Sobainbroth Recipes

SOBA NOODLES IN BROTH WITH SPINACH AND SHIITAKES

Steps:

• Place the kombu and shiitakes in a large bowl, and cover with 4 1/2 cups hot water. Soak for 30 minutes. Place a strainer over a bowl and drain. Squeeze the mushrooms over the strainer, then rinse. Remove the mushroom stems and discard. Slice the caps thinly.
• Meanwhile, cook the soba noodles. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, add the soba. As the water comes back to a boil, add 1/2 cup of cold water to prevent it from boiling over. Allow to come back to a boil again, and add another 1/2 cup of cold water. Check for doneness, and if necessary bring back to a boil one more time and add another 1/2 cup of cold water. The soba should be tender all the way through but al dente -- slightly firm to the bite. Transfer immediately to the ice water, and allow to cool for a few minutes, then drain.
• Bring the water back to a boil, salt generously and add the spinach. Blanch for one minute, and transfer to a bowl of ice water. Drain, squeeze out excess liquid, and cut the squeezed bundle of spinach into four pieces.
• Divide the noodles, spinach, mushrooms and green onions among four large soup bowls. In a saucepan, combine the soaking water from the kombu and mushrooms, the sake, mirin and soy sauce. Bring to a simmer. Taste and adjust seasonings. Pour over the ingredients in the soup bowls, and serve at once.

SOBA IN BROTH

Steps:

• preheat broiler.
• spray shiitake with cooking spray, season with salt and pepper, broil about 5 minutes until mushrooms are browned.
• remove and slice.
• stir sugar into soy sauce and mirin, set aside.
• cook soba noodles according to package directions.
• into boiling water add dashi.
• add tofu and shiitake, simmer for 2 minutes.
• add spinach.
• place soba into 4 deep bowls.
• spoon dashi over noodles sprinkle with scallions, garnish with nori.
• pass soy sauce mixture alongside.