Best 6 Somen Cold Noodles For Two Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Somen, a traditional Japanese noodle dish, is a refreshing and light meal, perfect for a hot summer day. Made with thin white noodles made from wheat flour, somen is typically served chilled in a dipping sauce, or tsuyu. The dipping sauce is usually made with a combination of dashi (Japanese soup stock), soy sauce, mirin (sweet rice wine), and sake (Japanese rice wine). Somen can be served with a variety of toppings, such as shredded chicken, cucumber, scallions, and nori (dried seaweed).

This article includes two recipes for somen: a classic somen recipe with a simple dipping sauce, and a spicy somen recipe with a more flavorful dipping sauce. The classic somen recipe is perfect for those who are new to Japanese cuisine, while the spicy somen recipe is sure to please those who enjoy a bit of heat. Both recipes are easy to follow and can be made in just a few minutes. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give somen a try!

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

COLD THIN NOODLES IN CHILLED WATER (HIYASHI SōMEN)



Cold Thin Noodles in Chilled Water (Hiyashi Sōmen) image

Somen (or sōmen) is a very thin noodles served cold which makes it a perfect summer dish. Noodles are served in chilled water and the dipping sauce is also chilled. It is a very simple dish but wonderful to pop in between heavy meals to give your stomach a little bit of a rest.If you use dashi stock made from konbu (kelp), the dish will become a vegetarian dish.

Provided by Yumiko

Categories     Main

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 bunches of dried sōmen noodles (, about 200g (7oz) in total (note 1))
Chilled water or a handful of ice cubes
200 ml (6.8 oz) dashi stock ((note 2))
50 ml (1.7 oz) soy sauce
50 ml (1.7 oz) mirin
2 tbsp finely chopped shallots ((scallions))
1 tbsp grated ginger
Japanese maple tree leaves , shiso (perilla) leaves, or cucumber slices ((optional))

Steps:

  • Add all the Dipping Sauce ingredients to a small saucepan and bring it to a boil.
  • Remove from the heat and cool it down quickly by leaving the pan in the cold water for a while, then place it in the fridge to chill.
  • Boil water in a large saucepan. Remove the tape around each bunch of sōmen noodles and place the noodles in the boiling water by spreading the strands.
  • Using chopsticks or a thin wooden spatula, stir the pot so that noodles are separated.
  • Boil for about 2 minutes (note 3). Drain using a sieve and rinse well.
  • Place noodles in a serving bowl, add chilled water (or water + ice cubes), just enough to cover the noodles.
  • Using chopsticks or tongs with soft edges, take a small number of noodles at a time and gently lay them in the same direction so that the noodles line up nicely (optional).
  • Decorate the noodle bowl with leaves or cucumber slices, if using. Serve with dipping sauce and condiments.

SOMEN (COLD NOODLES) FOR TWO



Somen (Cold Noodles) for Two image

One of the most refreshing dishes someone can serve in the summer to beat the heat is cold noodles. This is my version for two of the ever popular local island entrée. ***Although this appears to be complicated, once you become accustomed to the ingredients, it's not. And it is ohhhhh soooo worth the time and simple preparation...

Provided by IOjaw

Categories     < 30 Mins

Time 20m

Yield 2-3 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 asian red peppers (minced)
3 tablespoons dashi (tsuyu, a cold noodle dipping sauce works best)
1 cup lime juice (freshly squeezed, I used the juice of a local citrus, shikwasa)
1 avocado (sliced)
1/2 cucumber (julienned)
1 cup frozen shrimp (shells removed)
3/4 cup kamaboko (julienned)
2 tablespoons pickled ginger
2 tablespoons scallions (chopped)
5 sheets nori (dried seaweed sheets, julienned)
140 g pasta (somen is best for this recipe)
4 cups ice

Steps:

  • Combine sesame oil, soy sauce, red peppers, tsuyu, and lime juice.
  • Mix well and refrigerate.
  • Chop and plate dipping items on a platter.
  • Steam shrimp.
  • Prepare somen according to directions (takes about 3 minutes once water is boiling).
  • Rinse under cold water in a strainer.
  • Place in a large bowl of ice.
  • Serve with platter and dipping sauce.
  • To eat, simply place a small quantity (about 1/5 cup) sauce in a small bowl or medium size glass and add the noodles and other ingredients.
  • ***Reserve some of the dipping sauce for occasionally refreshing the dipping vessel fluid, which becomes slightly diluted from the noodle liquid.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 621.1, Fat 29.9, SaturatedFat 4.4, Sodium 530.1, Carbohydrate 82.1, Fiber 12.4, Sugar 10.5, Protein 14.4

JAPANESE COLD SOMEN NOODLES



Japanese Cold Somen Noodles image

Boiled and chilled somen - Japanese thin wheat noodles) - are served with dipping soup and different toppings to make a popular summer meal.

Provided by Setsuko Yoshizuka

Categories     Dinner     Lunch

Time 40m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/4 cup mirin
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 cup kombu and katsuobushi dashi
3/4- to 1-pound dried somen noodles
For the Toppings:
1/2-inch fresh ginger
1 scallion
A handful of shiso leaves (thinly sliced)
1/2 inch myoga ginger (thinly sliced)

Steps:

  • Gather the ingredients.
  • Prepare the toppings and place in separate serving bowls. Set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of unsalted water to a boil.
  • Meanwhile, add the mirin to a medium saucepan over low heat and cook until just heated through, about 30 seconds.
  • Raise the heat to high, add the soy sauce and dashi soup stock . Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
  • Remove from heat and cool completely, at least 20 minutes. Refrigerate if not using right away.
  • Meanwhile, make the somen noodles. Add the dried somen noodles to the large pot of boiling water, gently stirring until the noodles are al dente, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
  • Drain the somen in a colander and cool under running water or in an ice bath.
  • Continue to wash the noodles, tossing with your hands until completely cold. Drain well.
  • Serve the drained cold somen in a large serving bowl or divided between individual bowls with the dipping sauces in individual small bowls and toppings on the side.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 555 kcal, Carbohydrate 77 g, Cholesterol 1 mg, Fiber 4 g, Protein 14 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, Sodium 3071 mg, Sugar 9 g, Fat 21 g, ServingSize 4 servings, UnsaturatedFat 0 g

JAPANESE COLD NOODLES



Japanese Cold Noodles image

Categories     Summer     Noodle     Soy Sauce     Gourmet

Yield Makes 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

For dipping sauce
2 cups unseasoned dashi (Japanese soup stock)
5 tablespoons usukuchi shoyu (Japanese light soy sauce)
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
1 1/2 shoyu (Japanese soy sauce)
For somen
3 bundles somen (thin white wheat noodles), paper wrapping discarded
Accompaniments: finely grated peeled fresh ginger; minced scallion; shredded fresh shiso leaves; sesame seeds

Steps:

  • Make dipping sauce:
  • Heat all dipping sauce ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Cool sauce, then chill, covered, until cold, about 1 hour.
  • Cook somen:
  • Bring 2 1/2 quarts water to a rolling boil in a 4-quart saucepan over moderately high heat. Add noodles and 1 cup more water. When water returns to a boil, add 1 cup cold water and bring back to a boil. Simmer noodles until just tender and slightly translucent, about 2 minutes. Test noodles for doneness by dipping 1 strand in cold water and sampling. If noodles are not tender, add 1 cup more water and return water to a boil. Drain noodles in a colander and rinse well under cold water.
  • To serve somen:
  • Divide noodles among 6 bowls filled with ice and cold water. Divide dipping sauce among 6 small bowls and serve with accompaniments for flavoring it, then dip each mouthful of noodles in sauce.

SUMMERTIME SōMEN NOODLES



Summertime Sōmen Noodles image

I love a bowl of cold noodles on a hot summer day. Try this simple one-pot dish for your next warm-weather meal.

Provided by Candice Kumai

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 (9.5-ounce) package sōmen noodles
1 large bowl filled with 1 to 2 cups ice and water
Rice vinegar
Reduced-sodium tamari soy sauce
Sriracha sauce
Katsuobushi (Japanese dried bonito flakes)
Negi (green onions, thinly sliced on the bias)
Furikake (Japanese seaweed seasoning)
Arugula or your favorite leafy greens
Kaiware sprouts (daikon radish sprouts)
Gomashio (toasted, salted, crushed sesame seeds)
Tofu cubes
Avocado slices

Steps:

  • In a large pot of boiling water, cook the sōmen noodles as directed on the package. Drain the noodles and place them in a large bowl filled with ice and water to serve. Your sōmen noodles will be the highlight of the table, so serve them up in a gorgeous bowl.
  • Serve family-style in the middle of your table. Using tongs or chopsticks, place the noodles into individual bowls, shaking off any residual water before serving.
  • Add your choice of sauces and toppings. I usually top with a touch of shōyu and rice vinegar, and offer a variety of toppings- negi, katsuobushi, arugula, tofu, avocado slices, etc.

SOMEN NOODLES WITH POACHED EGG, BOK CHOY AND MUSHROOMS



Somen Noodles With Poached Egg, Bok Choy and Mushrooms image

The perfect salve for cold winter days, this vegetarian noodle soup can be cobbled together in an instant from the contents of a well-stocked kitchen. It takes its flavor from a quick bouillon using just four ingredients: soy sauce, sesame oil, scallions and shiitakes, which deliver a hefty, flavorful dose of glutamate. Poached eggs add richness to the clean and comforting broth. Fresh eggs have stronger, firmer albumen (egg whites) and will thus hold their shape better than older eggs, which have a tendency to unfurl. The main key to achieving that teardrop shape during poaching is allowing the eggs to simmer without disturbance until cooked.

Provided by Sue Li

Categories     dinner, easy, for two, quick, weeknight, soups and stews, main course

Time 20m

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 scallions, trimmed, whites and greens separated and thinly sliced
8 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded and caps thinly sliced (about 3 cups)
Kosher salt
1 medium bok choy (about 4 ounces), cut into bite-size pieces
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil, plus more for serving
2 bundles (about 7 ounces total) somen noodles, or any thin wheat or rice noodles
2 large eggs

Steps:

  • Bring a large saucepan of water to a simmer.
  • Heat vegetable oil in a pot over medium. Add scallion whites and sliced mushrooms, season with salt and cook until browned, stirring occasionally, 5 to 6 minutes.
  • Add 3 cups water to the pot and bring to a simmer over medium-high. Add bok choy and cook until crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Stir in soy sauce and 2 teaspoons sesame oil and season to taste with salt. Turn off heat and cover to keep warm.
  • Meanwhile, cook somen according to package instructions in the simmering water in the saucepan. Using a slotted spoon or spider, divide the noodles among bowls, leaving the simmering water in the saucepan. Crack each egg into its own small bowl, discarding the shells. Swirl the simmering water in the saucepan, creating a vortex by stirring with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs, one right after another, and cook over medium-low until the whites are set, about 3 minutes. Transfer eggs to noodle bowls using a slotted spoon.
  • Ladle the reserved shiitake broth into the bowls. Top with sliced scallion greens, drizzle with sesame oil and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 400, UnsaturatedFat 19 grams, Carbohydrate 34 grams, Fat 24 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 13 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 1458 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams

Tips:

  • Choose high-quality ingredients: Use fresh, flavorful ingredients to ensure the best possible result. Look for crisp vegetables, aromatic herbs, and high-quality noodles.
  • Prepare the noodles properly: Cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Rinse them thoroughly with cold water to remove excess starch and prevent them from sticking together.
  • Make the dipping sauce in advance: This allows the flavors to meld and develop. You can make it up to a day ahead of time.
  • Chill the noodles and sauce before serving: This will help to keep the noodles refreshing and flavorful.
  • Garnish with fresh herbs and vegetables: This adds a pop of color, flavor, and texture to the dish.

Conclusion:

Somen cold noodles are a refreshing and delicious summer meal. They are easy to make and can be tailored to your own preferences. With a variety of toppings and sauces to choose from, there are endless possibilities for creating your own unique bowl of somen cold noodles. So next time you're looking for a light and flavorful meal, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

Related Topics