Somen Noodle Sushi With Wasabi Oil And Soy Syrup Food

JAPANESE COLD SOMEN NOODLES

Steps:

• [Optional] Traditional Japanese restaurants tie up the noodles to enhance the appearance of the somen and this is how you do it. Tie the edge of somen noodles with cooking twine. This way noodles will stay in one direction while cooking. I normally skip this step for home use.
• In a large pot, bring water to a boil. When boiling, remove the wrapper.
• Add the somen noodles in the boiling water (do not add salt!). Stir noodles with chopsticks so they don't stick to each other. Cook according to the package instructions. If necessary, add a little bit of cold water in the pot to prevent overflowing.
• Drain somen in a colander and wash the noodles with hands under running water.
• Once the noodles are cold, find the knotted parts of somen noodles and pick them up. Cut off the edge and discard. Hold each bundle gently and arrange it nicely on a serving plate. Somen can be served with ice to keep cool.
• Cut the scallion finely and grate the ginger. Put them in small dishes.
• Pour mentsuyu in individual dipping sauce bowls and add iced water to dilute. I recommend making homemade mentsuyu but if you're too busy, get a bottle of mentsuyu like this. See the instructions. You can check the ratio of mentsuyu to water on this page. This brand recommends 1:3.
• Put a small portion of scallion and ginger in the dipping sauce and dip the somen noodles to enjoy! To make it more filling, you can bulk up the noodles by tossing in other ingredients such as shredded egg crepes (see How to Make Kinshi Tamago), julienned cucumbers, boiled okra, and ham.

COLD THIN NOODLES IN CHILLED WATER (HIYASHI SōMEN)

Steps:

• Add all the Dipping Sauce ingredients to a small saucepan and bring it to a boil.
• Remove from the heat and cool it down quickly by leaving the pan in the cold water for a while, then place it in the fridge to chill.
• Boil water in a large saucepan. Remove the tape around each bunch of sōmen noodles and place the noodles in the boiling water by spreading the strands.
• Using chopsticks or a thin wooden spatula, stir the pot so that noodles are separated.
• Boil for about 2 minutes (note 3). Drain using a sieve and rinse well.
• Place noodles in a serving bowl, add chilled water (or water + ice cubes), just enough to cover the noodles.
• Using chopsticks or tongs with soft edges, take a small number of noodles at a time and gently lay them in the same direction so that the noodles line up nicely (optional).
• Decorate the noodle bowl with leaves or cucumber slices, if using. Serve with dipping sauce and condiments.

PEANUTTY SOMEN NOODLES WITH SHRIMP

Steps:

• Cook noodles according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine chicken broth, soy sauce, peanut butter, sesame oil, and hot sauce. Whisk until blended and set pan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer. Simmer 10 minutes.
• Heat peanut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ginger and garlic and saute 2 minutes. Add bell pepper and saute 2 minutes. Add shrimp and saute 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of the peanut sauce sauce and simmer 2 minutes, until shrimp are bright pink and cooked through. Drain noodles and add to shrimp mixture. Toss to combine.
• Transfer noodle mixture to 4 individual plates and top each serving with peanuts, scallions and cilantro, if desired.
• Reserve remaining peanut sauce for additional meals such as Robin's Steak Salad with Peanut-lime Dressing, or Chicken Satay with Peanut Dipping Sauce.

SUKIYAKI

Steps:

• Mix soy sauce, sugar, stock, and mirin together in a bowl. Arrange meat and vegetables on a large platter. Heat an electric skillet to 375 degrees F.
• Add oil to the skillet and heat. Brown meat in the oil, adding sugar slowly. Move the meat to the corner of the skillet when well browned. Add other vegetables, keeping each separate. Add sauce and cover. Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes. Uncover and turn all ingredients while cooking 2 minutes more. Serve on small plates.

SOY WASABI MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl mix the mayonnaise, lime juice, soy sauce, wasabi paste and ginger, until well combined.

SOY SYRUP

Steps:

• Combine all and reduce at a simmer until a syrup consistency is achieved, about a 60 to 70 percent reduction. Let cool.

WASABI OIL

Steps:

• In a stainless steel bowl, whisk wasabi, mirin and sugar. Add water until a loose puree is achieved. Whisk in oil. For extra spicy, use less oil.