5 from 4 votes
Mentsuyu (Japanese Noodle Soup Base)
Mentsuyu (麺汁) literally translates to "noodle broth", but the term is usually used to refer to a multipurpose seasoning that's like the Japanese version of season-all. It's most obvious use is as a concentrated soup base for Japanese noodles soups, but it can also be used in place of soy sauce in dishes ranging from salads to stir-fries to sauces for adding flavor and umami to the dish. Most bottled varieties are loaded with MSG, so here's my easy recipe for making a kansai-style mentsuyu.
Prep Time
1 min
Cook Time
4 mins
Total Time
5 mins
Servings:
10
servings
Calories:
31 kcal
Course:
Condiments
Cuisine:
Japanese
Ingredients
- ¾ cup soy sauce usukuchi
- ½ cup sake
- 1 tablespoon cane sugar evaporated
- 1 dashi pack
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat to maintain a simmer and cook for 3 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat and let the mentsuyu cool to room temperature. You can also speed this up by putting the pot in an ice bath. When the mentsuyu is cool enough to touch, squeeze the dashi pack and discard.
- Pour the mentsuyu into a bottle and keep refrigerated until you're ready to use it. It should keep for several months in the fridge.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
31kcal
(2%)
Carbohydrates
2g
(1%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Sodium
972mg
(41%)
Potassium
36mg
(1%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Calcium
3mg
(0%)
Iron
0.4mg
(2%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 10 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 31
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 31kcal | 2% |
| Carbohydrates | 2g | 1% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Sodium | 972mg | 41% |
| Potassium | 36mg | 1% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Calcium | 3mg | 0% |
| Iron | 0.4mg | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.