Tomato Jako Somen Noodles
Easy Cold Somen Noodle Arrangement
Summer is here, and with it comes the craving for light, refreshing meals that beat the heat. During the summer break, my kids keep asking for cold and delicious Somen noodles for almost every lunch. While Somen noodles are simply tasty, eating the same dish repeatedly can get a bit monotonous. That's why I decided to get creative and come up with a delightful Somen noodle arrangement that will breathe new life into this classic summer dish.
RECIPE
Servings: 2 servings
Time: 15 min
Ingredients:
2 servings of somen noodles
1 pc tomato
2 tbsp chirimen jako or shirasu (baby sardine)
1 cup water
1 tsp grated ginger
shiso leaves
Instructions:
Begin by cooking the Somen noodles according to the instructions on the package. Usually, Somen noodles cook quickly in boiling water. Once they are cooked, drain the water and rinse the noodles under cold running water and add some ice cubes to cool it down.
Cut the tomato into small dice-sized pieces. Cut the Shiso leaves into thin strips. Grate the ginger, Alternatively, you can use ginger paste for convenience.
In a bowl, combine the Mentsuyu with the water. Add the grated ginger, the diced tomato and Chirimen Jako.
On a serving plate, place the chilled Somen noodles neatly. Pour the sauce with the ingredients over the noodles.
To elevate the flavors further, pour a few drops of sesame oil, and garnish the dish with the thinly sliced Shiso leaves.
What are Somen noodles? It is a type of thin, wheat-based Japanese noodle that is incredibly popular during the hot summer months. These delicate noodles are renowned for their light and refreshing taste, making them the perfect choice for cooling down on scorching days. Somen noodles are traditionally served chilled with a dipping sauce.
They are not only delicious but also quick and easy to prepare, usually it takes only a few minutes to cook in boiling water. A great tip to avoid the water spill while boiling the noodles, is to leave the set of chopsticks or a spatula on the pot.
What is Chirimen Jako? It refers to baby sardines. These tiny fish are typically around 1 inch or shorter in length and are caught when they are very young. They have a silvery-white color and a distinctive elongated shape. Chirimen Jako have a rich, umami flavor and a slightly crunchy texture.. In Japanese cuisine, Chirimen Jako are often used as a topping or garnish for various dishes. They can be added to salads, rice dishes, noodles. My favorite besides adding it to this Somen noodle dish, making Furikake (rice seasoning) with these baby sardines.
