Beef Noodle Soup Quick, Easy & Delicious

Beef noodle soup, a super simple and tasty soup with flank steak and udon noodles cooked in a soy-enriched broth, all in under 30 minutes.

This recipe is a perfect light main course soup, but it's also a wonderful starter for a multi-course feast, and it's even quick enough to rustle up for lunch.

Asian Steak and Noodle Soup

I love a good bowl of soup, and this easy beef noodle soup has influences scattered across Asia. It is part Taiwanese, part Chinese, and it even features a little bit of Vietnamese Pho.

I love noodle soups, I have a hoisin Chicken Noodle Soup, a Thai curry chicken noodle soup recipe, miso noodle soup and a delicious and spicy pork ramen noodle soup too!

In the main, the ingredients in this quick soup recipe are store cupboard essentials. Well, they are for me anyway; soy sauces and rice wine are as common a feature in my pantry as salt and pepper.

This recipe takes no more than 25 minutes to cook and is super simple yet makes for a filling meal.

The beef stays beautifully tender and soft, and the dried mushrooms really enrich this glorious soup.

As with all stock or broth-based soups, buy the very best stock you can get or make your own. It is, after all, the core component of this recipe, and it will define the flavour of the dish more than any other element.

This beef noodle soup recipe sits in a series of takeaway-influenced soups like chicken and sweet corn soup, tom yum soup, and Chinese hot and sour soup.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Are two types of soy sauce really needed?

Yes! Light soy sauce and dark soy sauce are completely different products and bring completely different flavours to this dish.

They are not and are never interchangeable! If recipes just use the name soy sauce, it will typically refer to light soy sauce.

What are Mun mushrooms?

Mun mushrooms are also called cloud ear mushrooms and wood ear fungus. In Japanese, it gets even more appealing as the literal translation is "rough-hair-tree-jellyfish".

The flavour is very mild, but it has the most incredible texture that is hard to define. They also add a big lump of fibre to the dish.

If the texture is not for you, then you can replace them with dried shiitake mushrooms. The swap is like-for-like.

Can I use any other type of noodle?

Yes, of course! You will need to monitor the cooking time as they will all vary slightly.

Egg noodles tend to be fine-cooked in the beef broth.

If you wanted to use rice or glass noodles, I would cook them separately. Cook as per instructions, then refresh in cold water and add them right at the end with the beef just to reheat.

How To Use Dried Mushrooms.

Dried mushrooms are a fantastic product that will liven up so many recipes.

They are simple to use too, all you need to do is steep them in hot water. Essentially, it is exactly the same as making a pot of tea! They pack a huge amount of flavour and can be used in a host of recipes.

In this beef noodle soup recipe, they add both flavour and texture. I use dried mun mushrooms.

But all mushrooms can be dried, and you use them in the same way, steep in water and add to your recipe. They would be a great addition to either my balsamic mushroom risotto or even my cream of mushroom soup!

They can initially seem expensive, but you do not need to use many in a recipe. Stored correctly in an airtight container, they will last "forever".

Equipment Used

I only name-check brands of equipment if I think that they make a material difference to a recipe. But if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.

• Stovetop.
• Wok.
• Mixing bowl.
• A kettle for boiling water to soak the mushrooms.
• Stirring and serving spoons.
• Chopping board.
• Kitchen knife.
• A combination of weighing scales, a measuring jug, measuring cups and spoons.