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–+ servings

Easy Kake Soba With Mentsuyu

Kake Soba With Mentsuyu is a comforting noodle soup brimming with flavors and nutrients. It's easy to make and will totally impress!
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Author: Dana Sandonato

Ingredients

  • 3-4 oz Soba noodles

MENTSUYU

  • 1 cup mirin
  • 1 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup sake
  • Kombu (about a 2 x 2-inch piece)
  • 1 cup Katsuobushi, packed

IDEAS FOR GARNISH

  • Scallions, thinly sliced
  • Blanched spinach
  • Soft-boiled eggs
  • Kamaboko (fish cakes) thinly sliced
  • Sesame seeds
  • Tempura shrimp

Instructions

MENTSUYU

  • In a medium-sized pot, bring the sake to a low simmer over medium-high heat for about a minute or two.
  • Stir in the mirin and the soy sauce.
  • Add the kombu and the katsuobushi and stir again. Make sure all of the katsuobushi flakes have been immersed into the liquid. Bring it to a simmer and let it cook for about 5 minutes.
  • Let it all simmer for about 5 minutes, then remove the pot from the stove; set aside to cool. Once it's cooled a bit, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve or strainer, pressing on the katsuobushi with the back side of a spoon or spatula to push out as much of the liquid as you can. Every drop counts!

KAKE SOBA WITH MENTSUYU

  • To make the soup, transfer 3/4 cup of the mentsuyu concentrate to a medium pot. Add 3 cups of water to it and bring it to a simmer.
  • While you wait, cook the soba noodles as per the package's directions.
  • When the noodles are ready, briefly rinse them under cool water, then transfer them to bowls.
  • Pour the hot broth over the noodles and garnish your soup with your preferred garnishes!

Notes

  1. Mentsuyu is a concentrated base for soup, not a broth. Always mix it with water. 
  2. Mentsuyu will stay fresh in the fridge in a tightly sealed container for up to a month.