Homemade Udon Noodles from a Japanese Udon Master

Step 1

Mix salt into the iced/cold water and stir until dissolved. Reserve 2 tbsp for later.

Step 2

Place the flour in a large mixing bowl. Pour the salt water over the flour (except for the reserved amount). Using your finger tips in the shape of claws, mix the flour and salt water together until they bind into fluffy strips.

Step 3

Add remaining 2 tbsp of salt water and knead with the thumbs and palms of your hands, gradually forming a rough ball shape.

Step 4

Place the dough ball in a thick plastic bag and spread out using your feet. When it becomes approximately 20 cm / 8 inches wide, hop off and fold the dough over itself four times (like closing the lid of a cardboard box). Pop it back in the plastic, and spread again with your feet. Repeat this around 20 - 30 times (not a typo - this is how you get that perfect udon texture!).

Step 5

Remove from plastic and fold up into clam shape. Press edges into centre of the ball removing as much air as possible. Place into a plastic airtight bag and cover with a tea towel. Rest in a warm place for 30 minutes.

Step 6

Remove from plastic bag onto floured surface and press dough into a flat circle with the palms of your hands. Dust liberally with cornstarch and roll out using a rolling pin until 1 cm / ½ inch thick.

Step 7

Cut the dough into 4 equal sections, and molding the dough into a rough rectangular shape, feed it through the pasta roller on Size Do this twice, before moving up to Size 1 and folding through twice, and finally on Size 2.

Step 8

Now feed the dough through the fettuccine cutter on the machine. Dust with a little extra cornstarch if necessary to keep the noodles from sticking together.

Step 9

Roll the dough sheet around the rolling pin and continue to roll over itself, pressing forward four times to thin out the dough. Repeat this process rolling twice from top to bottom and then left to right. You want the dough to be around ½ cm / ¼ inch thick

Step 10

Lay out the sheet of dough onto a cutting surface. Add plenty of cornflour and fold the dough in twice to a rough rectangular shape, like folding a letter.

Step 11

Slice the dough into ½ cm / ¼ inch wide strips.

Step 12

Unfold the noodles and gather in small sections into your hands and tap a few times against the cutting surface to remove excess cornflour. Gently pull apart each strip into separate noodles.

Step 13

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Pop in the udon noodles and cook for around 5 minutes until cooked through.