17 Best Somen Noodle Recipes (2024)

Take your tastebuds on a culinary trip with these fantastic somen noodle recipes!

Sure, they’re not as popular as ramen, udon, and soba. But they deserve the spotlight just as much.

17 Best Somen Noodle Recipes (1)

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These thin, Japanese wheat-based noodles are versatile and quick-cooking. Whether served cold or hot, they always hit the spot.

From classic noodle soup to fish curry noodles, these recipes put somen noodles center stage.

Let’s get cooking!

1. Somen Noodle Soup (Nyumen)

When the cold, rainy weather hits, look no further than a bowl of nyumen. This soothing, hearty Japanese dish promises warmth and comfort.

Domen noodle soup pairs delicate wheat noodles with a dashi-based broth. This heartwarming concoction is simple yet packed with flavor.

This soup isn’t just about noodles and broth, though.Nutrient-dense shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, carrots, eggs, and fish cakes add texture and depth.Green onions and sesame seeds add a pop of color and flavor.

Ready in just 20 minutes, somen noodle soup is a light yet satisfying meal. One slurp will banish any cold-weather blues.

2. Korean Banquet Noodles (Janchi Guksu)

While somen is a Japanese ingredient, other Asian cuisines also use it. For example, let’s take a look at janchi guksu, a Korean banquet noodle soup.

It’s a delicious blend of thin wheat noodles in a clear anchovy broth. The name janchi guksu translates to “banquet noodles.”

As its name suggests, this dish is often served at weddings, birthdays, and other celebrations. It reflects the cultural belief that noodles symbolize a long and happy life.

3. Soy Sauce Noodles

This soy sauce noodle dish is a simple yet flavorful breakfast staple in China.

This dish is pretty straightforward. Boil the noodles in chicken stock, stir in soy sauce, and you’re good to go.

Like with most recipes, there’s room for customization.Want some greens? Sprinkle green onions or bok choy on top. Spinach and kale can be great additions, too. Looking for more protein? Top the noodles with soy sauce eggs, or even some leftover meat.

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4. Japanese Chilled Noodles & Dipping Sauce (Zaru Somen)

As I mentioned earlier, somen noodles are often served cold.An excellent recipe to try is zaru somen. It’s a refreshing way to enjoy somen noodles, perfect for those hot summer days.

Zaru somen is somen noodles served cold with a savory dipping sauce known as tsuyu. You dip the noodles into the sauce before eating them, and it’s just delightful.

The cool, silky noodles and the dipping sauce create a light yet satisfying dish.

5. Somen Salad

Somen in salads, too? Yep, you heard it right.Somen salad is a beloved Hawaiian dish that’s as colorful as it is tasty. Unlike salads where veggies are the main base, in somen salad, it’s the noodles.

The concept is simple. It’s just cold somen, meats and vegetables, and a savory soy sauce dressing.

Now, go let your imagination run wild when it comes to toppings. Just slice everything thinly to complement the width of the noodles.

Popular choices include char siu, ham, spam, cucumber, carrots, and an egg omelette.

6. Vegan Miso Ramen

Here’s another easy noodle recipe from the land of the rising sun: vegan miso ramen.This dish is all about the earthy mushrooms, somen, and a mouthwatering miso vegetable broth.

Miso paste and soy sauce play an essential role in forming the soup base.The miso, made from fermented soybeans, brings in a unique umami taste. Couple this with a quality broth, and it makes for a satisfying soup.

Top off the bowl with crushed nori seaweed for a touch of the sea.The result is a comforting vegan miso ramen you’ll forget is entirely plant-based!

7. Somen Stuffed Aburage

This delightful dish features aburage, deep-fried tofu pouches, filled with somen noodles.

Toss some noodles in a dressing made of soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and a little sugar.Add chopped kamaboko (a Japanese fish cake) and seaweed salad for that extra flavor and texture.

Now comes the fun part. Stuff your seasoned somen into inari-age, seasoned aburage pouches. This dish is best enjoyed at room temperature or chilled. Both are equally delicious!

8. Vegan Somen Noodles in Creamy Sesame Miso Soup

Somen noodles in creamy sesame miso soup is such a fun dish.

The magic lies in the creamy, flavorful broth, thanks to miso, tahini, and peanut butter. Red chili peppers, garlic, ginger, and rice vinegar bring a spicy oomph.

If you’re familiar with “tan tan men,” this dish tastes very similar. So if you’re a fan, this one will be right up your alley.

9. Somen Noodle and Tofu Soup

A bowl of somen noodle and tofu soup is a symphony of flavors and textures. It features a hearty, protein-rich tofu.

The soup combines vegetable stock infused with aromatic garlic, ginger, and scallions.Tofu and crisp broccoli add substance to the dish. A surprising zing comes from the fresh lime juice, elevating the soup’s flavor profile.

It’s a comforting, savory soup, perfect for a cozy meal any day.

10. Korean Spicy Cold Noodles (Bibim Guksu)

Bibim guksu delight features cold noodles tossed in a sweet, spicy, and tangy gochujang sauce.It’s the popular Korean bibimbap with noodles as the base.

The beauty of bi bim guksu lies in its flexibility. You can add a range of toppings, from Korean pears to blanched squid!

11. Somen Noodle Soup with Pan-Fried Pork Belly

Somen noodle soup with pan-fried pork belly is a delightful bowl of comfort.It’s a beautiful blend of delicate somen noodles and succulent pork belly, pan-fried to crispy perfection.

The pork is marinated in soy sauce, ginger, sugar, and salt. It gets a perfect blend of flavors. It imparts a richness that beautifully complements the mild somen noodles.

12. Spicy Chili Oil Noodles

I love how something as simple as chili oil is enough to flavor somen noodles.

The star is undoubtedly the chili oil, giving the somen noodles a robust, fiery kick. It’s made with green onion, garlic, gochugaru, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and cilantro.

The real game-changer is the hot oil poured over the ingredients, creating a flavorful sauce.

13. Roasted Cauliflower Japanese-Style Noodles

This bright dish blends the subtlety of somen with the nuttiness of roasted cauliflower.The noodles provide a clean base, welcoming any seasonal ingredients you add.

The secret flavor weapon is the miso dressing. It’s a tangy blend of white miso, mirin, sesame oil, lemon, and ginger.

Top it with a sprinkle of hard-boiled eggs, green onions, and sesame seeds. Add a dash of Sriracha for an extra kick.

14. Somen Noodles with Scallops and Vegetables

In this dish, somen noodles are paired with tender baby scallops and a colorful array of veggies. I’m talking edamame, zucchini, and peppery arugula. I love the different levels of crunch and greenness!

The dish is dressed in a savory sauce that clings to every noodle and scallop.

It’s slurp-worthy, satisfying, and, above all, a delicious meal.

15. Noodles with Fish Curry

Khanom jeen nam ya is a Thai dish of fish curry ladled over rice noodles.The fish curry is exceptional, using mild-flavored fish and kra chai, a Thai ginger-like herb.

Some ingredients might require effort to find outside of Thailand. But the resulting flavor combination makes the search worth it.

16. Scallion Sauce Noodles

Scallion sauce noodles, a flavorful, 10-minute dish, is the solution to hectic weeknights.

The key players are scallions, ginger for an added zing, and a dash of kombu mentsuyu. A hint of oyster sauce adds depth to the flavor profile.

The dish gets its tang from rice vinegar and warmth from sesame oil. Roasted sesame seeds and yuba, a soy product, add texture and a delightful bite.

Somen noodles tie them all together, holding the flavors well.

17. Zucchini Noodles

This dish combines somen noodles with zucchini.It’s then amplified with soy sauce for a salty twist. Agave nectar adds a sweet counterbalance. Some chili oil or lao gan ma kicks up the flavor with a perfect touch of spice.

A final flourish of sesame seeds lends a toasty finish and striking presentation. The dish is more than pretty. It’s a party in your mouth!

17 Best Somen Noodle Recipes (2)

17 Best Somen Noodle Recipes

These somen noodle recipes are full of flavor and comfort! From soup to chilled noodles to salad, you’ll love these tempting Japanese dishes.

Ingredients

  • Somen Noodle Soup (Nyumen)

  • Korean Banquet Noodles (Janchi Guksu)

  • Soy Sauce Noodles

  • Japanese Chilled Noodles & Dipping Sauce (Zaru Somen)

  • Somen Salad

  • Vegan Miso Ramen

  • Somen Stuffed Aburage

  • Vegan Somen Noodles in Creamy Sesame Miso Soup

  • Somen Noodle and Tofu Soup

  • Korean Spicy Cold Noodles (Bibim Guksu)

  • Somen Noodle Soup with Pan-Fried Pork Belly

  • Spicy Chili Oil Noodles

  • Roasted Cauliflower Japanese-Style Noodles

  • Somen Noodles with Scallops and Vegetables

  • Noodles with Fish Curry

  • Scallion Sauce Noodles

  • Zucchini Noodles

Instructions

  • Select your favorite recipe.
  • Organize all the required ingredients.
  • Prep a somen noodle recipe in 30 minutes or less!
17 Best Somen Noodle Recipes (3)

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17 Best Somen Noodle Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between soba and somen noodles? ›

Soba noodles are a light brown color and have a nutty flavor, as compared with somen which are a pale white and mild in flavor. Soba noodles are a bit thicker than somen. And, because soba noodles have little or no gluten, they can't be stretched, so they're made by cutting.

How do you keep somen noodles from sticking? ›

Serving the somen noodles in a bowl of ice water makes the noodles nice and cold while preventing them from sticking together. The water clinging to the noodles will dilute the dipping sauce as you eat, so you can add more sauce as you eat if it starts to get too thin.

Are somen noodles good for you? ›

Udon, ramen, yakisoba and somen noodle are all made from white flour and can be made with bleached refined flour which doesn't have many nutrients and high GI – a recipe for overweight and disease!

What is another name for somen noodles? ›

Sōmen is typically high in sodium. Other names are nyūmen (煮麺) in Japanese, for a version served warm in soup, and the Chinese name guàmiàn (Chinese: 掛麵), which can be further classified into lóngxū (Chinese: 龍鬚; lit.

What is the difference between udon and somen noodles? ›

Somen/somyeon noodles are thinner than udon noodles and often served at room temperature with a dipping sauce or mixed with a thick sauce that coats the noodles.

Can you substitute soba for somen? ›

The noodles are hard to find in the US, but if you come across them, do yourself a favor and grab several packages. If you can't find them, you can make the same tasty dish by substituting white somen or buckwheat soba noodles.

Do you need to wash somen noodles? ›

The preparation is just like you would with Italian dry pasta, without the salt when boiling, place in boiling water for a few minutes, drain and wash very well to take away the oil and salt that is in the noodle when it is made. Placed in a bowl with ice cubes to get it as cold as possible.

Do you have to rinse somen noodles? ›

Once cooked, drain the noodles in a colander immediately. Using your hands, gently knead the noodles while rinsing them under cold running water. This helps to remove the excess oil used to make super thin noodles. Serve with tsuyu, the dipping sauce, with garnishes and optional toppings.

Do you wash somen noodles? ›

Allow the boiled somen to cool in a draining basket with running water and then wash well by rubbing the noodles. Drain thoroughly.

Which is the healthiest noodles in the world? ›

6 Healthy Noodles You Should Be Eating, According to a Dietitian
  • Whole-Wheat Pasta.
  • Chickpea Pasta.
  • Veggie Noodles.
  • Red Lentil Pasta.
  • Soba Noodles.
  • White Pasta.
Jul 13, 2023

Which Japanese noodle is the healthiest? ›

With its wholegrain like appearance and buckwheat heavy base, Soba is the healthier choice when it comes to your Asian noodle game. This is because buckwheat is lower in carbohydrates and lower in calories so it's a good choice for those trying to cut back.

When should I eat somen noodles? ›

Sōmen (素麺,そうめん) are white Japanese noodles made of wheat flour. They are thin, about one mm in diameter, and require a minute of cooking time. It's eaten year-round, but especially during the hot and humid Japanese summers cold with a chilled dipping sauce called tsuyu (麺つゆ).

What does somen mean in Japanese? ›

Borrowed from Japanese 素麺 そうめん (sōmen, “white noodles”).

What does Nagashi somen mean in English? ›

One of the fun experiences of Japanese summer is eating “nagashi somen,” which literally means “flowing noodles.”

What is nagashi somen? ›

Nagashi somen is a dish that helps to cool down the body in the hot Japanese summers. This is because somen noodles are thin and flow easily with water. Diners who want to receive the noodles must stand on either side of the bamboo trough and use quick speed and reasonable chopstick control to catch the noodles.

What is the closest thing to soba noodles? ›

If soba noodles are hard to come by, you can consider using udon noodles as a substitute. Udon noodles are thick and chewy, similar to soba noodles, and can be found in most Asian grocery stores. They are versatile and can be used in various dishes, such as stir-fries, soups, or even cold noodle salads.

What are the three types of soba noodles? ›

In conclusion, zaru soba, mori soba, and seiro soba are three of the most popular soba noodle dishes in Japan. Zaru soba is a cold noodle dish that is served on a zaru mat and garnished with green onions, wasabi, and nori seaweed.

What are soba noodles best for? ›

You can eat them warm or cold, in a brothy soup, or tossed in a noodle salad. Soba noodles are delicious with other Asian-inspired flavors as a side dish with proteins like fish or pork, as a base for chicken or shrimp, or in Asian-inspired dishes like stir-fries. Try them in Ree Drummond's Veggie Stir Fry!

What kind of noodle is somen? ›

Sōmen (素麺,そうめん) are white Japanese noodles made of wheat flour. They are thin, about one mm in diameter, and require a minute of cooking time. It's eaten year-round, but especially during the hot and humid Japanese summers cold with a chilled dipping sauce called tsuyu (麺つゆ).

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