Zaru Soba

Ingredients

• •12 oz dried soba noodles
• •1 cup dashi
• •1/4 cup soy sauce
• •1/4 cup mirin
• •1 tbsp sugar
• •1/4 cup bonito flakes (katsuobushi)
• •1 sheet nori, cut into thin strips
• •2 green onions, thinly sliced
• •Wasabi, for serving

Steps

1. 1.Combine the dashi, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar in a small saucepan, bring to a simmer, add the bonito flakes, and simmer for 2 minutes.
2. 2.Strain the mentsuyu dipping sauce through a fine sieve, discarding the bonito flakes, and chill it completely in the fridge.
3. 3.Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the soba noodles for 3-4 minutes until just tender.
4. 4.Drain and immediately rinse the noodles under cold running water, rubbing them gently between your hands to wash off excess starch, until fully chilled - this cold rinse is essential for soba's firm, springy bite; skipping it leaves the noodles gummy.
5. 5.Drain well and pile the noodles onto a bamboo zaru tray or a plate, letting any extra water drain away.
6. 6.Top with the shredded nori and serve alongside small bowls of the chilled dipping sauce, sliced green onions, and wasabi.
7. 7.To eat, dip a small bundle of noodles into the sauce before slurping - the sauce is not poured over the noodles.