Name: Chilled Somen Noodles
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients: 400g (14 oz) dried somen noodles; 1 cup (240ml) mentsuyu (Japanese noodle dipping sauce concentrate); 2 cups (480ml) cold water; 2 green onions, thinly sliced; 2 tbsp grated fresh ginger; 1 Japanese cucumber, julienned; 1 sheet nori seaweed, cut into thin strips; 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds; 4 ice cubes; 1/2 cup shredded shiso leaves (optional); 2 soft-boiled eggs, halved (optional)

Instructions

Prepare the dipping sauce

Mix mentsuyu concentrate with cold water in a ratio of 1:2 (or according to package instructions). Divide the sauce into individual serving bowls, add ice cubes to keep cold, and set aside in the refrigerator.
Cook the somen noodles

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the somen noodles and cook according to package instructions, usually 2-3 minutes. Do not overcook as they will become mushy.
Rinse and chill the noodles

Immediately drain the noodles and rinse thoroughly under cold running water. Gently rub the noodles with your fingers to remove excess starch and cool them completely. Transfer to a bowl of ice water for 1-2 minutes to chill.
Drain and arrange

Drain the noodles well and divide them among serving plates. The traditional presentation is to mound them in small bundles.
Prepare the garnishes

Arrange small piles of green onions, grated ginger, cucumber, nori strips, and optional shiso leaves on a separate plate. These will be added to the dipping sauce according to each person's preference.
Serve and enjoy

Bring the chilled noodles, garnish plate, and dipping sauce to the table. Each person should take a small portion of noodles with chopsticks, dip into the sauce with their desired garnishes, and enjoy. Sprinkle with sesame seeds before eating.

Chilled Somen Noodles

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutritional Information