How to Make a Simple Soba Noodle Soup

October 01, 2008

Anyone else feel like the weather has turned lately? It's no surprise, as yesterday was the official first day of Autumn! It's time to forget about that disappointing summer and break out all the squash and pumpkins, soups and warming delicious things. 

That's why today we're sharing a recipe for soba noodle soup; soba noodles are made with buckwheat flour and have a slightly earthier flavour than egg noodles. They feel more substantial when you're eating them too and fill you up well! 

Today we are topping our soba soup with fish cake, but if you prefer, you can top it with a sweetcorn pancake instead.

You will need

• 3.5 Cups of Water
• A Handful of Kombu
• 1 Cup of Bonito Flakes
• 2 Tbsp Mirin
• 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
• 1 Japanese Kamaboko Fish Cake
• 2 Shrimp Per Serving
• Instant Tempura Batter
• 1 Spring Onion
• 200g Soba Noodles
• 1 Tsp Shichimi Togarashi

Method

• We are going to start by making a good stock, so the night before you intend to make your soup, soak the kombu in the 3.5 cups of water overnight.
• The next day, put the kombu and water in a saucepan, and just before it starts to boil, remove the kombu. Add the bonito flakes and simmer for half a minute, then turn off the heat. This is the start of a good dashi stock.
• When 15 minutes have passed, strain the contents of the pan so you just have the liquid left. To this, add the mirin, soy sauce and salt. Reheat and simmer.
• Meanwhile cut your Japanese fish cake into thin slices, and finely shop the spring onion.
• Now whip up the tempura batter as per packet instructions. Heat some oil in a pan, and dip your shrimp in the tempura batter before frying fresh. Leave on a piece of kitchen towel to drain excess oil when cooked.
• Now cook your soba noodles as the packet says in a seperate pan. Drain and wash the noodles before putting them in serving bowls.
• Cover each portion with the hot stock, then adorn with the rest of the toppings and tempura.
• Serve immediately hot!

Now how about entering our giveaway this week? You could have a dinner party and serve this tasty noodle soup to your friends, then for afters serve sake with a selection of Japanese sweets and snacks. Good news is, you don't even have to pay for it, because this week we're giving away one of our fantastic Japanese Sweets and Snacks Hampers to one lucky winner! To enter, just use the Rafflecopter app below.