Put sōmen at the heart of your meal with these 15 BEST somen noodle recipes, from Korean-inspired cold noodles to sōmen stir-fries.
Are you down for some noodles tonight?
For many of us, noodles are tasty comfort food staples during cold nights and harsh winters.
It’s also a great snack on the go, especially with the rise of instant noodle dishes in cups and food boxes being sold in the market and on the streets.
However, noodles are also perceived as vital to Asian culture and heritage, so much so that some noodle variants and dishes are tied to prosperity and longevity.
Of course, not all noodles are the same, and many variations of these are available in the market.
Many of us may even know some famous noodles out there, including chūka men or ramen, udon, and soba.
This time, let’s look into sōmen noodles.
Sōmen is a thin Japanese noodle made from wheat flour and is often served cold, making this the ideal summer noodle paired with tsuyu, a sauce made from soy sauce, sake, and rice wine, among other ingredients.
This noodle is akin to vermicelli noodles and is known by other names, such as somyeon in Korean and sùmiàn in Chinese.
With standardized measurements of not more than 1.3 millimeters for machine-made noodles and between 1.3 to 1.7 millimeters for hand-made sōmen, sōmen is the thinnest noodle than ramen, udon, and soba.
While not as famed as ramen, udon, and soba, there are lots of dishes made with sōmen that are worth discovering and trying for yourself.
Lovers of Korean food will definitely appreciate traditional sōmen cuisines such as Bibim-Guksu and Banchi-Guksu!
You’ll will also be mesmerized by this Sōmen Noodles With Vegan Nori Dressing recipe!
In this list, we present the 15 sōmen noodle recipes that can be done using sōmen noodles!
Let’s check each of them, shall we?
When it comes to classic sōmen meals that are worth checking out, this should definitely be your gateway.
Hiyashi Sōmen is a cold sōmen noodle dish, so don’t expect it to be saucy and soupy.
Yet, if you’re thinking about whether this dish tastes bland, you don’t have to worry as the noodles are paired with tsuyu and other side dishes to taste.
For this dish, you have to dip the noodles in the tsuyu to savor the full taste of this dish.
Bibim-Guksu is a traditional Korean dish that translates to “mixed noodles.”
In this case, sōmen (or somyeon) is mixed with a wide array of spices and condiments, such as vinegar, soy sauce, and sugar.
However, what makes this dish distinct is its bright red-orange color, thanks to Gochujang, a famed Korean red chili paste.
Depending on your preference, you could choose from a wide array of Gochujang pastes with varying spiciness for your Bibim-Guksu.
While considered a classic Korean cuisine, you could experiment with many garnishes and toppings that could satisfy your cravings, including vegetables, eggs, meats, and even kimchi.
Can’t get enough of guksu or Korean noodle dishes?
Janchi-Guksu is a mild-tasting sōmen soup delicacy where noodles are cooked with anchovy broth and topped with zucchini, seaweed, and egg strips.
This dish is typically served during special events, hence the name, which means “banquet noodles.”
However, since this dish does not require a complicated process, you could easily make one of these as your comfort food.
Lovers of seafood will definitely appreciate this one.
For this Lobster & Mushroom Sōmen dish, the broth is made by adding tsuyu to the soup water base, creating a tasty and delicate soup that works well with the noodles.
Aside from the noodles, two other highlights of this dish are grilled lobster claws and mushrooms, which are grilled before placing them on top of the noodles.
Thin and creamy defines this Korean soy milk noodle dish known as Kong-Guksu.
With a name like Kong-Guksu, which translates to “noodles in cold soybean soup,” you’ll exactly get what the name suggests.
To create milk, soybeans will be boiled and softened before putting them in a blender.
Depending on your preference, you could refrigerate your soybean milk or pour it into sōmen noodles and put ice cubes on it.
Chinese New Year has always been a celebration and hope for a prosperous future.
This is reflected in the jam-packed meals and delicacies that are often attached to concepts of luck, longevity, and prosperity.
Aside from that, these meals are eye-catching and are shared by families, loved ones, and acquaintances.
In this case, this Longevity Noodles With Chicken Meatballs is definitely perfect for Chinese New Year and other festive celebrations.
Often, Chinese egg noodles known as Yu Mien are used for this dish, but you can also use thin sōmen noodles for this one.
Add meatballs, boiled eggs, and veggies to the mix, and you’ll have a delicious and hearty noodle soup dish.
If you’re looking for a quick sōmen recipe, then this Okinawa Three Minute Noodle recipe is a perfect choice.
As the name suggests, you could make this easy noodle recipe in three minutes.
Well, not actually three minutes, but the name implies that you could make this one in as little time as possible.
You don’t have to spend much on a lot of ingredients, as this dish works well with only sōmen, tofu, and some spices and condiments.
Not all sōmen dishes are served with noodles and a few garnishes alone, as you can experiment with various garnishes and toppings.
This sōmen noodle dish combines the thin and soft texture of sōmen with the salty-sweet flavors of the miso soup and the chewy pork belly slices pan-fried to perfection.
Like many other sōmen noodle dishes on this list, this recipe does not require much preparation, making this the perfect comfort food meal across the day and night.
Do you know that sōmen also complements well with fish?
In this case, you could have some nice flaky sea bream slices on your noodles through this special sōmen dish.
In this case, fish broth seasoned with dashi, mirin, soy sauce, and sugar is poured into sōmen before topping it with small slices of sea bream.
For pescetarians and lovers of seafood meals, this meal will definitely grab your attention and appetite.
Tofu soup has always been a favorite among those who prefer a nice, tasty soup dish with the milky, chunky taste of tofu.
You can also create a tasty tofu soup dish with sōmen that will make your stomach full after a while.
In this case, you could either boil or pan-fry your tofu before adding it as a topping to your dish.
Vegans, this dish is intended to suit your lifestyle.
For this cold noodle salad bowl, you could create this unique nori dressing with an umami taste.
In this case, the dressing is made from shredded nori or seaweeds, sesame seeds, sesame oil, sugar, and salt.
On top of that, you could garnish this dish with kimchi, cucumber slices, nuts, and more.
12. Sōmen Salad
Most recipes in this list are mainly soups or cold noodle dishes, so why not try some salads too?
In this case, you’ll only need some cooked and chilled somen, some meats such as egg and meat strips, crab sticks, and sliced vegetables, such as carrots and cabbages.
You could also recreate this sōmen salad dish with other preferred food items.
For this easy oriental meatless noodle recipe, the main highlight would be the marinated tofu and asparagus.
This doesn’t mean you’ll shrug sōmen, as the noodles are also cooked using the marinade sauce to flavor your tofu and asparagus.
The Philippines may not be the most oriental country in Asia—as they mostly adopted Spanish and American influences, but the country has a rich gastronomic tradition influenced by East Asian neighbors, particularly China.
In this case, this Stir Fry Shrimp Sōmen recipe is more akin to the Filipinos’ Pancit Bihon Guisado in terms of preparation.
However, a typical Pancit uses rice vermicelli noodles (known locally as “bihon”), but you could also use sōmen for this one as it’s close to the local bihon.
This recipe is a staple of family gatherings, potlucks, and banquets across all sections of society and is typically associated with longevity and prosperity.
Last but not the least, we have this stir-fried Teriyaki Chicken With Sōmen Noodles.
Chicken Teriyaki is a classic oriental barbeque staple with a distinct use of marinated sauce made from soy sauce and sake or mirin wine.
This addition to the noodle dish makes sōmen more flavorful than ever!
The bottom line
Sōmen noodles may not be the more known noodle staple in the market, as compared to udon, ramen, and soba, but its thin, slender texture when cooked makes for great meals on dinner tables and banquets.
Like other noodles, sōmen can be easily bought from various groceries and supermarkets near you.
Not only that, but sōmen is also easy to prepare, making it suitable for instant snacks and nighttime comfort meals.
For your next comfort food dish and potluck idea, sōmen noodles are a worthy pick!
BEST Somen Noodle Recipes
Put sōmen at the heart of your meal with these 15 BEST somen noodle recipes, from Korean-inspired cold noodles to sōmen stir-fries.
Ingredients
- Hiyashi Sōmen (Cold Sōmen Noodles With Dipping Sauce)
- Bibim-Guksu (Korean Spicy Cold Noodles)
- Janchi-Guksu (Banquet Noodles)
- Lobster & Mushroom Sōmen
- Kong-Guksu (Soy Milk Noodle Soup)
- Longevity Noodles With Chicken Meatballs
- Okinawa Three Minute Noodles
- Sōmen Noodle Soup With Pan-Fried Pork Belly
- Sōmen Noodles With Sea Bream
- Sōmen Noodles & Tofu Soup
- Sōmen Noodles With Vegan Nori Dressing
- Sōmen Salad
- Sōmen With Tofu & Asparagus In A Chinese Dressing
- Stir Fry Shrimp Sōmen
- Teriyaki Chicken With Sōmen Noodles
Instructions
- Have a look at our list of Somen Noodle Recipes.
- Choose the dish you want to recreate.
- Start cooking your newly found recipe!
- Share your insights on our Facebook page!