Natsu🌻

Vegan Spicy Udon Noodle Soup: Your New Comfort Food Obsession 🌱🍜 This bowl is a flavor BOMB. A rich, spicy, and savory broth that hugs every thick, chewy udon noodle. It’s loaded with crispy tofu, tender bok choy, and shiitake mushrooms.

It’s the kind of meal that feels incredibly luxurious but is actually straightforward to make. The gochujang base gives it a deep, complex heat that’s just so good. Perfect for a cozy night in.

Key Details

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 4

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Calories

Per Serving: Approximately 400-500 calories.

Ingredients

For the Broth:

1 tbsp neutral oil (avocado, vegetable)

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated

2-3 tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste) check for vegan-friendly brands

8 cups vegan dashi or vegetable broth *

3-4 tbsp soy sauce or tamari

1 tbsp rice vinegar

1 tbsp maple syrup or coconut sugar

2 tsp toasted sesame oil

For the Tofu & Noodles:

14 oz block extra-firm tofu, pressed and cubed

1 tbsp cornstarch

1 tbsp neutral oil

18-20 oz fresh or frozen udon noodles (3-4 packs)

For the Vegetables & Garnish:

4-5 heads baby bok choy, halved or quartered

1 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced

2-3 scallions, thinly sliced

1 carrot, julienned or thinly sliced

Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish

Sliced chili or chili crisp, for extra heat (optional)

*Quick Vegan Dashi: *Steep a 4x4 inch piece of kombu and 2-3 dried shiitake mushrooms in 8 cups of hot water for 20 minutes. Remove solids and use as your broth base.*

How to Prepare

1. Prepare the Tofu:

Toss the pressed and cubed tofu with 1 tbsp of cornstarch until lightly coated.

Heat 1 tbsp of neutral oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Pan-fry the tofu until golden and crispy on all sides. Remove and set aside.

2. Build the Broth:

In the same pot, add a bit more oil if needed. Sauté the garlic and ginger for 1 minute until fragrant.

Add the Gochujang and stir for 30 seconds to toast it and release its flavors.

Carefully pour in the vegan dashi or vegetable broth, scraping the bottom of the pot to lift any browned bits.

Stir in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and maple syrup. Bring to a simmer.

3. Cook the Vegetables & Noodles:

Add the shiitake mushrooms and carrot to the simmering broth. Let cook for 5-7 minutes until the mushrooms are tender.

If using fresh or frozen udon noodles, add them to the broth to cook according to package directions (usually 2-3 minutes). If using dried, cook them separately according to package instructions and divide among bowls.

In the last 2 minutes of cooking, add the baby bok choy to wilt.

4. Final Touches:

Stir the crispy tofu back into the hot soup to warm through.

Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the 2 teaspoons of toasted sesame oil.

5. Serve:

Ladle the soup, noodles, and vegetables into deep bowls.

Let’s talk annuals (the one-night stands 🌻) , biennials (two-date wonders 🌼), and perennials (the clingy bastards that never leave 🌷)—because apparently “grow and stay alive” was too much to ask.

🌻 Annuals The short-term relationships of the garden world. They show up, look stunning for one season, and die like they meant to do it. → One & done. Grow, bloom, die—all in a single year. → Great for instant gratification. → Basically the Tinder hookup of horticulture. Examples: Marigolds, zinnias, common basil—your seasonal flings.

🌷 Biennials The slow-burn disasters. Year one? All roots & leafy self-improvement. Year two? A single dramatic bloom, then poof—gone. → Two years total: growth, bloom, death. → Existential crisis included. Examples: Foxglove, hollyhock, parsley. They’re the friend who finally figures themselves out and immediately moves away.

🌿 Perennials: The Clingy Overachievers You plant them once, and they will not leave. They’re back every year like a bad habit, stronger and bushier than before. → Bloom, die back, return stronger—rinse and repeat. → Low effort, high reward. → Basically the unkillable ex who always finds your new address. Examples: Lavender, wisteria, hostas—your long-term commitments.

💀 TL;DR → Annuals: Beautiful mistakes. → Biennials: Slow learners. → Perennials: Eternal squatters