Zaru Soba 
(Japanese cold buckwheat noodles with dipping sauce)

Zaru Soba (Japanese cold buckwheat noodles with dipping sauce)
Image by Karl Baron

Cold buckwheat (soba) noodles are a favorite Japanese summer dish, cool and refreshing. Traditionally served on a bamboo tray, or zaru, zaru soba are dosed in seasoned soy dipping sauce before they are ceremoniously slurped down.

Zaru Soba

Course: Pasta and NoodlesCuisine: Japan
Servings

4

servings

Cold buckwheat (soba) noodles are a favorite Japanese summer dish. Traditionally served on a bamboo tray, zaru soba are dosed in a dipping sauce before they are slurped down.

Ingredients

  • Dried soba noodles — 1 (12-ounce) package

  • Dashi stock — 1 1/4 cups

  • Japanese soy sauce — 1/2 cup

  • Mirin — 1/4 cup

  • Sugar — 1 teaspoon

  • Nori, cut into thin shreds — 1 sheet

Directions

  • Cook the soba according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cool water and drain again.
  • Add the dashi, soy sauce, mirin and sugar to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 2 or 3 minutes, then remove from heat and cool. Portion out into little dipping sauce bowls.
  • Portion the noodles out on zaru bamboo trays or plates and garnish with a sprinkling of shredded nori. To eat, use chopstick to dip a few of the in sauce before taking a bite.

Zaru Soba Notes and Variations

  • Use fresh soba noodles if you can find them. You’ll need around 1 1/2 pounds.
  • To give the tsuyu added flavor, stir in some chopped scallions or a dab of wasabi.
  • To out the nori’s best flavor, toasting it lightly by waving it gently over a stovetop burner two or three times.

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