Chilled Soba with Ginger and Edamame
- Makes4 servings
- Cook Time30 minutes
Simple, subdued but umami-rich chilled soba is a quintessential Japanese noodle dish, and a favorite on hot, humid summer days. The classic version, called zaru soba, is a minimalist pairing of just noodles and a dipping sauce. Here, however, we include a few colorful garnishes to round out the meal, and we pour a soy-seasoned broth around the noodles instead of offering sauce on the side. Dashi, the base of this broth and a key ingredient in countless Japanese dishes, is a stock most commonly made with kombu (a type of seaweed) and katsuobushi (shavings of smoked, dried tuna). You can make your own dashi, but store-bought instant dashi, prepared according to the package instructions, works perfectly well. Look for it sold in boxes, bags or jars in the international aisle of the supermarket. Grated daikon, a variety of white radish, is an optional garnish for the soba, but we highly recommend including it. It adds an earthy piquancy that perks up the flavors. If you are using frozen shelled edamame that are already fully cooked, they need only to be thawed (no need to simmer then shock in ice water).
Don’t salt the water for cooking the soba, as most types include salt as an ingredient. Also, don’t undercook the soba—al dente is not the goal. Boil the noodles until they are fully tender, then drain in a colander and rinse under running cold water to quickly halt the cooking.
Step 1
In a medium bowl or 1-quart liquid measuring cup, combine the dashi, soy sauce, mirin and sugar; stir until the sugar dissolves. Set aside until ready to use.
Step 2
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the edamame and cook until tender. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a bowl of ice water; keep the water in the pot at a boil. Let stand until the edamame are cool to the touch, then drain and set aside.
Step 3
To the boiling water, add the soba and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold running water, tossing constantly, until cool to the touch, then drain again, shaking the colander to remove as much water as possible.
Step 4
Divide the soba evenly among 4 serving bowls. Arrange the edamame, carrot, daikon (if using), ginger and scallions on top, evenly dividing the ingredients. Pour the dashi mixture around the noodles and serve immediately.
