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!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time25 minutes mins
Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Japanese
Servings: 2 servings
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
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!
- Mentsuyu is a concentrated base for soup, not a broth. Always mix it with water.
- Mentsuyu will stay fresh in the fridge in a tightly sealed container for up to a month.