Zaru soba recipe
Now let's start with the basic recipe for refreshing zaru soba.
Servings 4
Cost $15
Ingredients
- 14 oz. dried soba noodles
- 1 part ice water
- 1 part mentsuyu/tsuyu noodle soup base
- shredded nori seaweed
- 2 green onions or scallions
- wasabi optional
You can buy mentsuyu in a store, but if you prefer to make your own, here are the ingredients you will need:
- ½ cup mirin
- ¼ cup sake
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 1 cup katsuobushi bonito flakes
- 1 1 inch x 1 inch piece kombu
Instructions
Dipping sauce
- Make mentsuyu dipping sauce by adding the sake to a medium saucepan and boil over medium heat. Let boil for a few seconds to allow alcohol to evaporate.
- Add soy sauce and mirin.
- Add kombu and katsuobushi.
- Bring to a boil and cook over low heat for five minutes. Allow to cool completely. Strain sauce and set aside.
Soba noodles
- Boil water in a large pot and add soba noodles. Do not add salt to water. Cook according to package directions stirring regularly to ensure they don’t stick together. Before draining, reserve one to 1 ½ cups water and set aside.
- Drain noodles and rinse with cold water.
- Transfer noodles to a large bowl of ice water so they cool completely.
- Place a bamboo mat or sieve over a plate to serve. The plate will catch the water from the noodles. Put soba noodles on the mat and garnish with nori.
- To serve the dish, combine 6 tbsp. water with about 1 ¼ cup dipping sauce. (This will get you the 3:1 ratio). If it’s too salty, add more water. If it’s too thin, add more sauce.
- Put chopped green onions and wasabi on a small plate and serve with the noodles.
