Name: Chilled green-tea soba with grated daikon and dipping sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 200 gm dried green-tea soba noodles (see note); 1/2 tsp grapeseed oil; 1/2 tsp sesame oil; shiso leaves (optional; see note), finely grated daikon and thinly sliced spring onion, to serve; Soba dipping sauce; 25 gm dried bonito flakes (see note); 2 tbsp light soy sauce or shoyu (see note), or to taste; 2 tbsp mirin; 1/2 tsp finely grated ginger

Chilled green-tea soba with grated daikon and dipping sauce

Chilled noodles are a life-saver in summer. Use them as a base for all your favourite accompaniments: pickles, tofu, greens and more.

Serves 4

Prep

15M

Cook

10M

Total

25M

Chilled soba is a refreshing summer dish, made even more so when the dipping sauce is served chilled. Mix and match the accompaniments – pickles won’t hurt, while adding tofu and snow peas will turn it into more of a meal.

Ingredients

200 gm dried green-tea soba noodles (see note)

1/2 tsp grapeseed oil

1/2 tsp sesame oil

shiso leaves (optional; see note), finely grated daikon and thinly sliced spring onion, to serve

Soba dipping sauce

25 gm dried bonito flakes (see note)

2 tbsp light soy sauce or shoyu (see note), or to taste

2 tbsp mirin

1/2 tsp finely grated ginger

Method

1.For soba dipping sauce, bring bonito flakes and 300ml water to a simmer, then remove from heat and stand to infuse for 5-6 minutes. Strain, pressing all liquid out of bonito flakes, then add soy, mirin and ginger. Refrigerate to chill.

2.Cook soba in a saucepan of boiling water, arresting the boiling water twice during cooking by adding 125ml cold water, until noodles are tender (3-4 minutes). Drain, refresh in iced water, then drain well. Toss with oils to coat and serve cold with shiso leaves, daikon, spring onion and dipping sauce.

Green-tea soba noodles are available from select supermarkets; substitute 100 percent buckwheat soba. Bonito flakes are available from the Asian section of select supermarkets and from Asian grocers, or substitute 1 tsp dashi powder, available from select supermarkets. Shoyu, traditionally brewed Japanese soy sauce, is available from Asian supermarkets. Shiso is available from select Asian grocers.
Drink Suggestion: A crisp, dry Hunter sémillon. Drink suggestion by Max Allen
Notes