Somen (Cold Thin Noodles with Dipping Sauce)
Somen is a beloved Japanese summer staple, offering a light, refreshing taste that goes down easily even on hot days. The cold, thin noodles pair perfectly with a savory dipping sauce, making for a light yet satisfying meal when the heat dulls your appetite.
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Servings: 2
Ingredients
- 4 bundles somen noodles (about 1.76 oz/50 g each)
Dipping sauce:
- ½ cup dashi stock (Please refer to the linked page for instructions on how to make it. For plant-based options, see the pages on Kombu Dashi and Shiitake Dashi.)
- 1 Tbsp mirin
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tsp sugar
Condiments (optional, add to taste):
- chopped green onions / scallions
- grated ginger
- shredded myoga (Japanese ginger)
- shredded shiso leaves (perilla)
- toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients for the dipping sauce (dashi stock, mirin, soy sauce, and sugar) in a pot and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 30 seconds before removing it from the heat. After it cools down, transfer the sauce to a container (or leave it in the pot) and chill it in the refrigerator.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the somen noodles according to the package instructions (typically 90 seconds to 2 minutes).
- Drain the noodles in a colander and rinse them thoroughly under cold running water, gently rubbing them with your hands until the starchy coating is completely removed.
- (Optional) For even better results, transfer the noodles to a bowl of ice water and chill thoroughly, then drain again. This step is optional, but it helps firm up the noodles and improves their texture.
- Serve the noodles on a plate or in a bowl. Fill small serving bowls with the chilled dipping sauce, and arrange the condiments on a separate plate according to your preference.
Notes
- If you are using store-bought mentsuyu (a Japanese noodle soup base), you can start from step 2.
- This dish is not suitable for storage (although it remains edible), as moisture evaporates from the somen noodles, causing them to become dry and sticky over time. For the best texture, it is recommended to enjoy the dish as soon as possible. However, the dipping sauce itself can be stored for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 345.44kcal Carbohydrates: 75.48g Protein: 12.61g Fat: 1.48g Saturated Fat: 0.32g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.7g Monounsaturated Fat: 0.18g Sodium: 1512.23mg Potassium: 105.45mg Fiber: 2.58g Sugar: 3.41g Vitamin A: 2.48IU Calcium: 38.42mg Iron: 1.1mg
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