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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Hot! Hot! Hot!

“Mom, am I on fire?” These are the famous words our nephew asked his mother after relocating from the Bay Area to Las Vegas. This past weekend I felt like I was on fire as I drove to the Central Valley, one of the hottest parts of our state, for a family gathering. By the time we arrived at my Uncle’s house it was a cool 107 degrees. Blech.

I’ve lived through humid summers in Japan and New York, but after six years in the coldest part of San Francisco I start to wither if the temperature rises past 85 degrees. Yes, it’s true, the Bay Area weather has made me soft. I’m a heat wuss.

My mother, fully aware of my heat aversion, made one of my favorite summer dishes, Somen, while visiting this past weekend. A thin wheat noodle, Somen is eaten cold and is the perfect dish when it’s sweltering outside, or for me 86 degrees. The noodles can be purchased at most grocery stores, as well as the dashi, or broth.



After cooking the noodles, they are best if cooled in the refrigerator for a couple of hours prior to eating. When served, the somen is placed in a bowl of ice water with a small amount of the dashi in a separate bowl. The dashi is highly concentrated, so you only need a little. You dip the cold noodles into the dashi and the key is to slurp your noodles. Slurping loudly is a polite way of eating your noodles in Japan!


There are many different ways to eat Somen noodles. Some put wasabi into the dashi to make it spicier, while in my family we add lemon and red onions. Somen salad is also a very popular dish in Hawaii.


I highly recommend you try it out for dinner this summer. It’s cheap, refreshing, and the noodles cook in under 3 minutes! If you can’t find the noodles at your local grocery, you can purchase at our favorite, Amazon. Enjoy!

-Kacey
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23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mmmm that sounds good!

Hit 40 said...

The salad looks fabulous!! I might google up the recipe for it.

theUngourmet said...

I know I would love this! It's interesting that the sauce is poured over ice. Very Yummy!

Kimberly said...

That does sound yummy. We are always looking for meals that stand up to the heat. I may have to experiment and try it!

Meg said...

Thanks for reminding me about this! I haven't had this in forever!

Heather said...

I've had somen before and you're right, it's totally refreshing in summer. It's just sort of light and delish. :-) I think I may even try to make it myself!

Jillene said...

YUM!! It looks and sound DELISH!! I am going to have to give it a try. It is supposed to be 93 degrees here today. I wither in the heat too.

Grand Pooba said...

Me so hungy!

I think it is too cold when it's 86 degrees are you kidding me? I'm a wuss, just the other way around!

Carin Davis said...

It looks delicious...and refreshing for a hot summer day!

Eve said...

That sounds wonderful! Mmmm...

Eric said...

LOL! "Mom, am I on fire?"
Cute

Claudya Martinez said...

That sounds delicious!

I'm a heat wuss too. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and I couldn't get out of there soon enough. Too hot. I love the weather in SF.

Jennifer said...

Yum, yum, yum.... SLURP!

Unknown said...

Yum! Thanks for the recommendation!

Listen to this: we have been without AC for a month or so, and last week, our inside temp peeked at 88 degrees. Outside with a breeze, 88 is not bad. Inside, it's an oven. So this weekend, when the temp went down to 86, my 12 y/o daughter was asking for blankets and saying she was cold. WHAT?! I guess it's all relative (or maybe just teenage hormones?!)

Randi Troxell said...

oh yummy! this sounds wonderful...

NovelTeaMommy said...

A dish that sounds yummy and can be prepared in under 10 minutes? Is this Heaven?

Unknown said...

OOh, that does look good. And even on the hottest of days!!

Amy said...

I want to jump in and grab those. YUMMY!!!!!!

Jen said...

this sounds so good. I totally want to try it.

Ann Imig said...

That looks so good and healthy. I also LOVE any version of cold sesame or peanut noodle.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for postin this I love trying out new recipes!

Fiauna said...

Yep. Gonna try this one. My husband lived in Japan for two years. We both love the culture and the food. Can't wait to try this dish!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

That looks delicious!! We're on fire here in FLA too so this is perfect!