In Japan, each slurp of toshikoshi soba brings new tidings for the year ahead. Learn how to make this traditional hot soba noodle soup for New Year’s Eve.

Toshikoshi Soba Recipe: How to Make ‘Year Crossing’ Noodles

Japanese toshikoshi soba, or “year crossing” soba, features tender buckwheat noodles in a hot dashi broth, garnished with sliced scallions and various other toppings like [kamaboko](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kamaboko-guide) (fish cakes), tempura, wakame <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-edible-seaweed' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-edible-seaweed","linkCopy":"seaweed","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>seaweed</a>, and egg. 

A dish of toshikoshi soba may precede the lacquered boxes of special Japanese New Year (Ōmisoka) dishes known as [osechi](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/osechi-guide). Enjoying soba noodles in this way became a widespread tradition during the Edo period (1603–1867) and has remained a cherished ritual in modern times. 

If you want to make this hot noodle dish a part of your own New Year’s ritual, consider the following tips: 

1. __Make homemade dashi__. While you can use instant dashi powder to make quick broth, purists will tell you the broth’s flavor is far better when made from scratch. Find sheets of dried kelp (kombu) and [dried bonito flakes](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bonito-flakes-explained) (katsuobushi) in Asian grocery stores and supermarkets. To make vegetarian [dashi](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/dashi-explained), swap the bonito flakes for dried shiitake mushrooms. 
2. __Save time with tsuyu__. Skip the dashi-making process altogether, and dilute a bottle of dipping sauce known as mentsuyu or tsuyu. Use about a quarter cup of [mentsuyu](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/mentsuyu-recipe) for every two cups of water. Adjust the flavor with a bit of soy sauce or mirin, if desired. 
3. __Use the correct noodles__. The star of toshikoshi soba is the long, thin noodle strands made from buckwheat flour and water that symbolize long life and resilience. [Soba noodles](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-soba-noodles) are light to dark brown and have a nutty taste. Unlike udon or [ramen](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/ramen-recipe), soba noodles are gluten-free. 

In Japan, each slurp of toshikoshi soba brings new tidings for the year ahead. Learn how to make this traditional hot soba noodle soup for New Year’s Eve.

Japanese toshikoshi soba, or “year crossing” soba, features tender buckwheat noodles in a hot dashi broth, garnished with sliced scallions and various other toppings like <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kamaboko-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kamaboko-guide","linkCopy":"kamaboko","category":null}'>kamaboko</a> (fish cakes), tempura, wakame <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-edible-seaweed' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-edible-seaweed","linkCopy":"seaweed","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>seaweed</a>, and egg. A dish of toshikoshi soba may precede the lacquered boxes of special Japanese New Year (Ōmisoka) dishes known as <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/osechi-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/osechi-guide","linkCopy":"osechi","category":null}'>osechi</a>. Enjoying soba noodles in this way became a widespread tradition during the Edo period (1603–1867) and has remained a cherished ritual in modern times.

What Is Toshikoshi Soba?

If you want to make this hot noodle dish a part of your own New Year’s ritual, consider the following tips: <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Make homemade dashi. While you can use instant dashi powder to make quick broth, purists will tell you the broth’s flavor is far better when made from scratch. Find sheets of dried kelp (kombu) and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bonito-flakes-explained' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bonito-flakes-explained","linkCopy":"dried bonito flakes","category":null}'>dried bonito flakes</a> (katsuobushi) in Asian grocery stores and supermarkets. To make vegetarian <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/dashi-explained' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/dashi-explained","linkCopy":"dashi","category":null}'>dashi</a>, swap the bonito flakes for dried shiitake mushrooms. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Save time with tsuyu. Skip the dashi-making process altogether, and dilute a bottle of dipping sauce known as mentsuyu or tsuyu. Use about a quarter cup of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/mentsuyu-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/mentsuyu-recipe","linkCopy":"mentsuyu","category":null}'>mentsuyu</a> for every two cups of water. Adjust the flavor with a bit of soy sauce or mirin, if desired. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Use the correct noodles. The star of toshikoshi soba is the long, thin noodle strands made from buckwheat flour and water that symbolize long life and resilience. <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-soba-noodles' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-soba-noodles","linkCopy":"Soba noodles","category":null}'>Soba noodles</a> are light to dark brown and have a nutty taste. Unlike udon or <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/ramen-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/ramen-recipe","linkCopy":"ramen","category":null}'>ramen</a>, soba noodles are gluten-free. </li></ol>

3 Tips for Making Toshikoshi Soba

Traditional Toshikoshi Soba Recipe

In Japan, each slurp of toshikoshi soba brings new tidings for the year ahead. Learn how to make this traditional hot soba noodle soup for New Year’s Eve.

In Japan, each slurp of toshikoshi soba brings new tidings for the year ahead. Learn how to make this traditional hot soba noodle soup for New Year’s Eve.
