Fun Baby Recipes Vol.07
Udon Noodles for New Year

離乳食のお雑煮うどん

For the first baby food of the year, how about udon* noodles in ozoni* style? The recipe for dashi* introduced here is made with little soy sauce and sugar. It’s easy to make yet flavorful and tasty. We also recommend this recipe for “toshikoshi udon*”.

We’ve prepared the New Year theme placemat with an illustration of a cute dog which is the sign of the year 2018 in Chinese Zodiac. When you set the table with this placemat and decorate the dish with pretty ball-shaped dried wheat gluten, you’re all set for New Year table decorations. You can simply print this placemat on A4 paper, and celebrate the beginning of the year with your family.

*udon noodles: noodles made of wheat flour
*ozoni: Japanese traditional soup dish for New Year
*dashi: Japanese soup stock usually made from fish and kelp
*toshikoshi udon: year-crossing noodles (usually soba noodles instead of udon noodles). These noodles are eaten on New Year’s Eve wising for a long lasting life.

■Recipe for Udon Noodles

【Ingredients】
・ 1 pack of udon noodles
・ 2.4g dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi)
・ 15cm (6g) kelp (konbu)
・ 500ml water
・ 1~2 tbsp soy sauce
・ 1~2 tbsp brown sugar

Condiments (use them as you like)
・ 1/2 bunch of Japanese mustard spinach
・ 2 quail eggs
・ Proper amount of ball-shaped dried wheat gluten (fu)
・ Proper amount of surimi seafood (Kamaboko)

【Directions】
(1) Put kelp in a jug and add water. Let it sit overnight.

ポットに入れた昆布

(2) Warm up the Step 2. Put fried bonito flakes in a coffee pour-over and pour the Step 2 slowly.

ドリッパーにいれた鰹節

(3) Transfer the Step 2 in a pan. Add soy sauce and brown sugar to taste.
(4) Pour the Step 3 dashi and cooked udon in a bowl. Add condiments of your choice on top.

【Useful Tips】
※If your baby has just started baby food, use dashi made with kelp only. We recommend dashi with kelp and dried bonito flakes for babies who are halfway through in the baby food progress.
※Please cut noodles into the appropriate bite size for your baby.
※Please choose condiments based on your baby’s preference.