Go Back
+ servings
Zaru soba noodles with dipping sauce.
Print Recipe
5 from 156 votes

7-Minute Zaru Soba (Cold Soba Noodles)

Zaru soba is a refreshing, Japanese cold soba noodle dish made with buckwheat noodles dipped in mentsuyu, a savory dipping sauce made with bonito flakes and soy sauce. Add nori, scallions, sesame seeds, and grated daikon to add loads of flavor to this quick and easy zaru soba!
Prep Time3 minutes
Cook Time4 minutes
Total Time7 minutes
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: Asian, Japanese
Servings: 2
Calories: 283kcal

Ingredients

Soba Dipping Sauce

Optional Toppings

  • nori strips for the noodles
  • chopped green onions, sesame seeds, grated daikon, wasabi for the dipping sauce

Instructions

Make Soba Dipping Sauce

  • Soba dipping sauce: Mix the tsuyu base and ice-cold water together. Taste and adjust with more water if needed. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
    ⅓ cup tsuyu dipping sauce base, 1 cup ice-cold water
    Cold soba noodle dipping sauce in a bowl next to soba noodles.

Prepare Soba Noodles

  • Boil the soba noodles according to your package directions. Rinse under ice-cold water to remove excess starch. This prevents the noodles from sticking together. Bundle into individual portions and place atop a soba noodle mat to drain excess water. Top with optional nori strips.
    2 bundles soba noodles, nori strips
    Soba noodles or buckwheat noodles boiled then portioned into individual servings and topped with garnish.

Serve

  • Portion out the tsuyu dipping sauce and add any toppings of your choice, including chopped green onions, sesame seeds, grated daikon, and wasabi. Dip the soba noodles into the tsuyu sauce and enjoy!
    chopped green onions, sesame seeds, grated daikon, wasabi
    Zaru soba noodles with dipping sauce.

Notes

  1. Types of soba noodles - Buy soba noodles in any Asian or Japanese grocery store. The texture and flavor will vary depending on the percentage of buckwheat flour. For a strong buckwheat flavor, look for one with a high percentage of buckwheat flour (some are made from 100% buckwheat flour). However, this can create a brittle, dry texture that breaks apart easily. For a softer, more flexible texture, choose one that has a mix of buckwheat flour and wheat flour
  2. Tsuyu Dipping Sauce Base - This is a delicious concentrated base used for all kinds of Japanese noodle soups and dipping sauces. It's flavored with soy sauce, kelp, and mirin and saves you the time and hassle of making your own dashi base while delivering authentic flavor. It's very concentrated so be sure to dilute it with water first.

Nutrition

Calories: 283kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 1.5g | Sodium: 3750mg | Potassium: 3mg | Fiber: 2g | Calcium: 0.3mg | Iron: 0.03mg