Long, thin, wheat-based noodles, cold somen noodles are a summer staple. Eat with dipping sauce, chilled or hot broth, loaded with toppings, or stir-fry.
Sōmen (素麺,そうめん) are white Japanese noodles made of wheat flour. They are thin, about one mm in diameter, and require a minute of cooking time. It’s eaten year-round, but especially during the hot and humid Japanese summers cold with a chilled dipping sauce called tsuyu (麺つゆ).
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What Are Somen Noodles
Somen are noodles made of wheat flour, salt, and oil. It’s made by stretching the wheat dough with vegetable oil, forming thin strands, then air drying. Hiyamugi (冷麦) is another similar thin wheat noodle slightly thicker than somen but knife-cut.
Cold noodles are popular during the sluggish summer season when one has little appetite. The noodles cook quickly and go down easily, hence their popularity. It’s also eaten in hot soup such as Nyumen (煮麺) during the winter.
What Do They Taste
Like udon noodles, they have a mild taste and an elastic and silky texture.
How To Use
The noodles cook in one to two minutes. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the somen bundles and stir with chopsticks to prevent sticking. Once cooked, drain the noodles in a colander immediately. Using your hands, gently knead the noodles while rinsing them under cold water. This step removes excess starch and oil. I recommend chilling the noodles in an ice bath on hot days to cool down.
You can eat it with a cold dipping soy sauce and dashi-based broth or load the noodles with toppings or in hot or cold broth. You can also stir-fry the noodles in an Okinawan dish called Somen Champuru (そうめんチャンプルー).
Garnishes include grated ginger, scallions, myoga, shiso leaves, julienned cucumbers, sliced shiitake mushrooms, sesame seeds, shredded nori seaweed, and proteins such as tofu, ham, canned tuna, natto, or shredded omelet.
Recipes Using Somen Noodles
Where To Buy
Find dried somen in Asian or Japanese grocery stores. You won’t find frozen or fresh somen noodles like udon or soba noodles, as drying the noodles is part of the noodle-making process.
My favorite brand is Ibonoito (揖保乃糸), which you might find at Japanese grocery stores. I grew up eating this brand, and it’s the best in flavor, texture, and price point.
How To Store
Store packages in a cool and dark place, such as a pantry. Avoid humidity and moisture.
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