Spicy Sesame Japanese Somen Noodles
A refreshing summer-perfect Japanese somen noodle dish tossed in a creamy, savory-sweet sesame and gochujang sauce, topped with a soft-boiled egg.
Somen noodles are a staple of Japanese summer cuisine, prized for their delicate texture and ability to be served cold. This modern twist combines traditional Japanese white sesame with Korean gochujang and rich mayonnaise to create an irresistibly creamy, balanced dressing that coats every single strand.
Ingredients
- 100 g somen noodles
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp ground white sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 tsp gochujang
- to taste green onions
- 1 soft-boiled egg
Instructions
- 1Add ground white sesame seeds
Add one tablespoon of ground white sesame seeds into the glass bowl containing the sugar.
Tip: Ground sesame seeds give the sauce its rich, nutty base. - 2Pour in the vinegar
Pour one tablespoon of vinegar into the mixture to add a bright, balancing tang.
Tip: Vinegar cuts through the rich sesame and mayonnaise. - 3Add soy sauce
Pour one tablespoon of soy sauce into the glass bowl containing the sugar and other sauce ingredients to build the flavor base for the somen noodle sauce.
Tip: Ensure you measure precisely to balance the sweetness of the sugar. - 4Squeeze in mayonnaise
Add one tablespoon of mayonnaise to the bowl to create a creamy, emulsified texture for the sauce.
Tip: Mayonnaise creates a smooth and velvety consistency. - 5Add Gochujang
Add two teaspoons of gochujang into the bowl for a sweet and spicy kick.
Tip: Adjust the amount of gochujang depending on your spice preference. - 6Combine sauce ingredients
Add mayonnaise and gochujang into the bowl along with the previously added sugar, sesame, vinegar, and soy sauce, preparing to mix them into a smooth blend.
Tip: Gochujang adds a nice Korean twist and depth of heat to the Japanese somen dressing. - 7Add cooked somen noodles
Add 100 grams of cooked somen noodles, which have been boiled for two minutes and rinsed well, directly into the prepared sauce mixture.
Tip: Rinsing the boiled somen noodles thoroughly under cold water removes excess starch and stops the cooking process. - 8Transfer noodles to serving bowl
Using metal tongs, carefully pick up and transfer the dressed noodles into a clean individual serving bowl.
Tip: Neatly folding or placing the noodles helps with a cleaner presentation. - 9Pour remaining sauce over noodles
Pour the remaining creamy sesame and gochujang sauce directly over the arranged noodles in the serving bowl.
Tip: Pour evenly so every strand of noodle gets coated with the rich sauce.
