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.
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.
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
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!
