Alright, sharpen your knives and let's get cooking! Today we're making a comforting and flavorful Oden Noodle Soup. This recipe leans on traditional Oden flavors but adapts it into a hearty noodle soup that's perfect for a cool evening.

Oden Noodle Soup (Serves 4-6)

Estimated Cooking Time: 1.5 - 2 hours (mainly simmering)

Ingredients:

• Dashi Stock Base:

  • 6 cups Water
  • 4x4 inch piece Kombu (dried kelp)
  • 1/2 cup Katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes)

• Oden Ingredients (Customize as you like!)

  • 4 Daikon Radish, peeled and cut into 1-inch thick rounds
  • 6 Hard-boiled Eggs, peeled
  • 8 Fish Cakes (various shapes and types, like Chikuwa, Hanpen, Goboumaki)
  • 8 Fried Tofu Pouches (Inari Age), halved if desired
  • 4-6 Konnyaku, sliced into triangles or rectangles
  • 8-12 Chicken Meatballs (store-bought or homemade, see note)
  • (Optional) Beef Tendon, pre-cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces

• Noodle Soup Component:

  • 1 lb Udon Noodles (fresh or frozen) or Ramen Noodles (fresh or dried)
  • 2 tbsp Soy Sauce (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tbsp Mirin (sweet rice wine)
  • 1 tsp Sugar
  • 1-2 tsp Fish Sauce (optional, for deeper umami)
  • 1 green onion, thinly sliced for garnish
  • Shichimi Togarashi (Japanese seven spice blend), for garnish (optional)
  • Karashi Mustard (Japanese hot mustard), for serving (optional)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Dashi Stock:

   • In a large pot, combine the water and kombu. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours) to infuse the water. This step is important for good flavour extraction.
   • Place the pot over medium heat and bring it just to a simmer. Remove the kombu before it boils (it can become slimy and bitter).
   • Add the katsuobushi to the pot. Simmer for 5 minutes, then turn off the heat. Let the bonito flakes steep for 10 minutes.
   • Strain the stock through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth (if available) or a clean kitchen towel. Discard the kombu and katsuobushi.

2. Simmer the Oden Ingredients:

   • Return the dashi stock to the pot.
   • Add the daikon radish to the dashi stock. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for about 30-45 minutes, or until the daikon is tender. This is crucial for softening the radish.
   • Add the hard-boiled eggs, fish cakes, fried tofu pouches, konnyaku, and chicken meatballs (and beef tendon, if using) to the pot.
   • Add the soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and fish sauce (if using) to the pot. Stir gently to combine.
   • Reduce the heat to low and simmer for at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour. The longer it simmers, the more the flavors will meld together.

3. Cook the Noodles:

   • While the oden is simmering, cook the udon or ramen noodles according to package directions. If using fresh noodles, they may only need a minute or two in boiling water.

4. Assemble the Soup:

   • Divide the cooked noodles among serving bowls.
   • Ladle the oden broth over the noodles.
   • Arrange a selection of oden ingredients (daikon, egg, fish cakes, tofu pouches, konnyaku, meatballs) in each bowl.
   • Garnish with sliced green onion and a sprinkle of shichimi togarashi, if desired.

5. Serve: Serve immediately with a small dab of karashi mustard on the side, if desired. The mustard adds a nice kick to balance the savory flavors.

Chef's Notes & Variations:

• Chicken Meatballs: For a richer flavor, you can make your own chicken meatballs. Combine ground chicken with grated ginger, chopped green onion, soy sauce, and a little cornstarch. Form into small balls and pan-fry until lightly browned before adding them to the oden.
• Ingredient Sourcing: Look for Japanese ingredients at Asian supermarkets or online. If you can't find specific fish cakes, use whatever you like. Experiment!
• Adjusting Flavors: Taste the broth and adjust the soy sauce, mirin, or sugar as needed to suit your preferences.
• Vegetarian Option: To make this vegetarian, use vegetarian dashi stock (made with kombu and shiitake mushrooms) and substitute the fish cakes with vegetable-based alternatives or more tofu.

Enjoy your delicious and warming Oden Noodle Soup! It's a dish that's easily customizable to your liking, so feel free to experiment with different ingredients and flavors. Bon appétit!