This buckwheat noodle dish with its earthy flavor and savory dip is a hot weather favorite in Japan. Often served on basket-weave trays called zaru, these cold noodles are equally attractive dished up into bowls.
Ingredients: (Serves 4)
- 250 g (9 oz) dried soba (buckwheat) noodles
- 4 cm (1½ inch) piece fresh ginger, cut into thin matchsticks
- 1 carrot, cut into 4 cm (1½ inch) lengths, then cut into thin matchsticks
- 4 spring onions (scallions), thinly sliced
- 1 nori sheet, toasted, cut into thin strips
- Pickled ginger, to garnish
- Pickled daikon, thinly sliced, to garnish
For the dipping sauce:
- 3 tablespoons dashi granules
- 125 ml (4 fl oz/½ cup) shoyu (Japanese soy sauce)
- 80 ml (2½ fl oz/1⁄3 cup) mirin
Method:
Half-fill a large saucepan with lightly salted water and bring to the boil over high heat, then gradually lower the noodles into the water. Stir so the noodles don’t stick together. Pour in 250 ml (9 fl oz/1 cup) cold water and return to the boil. Repeat this step another two to three times, or until the noodles are tender. This cooking method helps to cook this delicate noodle more evenly. The noodles should be al dente with no hard core in the center but not completely soft all the way through. Drain the noodles, then rinse well under cold running water, lightly rubbing the noodles together with your hands to remove any excess starch. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
Bring a pan of water to the boil and add ginger, carrot and spring onion. Blanch 30 seconds, then drain and put in a bowl of iced water. Drain again when the vegetables are cool.
To make the dipping sauce, combine 375 ml (13 fl oz/1½ cups) water, dashi granules, shoyu, mirin and a good pinch each of salt and pepper in a small pan. Bring to the boil; cool completely. To serve, pour sauce into four small, wide bowls.
Toss the noodles and vegetables to combine and arrange in four serving bowls. Scatter the nori strips over the noodles and garnish with a little pickled ginger and daikon.
Serve the noodles with the dipping sauce. Dip the noodles into the sauce before eating them.
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