Ramen, Somen, Soba: well-known types of noodles from Japan
Ramen, Somen and Soba are the tasty different types of noodles from Japan. Perhaps you have run into culinary delights before. Read here exactly what the difference is with these pasta.
From Ramen, Somen, Soba and Co.
Japanese cuisine is world-famous for its healthy, simple, yet refined dishes and has long ceased to be popular only in Asia.
- In addition to sushi, rice and bento boxes, various noodles are also part of the daily menu of Japanese cuisine.
- In Japanese dishes, various noodles are often served as a side dish and can be used in a variety of ways: cooked hot or cold, with a dip or as soup.
Ramen - the most famous Japanese noodle
Ramen noodles are made from wheat flour, salt, water and Kansui (a kind of lye water) and have their origin in Chinese cuisine. In addition to the type of noodle, a ready-made noodle soup is often referred to as ramen. This can be prepared in different ways:
- Shoyu-Ramen : Clear broth with soy sauce.
- Miso ramen : broth flavored with miso and chili.
- Shio-Ramen: Salty broth, which is mostly cooked from fish and seafood.
- Tonkotsu Ramen: Light, cloudy broth made from pork bones is prepared.
- Nowadays ramen is available at many snacks worldwide or as a ready-made soup in almost every supermarket.
Buckwheat noodles: soba
Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour.
- Soba noodles are often more filling and healthier than ramen and contain many proteins and vitamins.
- Soba are most often eaten cold and dipped in a spicy dip: a classic Japanese summer dish.
- Soba are traditionally served on New Year's Eve. Eaten before the new year is said to bring you a long life.
Udon noodles
Udon are thicker noodles made from wheat flour, salt and sea water.
- Udon are not equally popular with everyone. Many find the consistency of Udon noodles too slippery.
- Udon are mainly used for soups. Together with an egg, nori and spring onions, you will pour broth over it and eat it.
Thin and tasty: Somen
Somen are very thin Japanese noodles and are made from wheat flour. They are white and mostly very long.
- Somes are most often eaten cold and either dipped in a sauce or prepared as a salad.
- Somes taste a little sweet and are therefore often used as a dessert.
- According to the old cooking tradition, it was unfortunate in Japan when noodles broke during production. Somes were often up to two meters long.
If you like to cook Japanese food, you should definitely make sushi yourself. Read tips and tricks for successful sushi in the next post.