Lemon Somen is a cold somen noodle dish topped with sliced lemon and salted green onions. Somen is a summertime staple in Japan where it gets so unbearably hot and humid. The only thing you can eat in the middle of hot days can be cold somen noodles. It is quick and easy to prepare, so you don’t need to stand in the kitchen for too long, either. No wonder somen is one of the most commonly eaten lunch at home during the summer in Japan.
Somen is typically served with dipping sauce (mentsuyu), green onions, and grated ginger (see our classic Somen recipe.) Or you can top with some protein and vegetables and make a complete meal (see our Gomoku somen recipe.) In this recipe, we feature lemon for added freshness. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is mixed in the sauce, and lemon slices are placed on top of the noodles, which makes it look more appetizing. Chopped green onions are seasoned with salt, sesame oil, and garlic, which not only add the salty flavor but also helps maintain hydration. Try this easy and refreshing noodle dish on a hot summer day!
Lemon Somen
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Ingredients
- 1 lemon
- 2 green onions cut thinly
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/3 cup Mentsuyu
- 1 cup water
- 2 bunches somen noodles
Instructions
- Slice 1/2 lemon thinly and set aside. Squeeze the other 1/2 lemon into a small bowl. Add the thinly cut green onions, salt, and garlic powder to the lemon juice and mix well. Mix the mentsuyu sauce with cold water and set aside.
- Boil the somen noodles according to the package instruction (about 2 minutes.) Strain and wash the somen noodles in running water. Add the ice to the strainer to chill the noodles.
- Serve the somen noodles in a bowl and top with the lemon slices and the salted green onions. Pour the mentsuyu sauce.
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