Sesame Somen

Instructions

1. Cook the noodles
   Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add somen noodles and cook for 2-3 minutes until al dente, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Drain immediately and rinse thoroughly under cold running water to stop the cooking process.
2. Prepare ice bath
   Fill a large bowl with cold water and ice cubes. Transfer the rinsed noodles to the ice bath and let them chill for about 2 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
3. Make the sesame dressing
   In a food processor or blender, combine the toasted sesame seeds, tahini, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Blend until smooth and creamy. If the dressing is too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons of cold water to achieve desired consistency.
4. Prepare the vegetables
   Julienne the cucumber and carrot into thin matchstick pieces about 2 inches long. Slice the green onions thinly on a diagonal, separating the white and green parts.
5. Assemble the dish
   Divide the chilled somen noodles among four serving bowls. Drizzle the sesame dressing generously over the noodles. Arrange the cucumber, carrot, and green onion on top of the noodles in neat piles.
6. Garnish and serve
   Sprinkle with additional toasted sesame seeds and the green parts of the sliced green onions. Serve immediately while the noodles are still cold.