Simple Sōmen Salad Recipe: Tips for Making Sōmen Salad
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Apr 14, 2022 • 2 min read
Hawaiian sōmen salad combines Japanese ingredients with bright, bold flavors for an easy-to-scale crowd pleaser. Learn how to make the chilled salad at home.
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What Is Sōmen Salad?
Sōmen salad is a cold noodle salad consisting of thin Japanese sōmen noodles topped with various garnishes and tossed with a tart and savory vinegar-based dressing. Common toppings include shredded cabbage, scrambled eggs, sliced veggies, and chopped herbs.
The popular lunchtime dish fuses flavors and ingredients from Hawaiian and Japanese cuisine. In Hawaii, sōmen salad is a staple side dish at potlucks, barbecues, and school cafeterias.
3 Tips for Making Sōmen Salad
It’s easy to customize cold sōmen salad to suit your needs. Top it with your go-to favorites, or use it as a canvas for clearing out the crisper drawer.
- 1. The toppings: While there are a few traditional toppings, you can add whatever you’d like to sōmen salad. Try shredded iceberg lettuce or thinly sliced green cabbage, thinly sliced vegetables, scrambled eggs, slices of pink and white kamaboko fish cake, or chopped pieces of char siu. Use chopped herbs like scallion and cilantro, or sesame seeds or furikake to garnish.
- 2. The dressing: Dressing ingredients vary according to personal preference. Some recipes may call for chicken broth, dashi, or mirin, while others rely only on soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar. Dial up the sweetness with a bit of sugar, or add heat with a drizzle of chili oil.
- 3. The noodles: Sōmen noodles are delicate and cook quickly, so be ready to remove them from the heat when they’re ready. Set a timer if necessary, and monitor the pot closely. You can find these extra-fine wheat noodles in most Asian grocery stores or online, but you can also use soba, udon, or ramen noodles in a pinch. However, these substitutions will change the balance of textures in the dish, and you may need to adjust the ratios as a result.
How to Serve Sōmen Salad
To serve sōmen salad, place the cooled noodles in a large, shallow bowl, then top them with the ingredients of your choice. Drizzle dressing over the top, and toss to coat. It’s best to serve sōmen salad immediately after dressing. Keep the ingredients separate and chilled until ready to serve.
Simple Sōmen Salad Recipe
makes
prep time
10 mintotal time
14 mincook time
4 minIngredients
- 1
Combine the sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sugar in a small bowl to make the salad dressing. Whisk the ingredients together until the sugar has dissolved. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary.
- 2
Combine the sliced green onion, cilantro stems, and sesame seeds in a small bowl. Drizzle with lemon juice, season with salt, and toss to combine. Set it aside.
- 3
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the noodles according to package instructions, about 3–4 minutes, stirring with chopsticks to prevent sticking. Drain and rinse the noodles under cold water. Use your hands to gently agitate the noodles until they cool.
- 4
Divide the noodles into individual serving bowls, or place them in one large mixing bowl. Top the noodles with prepared vegetables and kamaboko, then drizzle with half of the dressing and toss to combine. Taste and add more dressing as preferred.
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