Zaru Soba (Cold Soba with Dipping Sauce)

Ingredients

• dried soba noodles8 oz
• dashi1 cup
• soy sauce1/4 cup
• mirin3 tbsp
• sugar1 tsp
• scallion1, thinly sliced
• wasabi pasteto taste
• nori sheet1, finely shredded (kizami nori)
• ice cubesto serve

Steps

1. 1

   Simmer and chill the mentsuyu.

   Simmer dashi, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar in a small saucepan 2 minutes. Cool, then chill in the fridge.

2. 2

   Boil soba noodles gently.

   Boil soba in plenty of unsalted water according to package timing — usually 4 minutes. Stir gently.

3. 3

   Rinse and chill the noodles.

   Drain and rinse the noodles aggressively under cold running water, rubbing them with your hands to remove starch until they squeak. Plunge briefly into ice water and drain.

4. 4

   Mound noodles and top with nori.

   Mound the noodles on bamboo mats or shallow plates. Top with shredded nori.

5. 5

   Serve mentsuyu with condiments and noodles.

   Pour the cold mentsuyu into small cups; serve with scallion and wasabi on the side. Stir scallion and wasabi into your cup, then dunk noodles a few strands at a time.