Cold Soba Noodles with Dipping Sauce (Zaru Soba)
User Reviews
5
12 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
5 mins
-
Cook Time
5 mins
-
Total Time
10 mins
-
Servings
2
-
Calories
395 kcal
-
Course
Main Course
-
Cuisine
Japanese
Cold Soba Noodles with Dipping Sauce (Zaru Soba)
Report
Cold soba noodles served with a chilled dipping sauce made from dashi, soy sauce, mirin, and optional sugar provide a refreshing and slightly savory experience. The noodles are cooked until just tender, rinsed, and briefly chilled in ice water, preserving a firm and chewy texture. The dish is garnished with shredded nori and can be complemented by toppings like grated daikon or wasabi, making it a light and clean-tasting meal ideal for warm weather.
Description
Cold Soba Noodles with Dipping Sauce (Zaru Soba) features buckwheat noodles cooked until tender but still firm, then rinsed and cooled in an ice bath to stop cooking and maintain a pleasant chewy bite. The dipping sauce combines chilled dashi stock with soy sauce and mirin, balancing umami and sweetness. This sauce can be adjusted with sugar or additional seasonings to suit taste. Serving the noodles on a bamboo zaru or in bowls with a garnish of shredded nori enhances presentation and adds a mild sea flavor. Optional toppings like grated daikon, wasabi, sliced green onion, and toasted sesame seeds add layers of taste and texture. This dish suits a light lunch or dinner and emphasizes the subtle flavors of soba noodles and their sauce.
Share:
Ingredients
- 7 oz soba noodles (buckwheat noodles)
- 6 cups of water , for cooking noodles
- ice cubes for the ice bath
- water for the ice bath
- nori for garnish, shredded, a handful
Soba dipping sauce (see notes for mentsuyu concentrate dipping sauce)
- ⅔ cup dashi stock homemade dashi or from dashi powder, chilled
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons mirin
- 1 teaspoon sugar optional
Dipping sauce toppings (optional):
- daikon finely grated or whole
- wasabi
- green onion sliced, aka scallions
- sesame seeds toasted
Instructions
- Ready an ice bath by adding cold water and a handful of ice cubes to a large bowl.
- Bring a large amount of water to a boil – at least 6 cups. Add the soba noodles and cook according to packet instructions or until just tender – about 5 minutes for me. Don't overcook the noodles, they need to be firm and chewy. And stir now and then to avoid sticking.
- Drain and rinse the cooked noodles under cold running water to remove excess starch and avoid sticking. Then place them in the ice bath for 30 seconds, drain well and set aside.
- While the noodles are cooking, mix the dashi stock, soy sauce and mirin in a small bowl. It should be sweet and savoury with punchy flavours. Add sugar if you prefer the sauce a bit sweeter. Taste again and adjust with more cold water (less intense), hon dashi powder (more umami), soy sauce (saltier), or mirin (sweeter) to suit your taste.
- To serve, divide the soba noodles into individual bowls or zaru* and garnish with the shredded nori seaweed. Serve the dipping sauce in small bowls – one for each person to dip their noodles in. Place the optional dipping sauce toppings on small plates to share. Then every person should customise their dipping sauce with some wasabi, grated ginger/daikon, sliced green onions or toasted sesame seeds. Use chopsticks to pick up some noodles, dip them into your customised dipping sauce and enjoy your zaru soba!
Notes
- Dashi stock can be homemade or made by dissolving hon dashi powder in cold water; chilling dashi before serving enhances cold sauce enjoyment.
- The dipping sauce can alternatively be prepared using mentsuyu concentrate diluted with cold water, which keeps refrigerated for up to 4 weeks.
- A zaru, a bamboo basket, helps keep noodles from becoming soggy but serving on a well-drained plate or bowl is acceptable.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
395kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
88g
(29%)
Protein
17g
(34%)
Fat
1g
(2%)
Saturated Fat
0.1g
(1%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.2g
(1%)
Monounsaturated Fat
0.2g
(1%)
Sodium
2489mg
(104%)
Potassium
307mg
(7%)
Fiber
0.2g
(1%)
Sugar
8g
(16%)
Calcium
40mg
(4%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 395 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 395kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 88g | 29% |
| Protein | 17g | 34% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.1g | 1% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Sodium | 2489mg | 104% |
| Potassium | 307mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 0.2g | 1% |
| Sugar | 8g | 16% |
| Calcium | 40mg | 4% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
12 reviews
Excellent
Other Recipes
You'll Also Love
