Refreshing Cold Somen Noodles with Vegan Mentsuyu

5 from 1 vote
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In this easy recipe, learn how to prepare refreshing Cold Somen Noodles with vegan mentsuyu sauce. They’re perfect for a light and satisfying meal on hot days!

Looking for cold noodle dishes? Try my Somen Salad, Boiled Okra with Somen Noodles, or Soba Noodle Salad!

Cold somen noodles served in a bowl.

I’ll walk you through the ingredients and step-by-step instructions. I hope you enjoy it!

Why You Will Love This Recipe 

  • These cold somen noodles are ready in just 10 minutes, perfect for a quick meal on busy days.
  • Prepare a vegan mentsuyu dipping sauce for a delicious plant-based option.
  • Easily customize with your favorite condiments to suit your taste.

Somen Noodles

Somen noodles are skinny, white Japanese noodles made from wheat flour. They are often served cold, especially during the hot summer months. Due to their long, thin shape, somen noodles are also a traditional gift in Japan. They symbolize a wish for long-lasting relationships.

Recipe Ingredients

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this Cold Somen Noodles:

Ingredients for cold somen noodles.
  • Dry somen noodles can be found at a Japanese grocery store. They are quick to boil in less than 5 minutes.
  • Scallions and ginger for the condiments.
  • For a vegan or vegetarian version of the mentsuyu dipping sauce, use kombu dashi powder, mirin, soy sauce, and salt. For non-vegan versions, refer to the mentsuyu recipe using Katsuobushi.

How To Make Cold Somen Noodles: STEP BY STEP 

Here are some quick visual instructions! The video and detailed ingredients and instructions are on the printable recipe card below.

How to make cold somen noodles.

Step 1

Combine the mentsuyu ingredients and bring them to a boil to prepare the dipping sauce.

How to make cold somen noodles.

Step 2

Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the somen noodles.

How to make cold somen noodles.

Step 3

Drain the somen noodles.

How to make cold somen noodles.

Step 4

Serve the noodles with the mentsuyu and prepared condiments.

Cold somen noodles served in a bowl.

Enjoy the refreshing somen noodles dipped in mentsuyu!

Recipe Tips

  • When boiling somen, use plenty of water. This gives the noodles enough room to move freely and prevents them from sticking together.
  • After boiling, rinse the noodles immediately under cold running water to stop cooking and remove excess starch. This helps achieve a firm and chewy texture.
  • Somen noodles tend to stick together over time. Toss them gently with a little cold water or add ice cubes to the serving bowl to prevent this.

Condiment Variations

You can enhance the flavor by adding tangy or aromatic condiments. Here are some recommendations:

  • Umeboshi (pickled plums)
  • Citrus fruits such as lemon, lime, or yuzu
  • Grated daikon radish
  • Wasabi (Japanese horseradish)
  • Toasted sesame seeds

Your Questions Answered

What is the difference between soba and somen noodles?

Both are thin Japanese noodles, but they differ in ingredients: soba is made from buckwheat flour, while somen is made from wheat flour. Both noodles are enjoyed both cold and hot. Click here to learn more about Japanese noodles.

Are somen noodles typically served cold or hot?

It is commonly served cold but is also enjoyed in hot soup during colder seasons.

What are somen noodles made of?

They are made of wheat flour, salt, and water.

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Cold somen noodles served in a bowl.

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Cold somen noodles served in a bowl.

Cold Somen Noodles

5 from 1 vote
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Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 2
Author: Juri Austin
In this easy recipe, learn how to prepare refreshing Cold Somen Noodles with vegan mentsuyu sauce. They're perfect for a light and satisfying meal on hot days!

Equipment

  • 1 Medium saucepan 18cm (7 inches)
  • 1 Strainer

Ingredients

  • 2 servings Somen Noodles, 140g, 5oz
  • 1 Tbsp Scallions, chopped
  • 1 clove Ginger, grated

For Mentsuyu (Noodle Soup)

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Instructions

  • Prepare Mentsuyu: Combine kombu dashi powder, mirin, soy sauce, salt, and water in a pot and bring to a boil. Let it cool before serving.
  • Cook Somen Noodles: Boil plenty of water (not in the ingredients list) in a medium saucepan. Add somen noodles, and cook according to the package instructions. Stir the noodles with chopsticks to separate them while cooking.
  • Drain the Noodles: Drain using a strainer and quickly rinse under cold running water to cool it down.
  • Serve: Place the drained somen noodles in a serving bowl, serve the mentsuyu in a separate small bowl, and accompany with chopped scallions and grated ginger.

Video

Notes

  • When boiling somen, use plenty of water. This gives the noodles enough room to move freely and prevents them from sticking together.
  • After boiling, rinse the noodles immediately under cold running water to stop the cooking process and remove excess starch. This helps achieve a firm and chewy texture.
  • Somen noodles tend to stick together over time. Toss them gently with a little cold water or add ice cubes to the serving bowl to prevent this.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 244kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 11g
Course: Noodles
Cuisine: Japanese
Keyword: cold somen noodles
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  1. 5 stars
    Thank you for visiting the comment section. Here, you can leave me feedback with a star rating. Readers like yourself may find comments helpful when making one of my recipes. I hope you love this one as much as I do!