Best Hiyashi Somen Cold Noodles With Dipping Sauce Mark Bittman Recipes

HIYASHI SOMEN - COLD NOODLES WITH DIPPING SAUCE MARK BITTMAN

Steps:

• Combine the dashi with the soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and dried shrimp if you're using them in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, just until the sugar is dissolved, then strain the dipping sauce into another container sitting on a bowl of ice to cool (you want it to be between ice cold and room temperature).
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt. Drop in the somen and cook for 2 to 4 minutes, until tender, then rinse them in a colander under cold running water.
• Serve each guest a small bowl of noodles, twisted into a little nest on top of a couple of ice cubes, and a small bowl with 1/2 cup of the dipping sauce scattered with the minced scallion on the side. Pass a little dish of wasabi, if desired, stir into the dipping sauce.

SOMEN (COLD NOODLES) FOR TWO

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.

CHILLED SOMEN NOODLES (HIYASHI SOMEN)

Steps:

• Make dipping sauce by combining the dashi (or dashi granules and 1 cup water), mirin, and soy sauce in a medium saucepan. Bring just to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Force-cool the sauce by pouring into a medium-size metal mixing bowl, placing into a large bowl of ice cubes and water, and twirling, taking care not to spill, until cooled. (Note: this is an important step; it won't taste right if you just let it cool slowly!)When cooled, refrigerate until ready to use.
• Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain, rinse well under cold water, drain again, and place in a bowl of cold water.
• To serve, place a mound of noodles into individual glass bowls, tuck in a few ice cubes and pour in a small amount of water (not enough to cover; just to dampen). Sprinkle with cilantro leaves to taste.
• On little individual plates, place a small mound of sliced green onion and a dab of wasabi. Pour some dipping sauce into small individual bowls.
• Each person can season his or her sauce to taste with the onions and wasabi, then pick up a bunch of noodles (chopsticks really work the best, but you can use a fork, too), allow water to drip back into bowl, dip into sauce, and eat.
• For a somewhat heartier meal, add some of the suggested additions (in the description above) along with the cilantro leaves when serving. I like to serve this with a simple salad of tomato wedges, sliced cucumber, and either lettuce or Napa cabbage with a Japanese-style dressing.