Simple Sōmen Salad Recipe: Tips for Making Sōmen Salad

Sōmen salad is a cold noodle salad consisting of thin Japanese sōmen noodles topped with various garnishes and tossed with a tart and savory vinegar-based dressing. Common toppings include shredded cabbage, scrambled eggs, sliced veggies, and chopped herbs.

The popular lunchtime dish fuses flavors and ingredients from Hawaiian and Japanese cuisine. In Hawaii, sōmen salad is a staple side dish at potlucks, barbecues, and school cafeterias.

It’s easy to customize cold sōmen salad to suit your needs. Top it with your go-to favorites, or use it as a canvas for clearing out the crisper drawer.

1. 1. The toppings: While there are a few traditional toppings, you can add whatever you’d like to sōmen salad. Try shredded iceberg lettuce or thinly sliced green cabbage, thinly sliced vegetables, scrambled eggs, slices of pink and white kamaboko fish cake, or chopped pieces of char siu. Use chopped herbs like scallion and cilantro, or sesame seeds or furikake to garnish.
2. 2. The dressing: Dressing ingredients vary according to personal preference. Some recipes may call for chicken broth, dashi, or mirin, while others rely only on soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar. Dial up the sweetness with a bit of sugar, or add heat with a drizzle of chili oil.
3. 3. The noodles: Sōmen noodles are delicate and cook quickly, so be ready to remove them from the heat when they’re ready. Set a timer if necessary, and monitor the pot closely. You can find these extra-fine wheat noodles in most Asian grocery stores or online, but you can also use soba, udon, or ramen noodles in a pinch. However, these substitutions will change the balance of textures in the dish, and you may need to adjust the ratios as a result.

To serve sōmen salad, place the cooled noodles in a large, shallow bowl, then top them with the ingredients of your choice. Drizzle dressing over the top, and toss to coat. It’s best to serve sōmen salad immediately after dressing. Keep the ingredients separate and chilled until ready to serve.