Somen noodles are one of the most popular dishes in Japan. There are many ways to prepare delicious somen noodles. Today, TasteVN will guide you through 5 extremely attractive and unique vegetable somen noodle recipes. Let’s get cooking this dish!
1. Traditional vegetable somen noodles
Preparation
15 minutes
Cooking
15 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Traditional vegetable somen noodles Serves 4
Somen noodles 5 bundles Chicken egg 1 Crab meat 50 gr Ham 3 slices Japanese cucumber 1/2 Green onion 3 stalks Cooked shiitake mushrooms 20 gr Grated ginger 1 tablespoon Mentsuyu sauce 1 tablespoon Potato starch 1/2 teaspoon Salt 1/2 teaspoon Cooking oil 1 teaspoon
Ingredients image
Traditional Vegetable Somen Noodles Preparation Method
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Prepare Ingredients
Wash and cut off both ends of the cucumber. Use the cut ends to rub against the cucumber until no more foam is released. Slice the cucumber at a slight angle, then cut into strips.
Also cut 3 slices of ham into strips like the cucumber. For the crab meat, shred it into strips as well.
Wash the green onions and then chop them finely.
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Fry the Eggs
Crack an egg into a bowl. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of potato starch mixed with 1 tablespoon of water, then whisk thoroughly to combine the egg with the seasoning.
Heat a pan on the stove, add about 1 teaspoon of cooking oil to the pan. Pour the egg into the pan and fry over medium heat. Remember to flip the egg to ensure it cooks evenly.
Once the egg is cooked, also cut it into strips.
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Blanch the noodles
Place a pot on the stove and add about 2 liters of filtered water.
Once the water boils, add 5 bundles of somen noodles and cook for 1 minute. Next, add 200ml of cold water to the pot, cook for another 1 minute and 30 seconds, then remove the noodles. While blanching the noodles, remember to stir them with chopsticks to prevent them from sticking together.
Use a strainer to drain the noodle cooking water. Place the noodles in a large bowl, add cold water, and gently rub them with your hands to separate the strands, then continue to use the strainer to remove the excess water. Keep doing this for about 2 – 3 times, then place the noodles in a colander to drain.
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Completion
You use a fork to twirl the noodles and place them on a plate. Arrange the accompanying dishes on the plate as well.
Put 1/2 teaspoon of grated ginger and chopped green onions into a small bowl.
Mix the sauce according to the recipe: 1 tablespoon of Mentsuyu sauce with 3 tablespoons of water. Then, add a small ice cube to the bowl of sauce.
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Final Product
Thus, the traditional vegetable somen noodle dish is complete. The chewy and delicious noodles served with cucumbers, ham, eggs, and the refreshing sauce will surely delight you.
You can also pack the noodles in a box and arrange the toppings on top to take with you to school or work.
2. Vegetarian Somen Noodles
Preparation
10 minutes
Cooking
10 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Vegetarian Somen Noodles with Vegetables Serves 2
Somen noodles 2 bundles Okra 6 pods Tomato 1 piece Taro 100 gr Perilla leaves 4 leaves Green onions 1 bulb Mentsuyu sauce 3 tablespoons
How to Choose Fresh Ingredients
How to choose fresh okra
- You should choose pods that are small or medium-sized, with bright green skin that looks nice and without any dark spots or unusual stickiness.
- When you squeeze the okra with your hand and it feels moderately soft, you should buy it because those are young okra pods, which taste very good.
- Avoid choosing large and long pods, with dark skin and spots, as these may be old okra, which will be very tough when boiled and not tasty anymore.
How to choose fresh taro
- You should choose tubers with dark skin; the darker, the better, as these are older, firmer tubers with dense, sticky flesh and not spongy.
- Good taro has an elongated shape and symmetrical size. You can press the body of the tuber; if it feels firm, then it is sticky and delicious taro.
- Avoid buying soft, mushy tubers that are too large, misshapen, or have bruises and are not intact, as well as those with an unusual smell or leaking fluid.
How to Prepare Vegetarian Somen Noodles with Vegetables
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Prepare the Ingredients
You wash the tomatoes and then dice them.
For the yam, wash it clean, peel it, and then cut it into strands, about 1cm thick.
Wash 4 perilla leaves and then cut them into thin strips.
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Boil the Okra
Place a pot on the stove, add about 500ml of water to the pot. Once the water is boiling, add the okra to the pot to boil.
After 3 minutes, take the okra out, rinse it with clean water, and then use a knife to cut it into thin slices.
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Blanch the noodles
You place a pot on the stove, add 1 liter of water to the pot. Wait for the water to boil, then add 2 bundles of somen noodles to blanch.
After blanching the noodles for 3 minutes, you take the noodles out into a colander, rinse them with clean water several times, then set them aside in a bowl to drain.
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Make the dipping sauce
Add 3 tablespoons of Mentsuyu sauce along with 6 tablespoons of water into a bowl and stir well with a spoon.
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Completion
Place the noodles onto a plate, arrange the accompanying vegetables on top of the noodles. Add shredded perilla leaves on top, drizzle the sauce over it, and enjoy.
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Finished Product
Vegetarian somen noodles with vegetables have beautiful colors from various vegetables, and the noodles are chewy and deliciously appealing. This will surely be a dish that excites your taste buds.
3. Somen Noodles with Stir-Fried Vegetables
Preparation
15 minutes
Cooking
20 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Somen Noodles with Stir-Fried Vegetables For 2 people
Somen noodles 2 bundles Poached eggs 2 eggs Cherry tomatoes 4 pieces Eggplant 1 piece Bell pepper 1/2 piece Chopped green onions 2 tablespoons Roasted sesame seeds 1 tablespoon Cooking oil 1 tablespoon Soy sauce 80 ml
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh tomatoes
- You should choose tomatoes that have a bright red skin, evenly colored, plump, and intact, without any scratches.
- Choose ripe tomatoes that have a light fragrance as these are naturally ripened tomatoes.
- You should select tomatoes that still have their stems attached, with the stems looking fresh and not wilted. Naturally ripened tomatoes usually have stems tightly attached to the top of the fruit.
How to choose fresh bell peppers
- To choose good bell peppers, you should select those with a shiny, smooth, thick skin, still tightly attached to the stem, feel heavy in your hand, and have bright colors.
- Avoid purchasing bell peppers that are soft, have blemishes, dull colors, or cracks as these are spoiled and lack nutrients.
How to choose fresh eggplants
- You should choose eggplants that have a shiny, smooth, and even-colored skin, feel firm in your hand, and are not soft.
- Select those where the stem is still fresh and tightly attached to the fruit for a fresh taste.
- Do not buy eggplants that have wrinkles or appear to have dark spots.
How to prepare Somen noodles with stir-fried vegetables
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Prepare the ingredients
Wash the eggplant and bell pepper thoroughly, remove the stems, and then dice them.
For cherry tomatoes, wash them well and cut each tomato into four parts.
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Make soy sauce
Add 80ml of soy sauce, 100ml of filtered water, and 1 tablespoon of roasted sesame seeds to a bowl, then stir well.
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Blanch the noodles
Place a pot on the stove and add 1 liter of water to it. Wait for the water to boil, then add 2 bundles of somen noodles to blanch.
After blanching the noodles for 3 minutes, remove them to a colander, rinse with clean water several times, then place the noodles in a bowl of ice water.
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Stir-fried vegetables
Place a pan on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to the pan.
Wait for the pan to heat up, then add eggplant, bell pepper, and tomato to stir-fry. Use chopsticks or a spatula to gently stir until the vegetables are tender.
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Completion
Plate the noodles, place the stir-fried vegetables on top. Add a poached egg to the plate, sprinkle some green onions, and drizzle sauce over the noodles.
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Finished product
The somen noodles with stir-fried vegetables are completed with vibrant colors from the vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and eggplant combined with chewy noodles. When served with a rich poached egg, the dish becomes even more appealing.
4. Somen noodles with mixed vegetables
Preparation
15 minutes
Cooking
15 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Somen noodles with mixed vegetables For 1 person
Somen noodles 1 bundle Chicken egg 1 piece Canned tuna 35 gr Bitter melon 60 gr Grated carrot 15 gr Bean sprouts 70 gr Sake 1/2 tablespoon Minced garlic 1 clove Olive oil a little Soy sauce 1/3 teaspoon Chicken seasoning powder 1/3 teaspoon Salt/pepper a little
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh bitter melon
- You should choose bitter melons that are of moderate size, elongated in shape, and still have their stems.
- Bitter melons that are bright green, shiny, with many tiny veins and open spines will be less bitter.
- Do not buy dark green bitter melons with swollen bodies, as they may have been treated with growth stimulants.
- Do not buy ripe bitter melons that are yellow-orange and have signs of rot.
How to choose fresh chicken eggs
- You should choose eggs that usually have dark brown shells, uniform color, with no cracks or black spots.
- When you touch the surface of the eggshell, if it feels rough and slightly coarse, you should buy it because it is fresh chicken eggs.
- Additionally, you can hold the egg and shake it gently. If you don’t hear any noise, you should choose it because it is fresh chicken eggs. If the noise is louder, it may indicate that the egg is spoiled or the egg is still being incubated by the hen.
How to prepare Mixed Vegetable Somen Noodles
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Prepare the ingredients
You wash the bitter melon thoroughly, using a spoon or knife to remove the seeds of the bitter melon. Then, slice the bitter melon into thin pieces about 1cm thick.
Put the sliced bitter melon into a bowl, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, then mix well with your hands and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Next, rinse the bitter melon with clean water and place it on a tray to drain. You can place a paper towel under the tray to help the bitter melon dry faster.
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Blanch the noodles
Put a pot on the stove, add 1 liter of water to the pot. After the water boils, add a bundle of somen noodles to blanch.
After 3 minutes, take the noodles out, rinse with clean water several times, then soak the noodles in a bowl of ice water for about 2 minutes before draining.
Next, put the noodles in a bowl, drizzle 1 teaspoon of olive oil over the noodles, and mix well.
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Mix the soy sauce
In a bowl, add 1/3 teaspoon of chicken seasoning, 1/2 tablespoon of sake, and 1/3 teaspoon of soy sauce, then use a spoon to mix the ingredients well.
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Stir-fried noodles with vegetables
Crack an egg into a bowl, add 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and then whisk well with chopsticks.
Place a pan on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. When the oil is hot, add minced garlic, bitter melon, and carrots to stir-fry. When the vegetables are slightly cooked, add 35g of canned tuna along with 70g of bean sprouts to stir-fry together.
Use a spatula to push the vegetables to one side of the pan, then pour the egg in. When the egg is slightly cooked, stir well to mix the egg and vegetables together.
After the vegetables and egg are cooked, lower the heat and add the noodles to the pan, drizzle soy sauce on top, and stir well for another 30 seconds before turning off the heat.
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Completion
Transfer the noodles to a plate, sprinkle with some pepper, and add a bit of tuna on top before enjoying.
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Final Product
So the mixed vegetable somen noodles dish is complete. The noodles absorb the sauce evenly, and when paired with various vegetables and tuna, it creates a very unique and appealing dish.
5. Mixed Vegetable Somen Noodles
Preparation
15 minutes
Processing
15 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Mixed Vegetable Somen Noodles Serves 2
Somen Noodles 2 bundles Eggs 2 Kamaboko Fish Cake 100 gr Lettuce 3 leaves Cucumber 1 Carrot 1/2 Green Onions 2 stalks Ham 3 slices Toasted Sesame 1 tablespoon Rice Vinegar 4 tablespoons Sesame Oil 2 tablespoons Cooking Oil 2 tablespoons Soy Sauce 2 tablespoons Sugar 2 tablespoons Salt 1/4 teaspoon
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh cucumbers
- You should choose cucumbers that are evenly shaped, bright in color, and uniform in hue. When holding the cucumber, it should feel firm and heavy.
- Additionally, freshly picked cucumbers will have a fresh stem, and if you break it, a clear sap will flow out.
- Avoid choosing cucumbers that are bulbous or crooked, have bee stings, are turning yellow, bruised, or deformed.
How to choose fresh carrots
- You should choose carrots that are of moderate size, with a smooth and shiny skin. When picked up, they should feel firm and heavy.
- Choose carrots that have a natural orange color, with green leaves still attached tightly to the root.
- Avoid buying carrots that have strange shapes, bruised stems, wilted parts, or any dark spots, and if you press them, they should not indent easily.
How to prepare Somen Noodle Vegetable Salad
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Prepare the ingredients
Wash the cucumbers thoroughly, use a knife to cut the cucumber into thin slices about 1cm thick and then cut into strips.
Peel the carrots, wash them clean, and cut them into strips similarly to the cucumbers.
Wash the lettuce thoroughly, then chop it into small pieces. Green onions should also be washed and chopped.
Ham and fish cakes should be cut into strips as well.
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Make the sauce
Add 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 4 tablespoons of rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, and 2 tablespoons of sesame oil into a bowl, then use a spoon to mix well until the sauce is dissolved.
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Fry the eggs
Crack 2 eggs into a bowl and beat them well with chopsticks.
Heat a pan on the stove, add a little cooking oil to the pan. Once the oil is hot, pour the eggs in to fry. Cover the pan with a lid, reduce the heat, and wait for 2 – 3 minutes for the eggs to cook.
Then, cut the fried eggs into strips.
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Blanching noodles
Place a pot on the stove and add 1 liter of water. Once the water boils, add 2 bundles of somen noodles to blanch.
Blanch the noodles for about 2 – 3 minutes, then take them out, rinse them with clean water, and place the noodles in a bowl of ice water to cool. After that, transfer the noodles to a bowl to drain excess water.
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Mixing noodles
Add all the vegetables and side dishes like ham, fish cake, and fried eggs into the bowl of noodles, then use your hands to mix well. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before mixing.
Sprinkle a little chopped green onion on the noodles, drizzle with sauce, and enjoy.
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Final product
The mixed vegetable somen noodles have an appealing color from various vegetables. The chewy texture of the noodles, ham, fish cake, and rich sauce creates a very enticing dish.
What is somen noodles? Where to buy?
- Somen noodles are thin, white noodles made primarily from wheat flour. This is one of the famous Japanese dishes, often eaten cold with a special dipping sauce along with greens, various vegetables, or different types of meat.
- This dish is delicious, refreshing, and very good for health. It is especially popular during hot summer days.
- You can easily find somen noodles at Japanese grocery stores or supermarkets near your home. Additionally, you can also purchase them through e-commerce websites.
- The price for 200 grams of somen noodles ranges from 40,000 to 80,000 VND, depending on the brand you choose.
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Above, TasteVN has just guided you in detail on 5 ways to make mixed vegetable somen noodles in proper Japanese style, which are extremely attractive. Quickly add them to your family menu! Wishing you success in your cooking.
