Dashi With Soba Noodles Recipes

DASHI WITH SOBA NOODLES

Steps:

• In a medium stockpot, combine 4 cups of water and the kombu and bring to a boil. Using a slotted spoon, remove the kombu. Add the bonito flakes and remove the pot from the heat. Allow the flakes to settle to the bottom of the pot, and strain the broth. Add the soy sauce, mirin, and lime juice.
• Divide the noodles among 4 bowls. Divide the vegetables evenly among the 4 bowls. Pour in the dashi, top each bowl with a little grated ginger, and serve immediately.

SOBA NOODLES WITH CHILLED DASHI

Steps:

• To make dashi, combine a piece of dried kelp (kombu) and 4 cups of water in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Don't let the mixture boil; as soon as it's about to, turn off the heat, and remove the kelp.
• Add ½ cup dried bonito flakes, and stir; let sit for a few minutes, then strain, add some soy sauce to taste and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
• Cook some soba noodles, and rinse under cold water to cool them down; toss with a little neutral or sesame oil to prevent them from sticking.
• To serve, pour some of the cold dashi into bowls and top with the noodles. Garnish: Chopped scallions.

SOBA NOODLE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oven (or a toaster oven) to 300. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. In another large pot, bring 10 cups of water to a boil; stir in the bonito flakes, turn off the heat and steep for 10 minutes, no more. Strain into a large bowl; discard the flakes.
• Put the soy sauce, mirin, sugar and a pinch of salt in the pot you used to make the broth; bring to a boil. Let it boil for a minute, then add the bonito stock; bring it back to a boil, and transfer 6 cups to a separate pot and keep hot. (This will be the broth for the soup; what remains is for cooking the eggs.) Toast the nori in the oven until slightly crisp, about 5 minutes. Cut into quarters and set aside. Crack the eggs into a bowl or a large measuring cup with a spout and beat until frothy.
• Cook the noodles in the boiling water until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes, then drain, quickly rinse under cold running water and drain again. Put a portion of noodles into each of four soup bowls. Using a circular pouring motion, slowly stream the eggs, 1/3 at a time, into the smaller amount of boiling broth; as the first third sets, add the second; as the second sets, add the third, then turn off the heat and let the eggs sit for a minute. In the meantime ladle the stock (the one without the eggs in it) over the noodles. Use a slotted spoon to scoop a portion of the egg into each bowl, garnish with the nori and scallions and serve.

COLD SOBA NOODLES WITH DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and salt it. Cook noodles until tender but not mushy. Drain, and quickly rinse under cold running water until cold. Drain well.
• Combine dashi or stock, soy sauce and mirin. Taste, and add a little more soy if the flavor is not strong enough. Serve noodles with garnishes, with sauce on side for dipping (or spooning over).

COOL SOBA NOODLES WITH SWEET SOY BROTH

Steps:

• Combine 4 cups water, dashi, soy sauce, mirin, sake and sugar in bowl. Whisk until dashi and sugar dissolve; set aside.
• Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large saucepan. Add soba noodles, and cook until tender, about 6 minutes. Drain noodles in colander, rinse with cold water until cool, and drain again.
• Combine wasabi powder and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl, and stir. Let stand about 6 minutes, until it becomes a thick paste. Using your finger, form 4 small balls.
• To serve, divide noodles among 4 bowls, and ladle broth over them. Arrange wasabi balls, scallion greens, nori and dried bonito flakes (if using) on top of noodles. Using chopsticks, dissolve wasabi balls into broth; do not eat whole. Serve at once.