Zaru udon with tempura

It is believed that udon has been brought to Japan either by the Buddhist monk Kukai, 1200 years ago (as it is believed in the Kagawa Prefecture) or 400 year later by the monk Enni Ben'en, the founder of Tofuku-ji, Kyoto (as it is believed in the Nagasaki Prefecture). Regardless the version, udon is certainly the oldest type of noodle consumed in Japan and it is recognized as one of the national dishes.

Udon is both an every day dish and a festive dish, and it is cooked in a large variety of ways, being served either hot or cold. One of the simplest recipes, zaru udon, serves the noodles cold, on a bamboo sieve. In the dish photographed here, it is presented with a popular topping, prawn tempura.