Japanese Soba

Embark on a delightful culinary journey with our authentic Japanese Soba recipe. This recipe offers the option to use low-carb and gluten-free Edamame Noodles that pairs perfectly with a flavorful mentsuyu dipping sauce, brimming with umami and topped with fresh green onions and ginger.

Savor the delightful combination of bouncey texture and rich flavors as you indulge in this healthy and satisfying dish.

Japanese cold noodle soba made with edamame noodles being picked up with a pair of chopstick and dipping into mentsuyu sauce.

What is Japanese Soba?

Japanese Soba is a traditional dish featuring buckwheat noodles served cold with a flavorful dipping sauce called mentsuyu.

This recipe alos offers the option of using edamame noodles, providing a keto-friendly, low-carb, and gluten-free twist to the classic dish.

What does Japanese soba taste like?

The mentsuyu sauce is a harmonious blend of slight sweetness and savory umami, perfectly complementing the firm yet soft, chewy texture of the noodles.

Additionally, the sauce can be customized with various toppings to suit individual preferences, enhancing its flavor profile even further.

What is mentsuyu sauce?

Mentsuyu sauce is a delectable, sweet, and savory dipping sauce bursting with umami flavors, perfect for dipping soba noodles.

While typically made with Japanese sake, sweetener, mirin, dashi, and soy sauce, our mentsuyu recipe uses homemade mirin to maintain better control over sugar levels.

What toppings can I add into the mentsuyu sauce for Japanese soba?

Other delightful variations of toppings to enhance the mentsuyu sauce for Japanese soba include:

  • Chopped Umeboshi
  • Dried seaweed
  • Wasabi
  • Myoga
  • Green Onions
  • Ginger

Japanese cold noodle soba served in a wooden bowl with mentsuyu sauce in the middle.

What kind of noodles can you use for Japanese soba?

  • Zaru Soba – also known as buckwheat noodles, is the traditional choice and is made primarily from buckwheat flour. These noodles typically have a light brown tint, but variations in color can occur depending on the wheat flour used in the mixture. Zaru soba is higher in carbs as it includes wheat in its composition.
  • Edamame Noodles – serves as an excellent substitute for traditional noodles. Made from edamame or soybeans, these noodles are not only keto-friendly and low-carb but also gluten-free. The texture of Edamame Noodles closely resembles that of zaru soba, providing a delightful and healthier alternative for your Japanese soba dishes.

What ingredients do I need to make Japanese soba?

  • Noodles – edamame noodles for keto and low carb recipe. Can be found in the dry noodles and paste section at grocery stores. For traditional noodles, use Japanese buckwheat soba noodles.
  • Japanese Sake – typically will come in a large bottle labeled junmai sake. Can also substitute with dry sherry wine or Chinese cooking wine. 
  • Soy Sauce – low sodium preferred. Can also use tamari for gluten-free and coconut aminos for keto. 
  • Sweetener use your preferred sweetener. 
  • Bonito Flakes – dried fish flakes responsible for the taste of umami and creating dashi stock. Found at most Asian grocery stores. Can also sub with hondashi.
  • Cold Water  filtered cold water.
  • Green Onions – fresh chopped green onion scallions.
  • Ginger – freshly grated ginger.

What are the instructions to make Japanese soba?

To make Japanese soba, start by preparing the mentsuyu dipping sauce in a saucepan, combining Japanese sake, soy sauce, sweetener, and dashi. Simmer until the sauce is slightly concentrated.

Boil the edamame noodles in a large pot following the packaging instructions, approximately 4 minutes, or 3-5 minutes for zarusoba. Chill the cooked noodles under cold running water and serve them cold.

Adjust the mentsuyu sauce’s concentration to your liking by adding cold filtered water, then garnish with your choice of toppings and dip the noodles into the flavorful mentsuyu sauce.

What is the nutrition information for this Japanese soba recipe?

  • 627 Calories
  • 9g Carbohydrates
  • 1g Fiber
  • 122g Protein
  • 1g Fat
  • 119mg Cholesterol
  • 2095mg Sodium
  • 1603mg Potassium
  • 6mg Calcium
  • 1mg Iron
  • 60ui Vitamin A
  • 1mg Vitamin C

Japanese cold noodle soba made with edamame noodles being picked up with a pair of chopsticks.

Looking for other Japanese recipes?

Now, let’s get making this Japanese Soba recipe!

  • Prepping Time 5M
  • Cooking Time 5M
  • Total Time 10M
  • Net Carb/Serv ~8g
  • Servings 2

Ingredients

  • 4 oz Edamame Noodles (or Japanese soba noodles of choice)
  • 1/3 Cup Japanese Sake
  • 1/4 Cup Soy Sauce
  • 2 tbsp Sweetener (sugar alternative, sugar or preferred sweetener)
  • 1 1/2 Cup Bonito Flakes (can sub with 1/4 tsp of hondashi)
  • 2 1/2 tbsp Cold Water (add more water for lighter sauce)
  • 1 Stalk Green Onion
  • 1/2 Inch Ginger

Directions

1) Gather all the ingredients.

Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (44)

2) Boil about 3-4 cups of water in a stove top pot.

Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (24)

3) While waiting for the water to boil, in another stove top pot, add Japanese Sake, Soy Sauce, sweetener and bring to light boil. Once lightly boiling, reduce heat to simmer, mix in Bonito Flakes and simmer for 1 minute. Once 1 minute has passed, remove from heat and set aside. This will be your ‘mentsuyu’ or concentrated dipping sauce.

Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (17)

Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (19)

Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (20)

4) Finely slice green onions and transfer to serving plate.

Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (8)

5) Grind down ginger with grater and transfer to serving plate.

Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (45)

6) Once water is boiling from step 2), add Edamame Noodles and follow cooking instructions indicated on package (ours required to steep in boiled water for 4 minutes). Once cooked, use a strainer and wash in cold water. Transfer to serving plate.

Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (21)

7) Using a strainer, strain mentsuyu sauce into a bowl and use a spoon to push out any excess sauce from the Bonito Flakes.  Next, mix 2 1/2 tbsp of cool water into the concentrated dipping sauce and split sauce equally among servings. Note – if you would like a lighter sauce, add more water and visa versa.

Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (43)

8) To enjoy, add selected toppings into the mentsuyu dipping sauce and mix well. Then take a little bit of the noodles, dip into the dipping sauce and enjoy!

Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (46)

Hope you enjoy your Japanese Soba!

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More Recipes

Japanese cold noodle soba served in a wooden bowl with mentsuyu sauce in the middle.

Japanese Soba

Experience the authentic flavors of Japanese Soba with our delicious recipe featuring a savory mentsuyu dipping sauce. This easy-to-make dish offers options for keto-friendly, low-carb, and gluten-free variations, making it a delightful and versatile choice for your meal!
4.72 from 7 votes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Japanese
Keyword: Japanese soba, keto noodles, mentsuyu recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2
Print Recipe
Calories: 627kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 oz Edamame Noodles
  • 1/3 Cup Japanese Sake
  • 1/4 Cup Soy Sauce
  • 2 tbsp Sweetener sugar alternative, sugar or preferred sweetener
  • 1 1/2 Cup Bonito Flakes can sub with 1/4 tsp of hondashi
  • 2 1/2 tbsp Cold Water add more water for lighter sauce
  • 1 Stalk Green Onion
  • 1/2 Inch Ginger

Instructions

  • Gather all the ingredients.
    Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (44)
  • Boil about 3-4 cups of water in a stove top pot.
    Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (24)
  • While waiting for the water to boil, in another stove top pot, add Japanese Cooking Sake, Soy Sauce, sweetener and bring to light boil. Once lightly boiling, reduce heat to simmer, mix in Bonito Flakes and simmer for 1 minute. Once 1 minute has passed, remove from heat and set aside. This will be your 'mentsuyu' or concentrated dipping sauce.
    Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (20)
  • Finely slice green onions and transfer to serving plate.
    Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (8)
  • Grind down ginger with grater and transfer to serving plate.
    Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (45)
  • Once water is boiling from step 2), add Edamame Noodles and follow cooking instructions indicated on package (ours required to steep in boiled water for 4 minutes). Once cooked, use a strainer and wash in cold water. Transfer to serving plate.
    Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (40)
  • Using a strainer, strain mentsuyu sauce into a bowl and use a spoon to push out any excess sauce from the Bonito Flakes. Next, mix 2 1/2 tbsp of cool water into the concentrated dipping sauce and split sauce equally among servings. Note - if you would like a lighter sauce, add more water and visa versa.
    Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (43)
  • To enjoy, add selected toppings into the mentsuyu dipping sauce and mix well. Then take a little bit of the noodles, dip into the dipping sauce and enjoy!
    Low Carb Japanese Soba Recipe (46)

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 627kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 122g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 2095mg | Potassium: 1603mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg
*Values Based Per Serving
Did you make this recipe?Tag @LowCarbingAsian on Instagram and hashtag it #LowCarbingAsian

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2 Comments

  1. substitute for Japanese sake?

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