.runte80 says:

    4 stars
    Noodle soup – yum! Has anyone tried this with extra veggies? Just curious!

    1. User avatar gerard.boyle says:

      3 stars
      Hmm, extra veggies? I dunno, aren’t the seafood the main thing in this? But you do you!

    2. User avatar Elsie Spencer says:

      5 stars
      I added broccoli and carrots last time. It was great! Really brought it up a notch.

  21. User avatar merrilee.damore87 says:

    5 stars
    This soup is absolutely delicious! The combination of seafood and seaweed is so flavorful. Definitely a keeper! 👍

  22. User avatar elmer.balistreri says:

    3 stars
    My noodles always turn mushy if I simmer too long, so I’d probably warm them off-heat. But overall sounds tasty.

  23. User avatar Nicholas Sanford says:

    5 stars
    This sounds like such a cozy bowl. I love that you used both seaweed and seafood—definitely the umami factor. I might add a pinch of chili too.

  24. User avatar basementDweller says:

    2 stars
    So bland!! Where’s the flavor? I added hot sauce just to spice it up. Never again. 🤷‍♂️

  25. User avatar kathleen.kautzer91 says:

    5 stars
    I didn’t have any seafood so I just used chicken instead. Still came out delish!

  26. User avatar misty.waters80 says:

    4 stars
    I was skeptical about the seaweed, but it really adds a nice touch. Surprised me!

    1. User avatar leonardo.champlin44 says:

      4 stars
      Seaweed? Really? I thought it would ruin the soup! But maybe I’ll give it a shot. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

  27. User avatar Sabra McClure says:

    4 stars
    I like the simplicity, but 10 minutes might overcook the seafood depending on what you use. I’d add delicate stuff later.

  28. 5 stars
    Absolutely loved this recipe! The flavors were amazing, especially with the seafood. Will be making it again for sure!

  29. User avatar marcos.bernier2020 says:

    4 stars
    The ingredient list says ‘1 onion thinly sliced’ but I also added some ginger because I felt like it. Turned out awesome. This is a flexible recipe.

  30. User avatar britt.boyer99 says:

    5 stars
    This soup was incredible! So rich in flavors, and the seafood was cooked perfectly. Will definitely make again!

  31. User avatar liberal.hero says:

    5 stars
    I’m not that good in kitchen but this was easy to follow. Yay for me!

  32. User avatar sun.wisozk says:

    3 stars
    I found this a bit bland, even after adding extra soy sauce. Maybe next time I’ll add more spices.

    1. 4 stars
      I totally get what you mean! Sometimes a recipe just needs a little extra oomph. Maybe try some chili flakes or ginger next time for a kick!

  33. User avatar daniella.bergstrom87 says:

    3 stars
    Mine turned out a bit salty—probably I didn’t measure the soy sauce carefully. Also, I couldn’t find dried seaweed sheets so I used flakes. Still tasty though.

  34. User avatar eleanore.pollich27 says:

    4 stars
    Yum! But I replaced seafood with chicken. Still taste good!

    1. 4 stars
      Interesting swap! Chicken must give it a different flavor. I’m curious to try it your way!

    2. User avatar bernardo.rutherford9 says:

      3 stars
      Chicken in a seafood recipe? That’s kinda weird… but if it tastes good, who am I to judge?

  35. 2 stars
    Why use seafood when you can just do chicken? 🤷‍♂️ Just saying.

    1. 5 stars
      But seafood adds a whole new flavor! Chicken just doesn’t cut it. 😋

  36. 4 stars
    yum! it was super tasty! But I forgot to add the mirin. Still turned out great! LOL.

  37. User avatar amado.casper13 says:

    4 stars
    Seaweed and seafood? Lol, sounds weird but I tried it and wow! Never thought I’d like seaweed! 🍜

  38. User avatar Duncan Idaho says:

    4 stars
    So good! I didn’t have udon noodles, so used spaghetti. Still tasted great!!

  39. User avatar maple.beahan2023 says:

    4 stars
    Super easy recipe, loved it! My kids even ate the seaweed, which was a surprise.

    1. User avatar chang.runolfsson says:

      3 stars
      Really? Kids eat seaweed? My nephew won’t even touch it! But I guess it’s just about how you serve it.

    2. 5 stars
      That’s awesome! Seaweed is so good for kids, it’s great they liked it! Did you add any extra veggies?

  40. 5 stars
    This soup is amazing! Just made it and my family loved it. The flavors are so good together! Definitely a keeper!

3.69 from 113 votes
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Like 361
Close
Coolinarco.com © Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.
Close
Popular Search: