Hiyashi Yamakake Udon (Chilled Udon With Grated Japanese Mountain Yam) Recipe

Hiyashi Yamakake Udon (Chilled Udon with Grated Japanese Mountain Yam) in a bowl

The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 20 mins
Serving: 1 serving

Hiyashi yamakake udon or chilled udon noodles with raw grated Japanese mountain yam (also known as nagaimo or yamaimo) is a traditional Japanese noodle dish that is often enjoyed during warmer weather or hotter summer months.

It is a fairly simple dish in that udon noodles are cooked, chilled, and then served with a generous portion of freshly grated Japanese mountain yam (nagaimo or yamaimo). This dish is great for a light lunch or dinner.

"This dish came together very quickly. I've never tasted raw yamaimo before, and I was pleasantly surprised by its mild sweetness. I'll remember to add this next time I'm having udon noodle soup. I could definitely see how refreshing this would be on a hot summer night." — Diana Andrews

Hiyashi Yamakake Udon (Chilled Udon with Grated Japanese Mountain Yam)/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 package frozen sanuki udon noodles

  • 1 cup ice cubes

  • 1 cup raw, peeled, grated Japanese mountain yam (nagaimo or yamaimo)

  • 1 tablespoon thinly sliced green onions

  • 1 tablespoon kizami nori (thinly sliced roasted seaweed)

  • 1/2 tablespoon grated daikon radish, optional

  • 1/2 teaspoon wasabi, optional

  • 1 cup prepared tsuyu dipping sauce

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Hiyashi Yamakake Udon (Chilled Udon with Grated Japanese Mountain Yam) ingredients in bowls

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  2. Boil water in a medium saucepan, add 1 block of the frozen udon noodles and cook, about 2 minutes. (Because these are pre-cooked, boil them only until they’re heated through and serve al dente.)

    Udon cooking in a pot on a burner

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  3. Drain the udon noodles in a colander, rinse with cold water.

    Udon noodles in a colander

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  4. Add ice cubes to the colander to chill the udon noodles (they're very refreshing when served ice-cold, especially in warmer weather).

    Udon noodles in a colander with ice

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  5. Transfer the chilled noodles to a deep dish or bowl.

    Udon noodles in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  6. Add the grated yam over the chilled udon noodles.

    Udon noodles in a bowl with grated yam on top

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  7. Garnish yamakake udon with green onions, kizami nori, daikon and wasabi, if using.

    Garnish yamakake udon with green onions, kizami nori, daikon and wasabi

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  8. Pour the tsuyu dipping sauce over the yamakake and udon noodles. Serve immediately.

    Hiyashi Yamakake Udon (Chilled Udon with Grated Japanese Mountain Yam) in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

Tips

  • Use frozen sanuki udon noodles for best results. Frozen noodles cook very quickly, and their texture is al dente.
  • Use ice cubes to chill the noodles quickly.
  • Use a traditional grater to grate the yamaimo. It tends to work better than a food processor as this tends to leave small chunks.
  • For a quick and easy lunch or dinner, use prepared udon noodles sauce pre-made and available for purchase at Japanese grocery stores. You can also make a homemade noodle dipping sauce.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
582 Calories
2g Fat
115g Carbs
19g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 582
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 2%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 6398mg 278%
Total Carbohydrate 115g 42%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Total Sugars 31g
Protein 19g
Vitamin C 10mg 49%
Calcium 105mg 8%
Iron 4mg 25%
Potassium 1548mg 33%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)