Tororo soba, a comforting and subtly sweet Japanese noodle soup, offers a delightful culinary experience. The dish centers around the unique texture of tororo, finely grated Japanese mountain yam, which creates a luxuriously slimy broth. This isn't just a delicious meal; the yam provides a boost of nutrients, including dietary fiber and vitamin C, making it a surprisingly healthy choice. The combination of warm, savory broth, chewy soba noodles, and the surprisingly delightful sliminess of the yam creates a captivating balance of textures and flavors. You might even find yourself reaching for a second bowl!
Beyond its simple elegance lies a depth of flavor that's easy to achieve. This recipe guides you through preparing a perfectly balanced and flavorful bowl of tororo soba, from preparing the broth to skillfully grating the yam. Ready to learn how to create this delicious and healthy Japanese noodle soup? Let's dive into the step-by-step instructions!
Tools Needed
Ingredients
- Soba noodles (cooked)
- Natto
- Tororo (Chinese yam)
- Green onions
- Natto sauce
- Japanese mustard
- Quail egg: 1
- Ice cubes
- Water
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1. Prepare the Toppings and Noodles
- Open the package and mix strongly. Add natto sauce and Japanese mustard.
- Cut green onions (or use pre-cut and frozen green onions).
- Boil soba noodles (if using uncooked soba) for 1 minute. If using pre-cooked soba, reboil for 1 minute.
- Turn off the heat, drain hot water, and rinse the soba noodles in running water.
- Rinse the soba noodles in ice water to make them chewier.
- Drain the ice water and remove ice cubes.
- Peel and grate the tororo (Chinese yam).
Step 2. Cook and Chill the Soba Noodles
- Boil soba noodles (if using uncooked soba) for 1 minute. If using pre-cooked soba, reboil for 1 minute.
- Turn off the heat, drain hot water, and rinse the soba noodles in running water.
- Rinse the soba noodles in ice water to make them chewier.
- Drain the ice water and remove ice cubes.
Step 3. Assemble the Tororo Soba
- Place the soba noodles on a plate.
- Top with grated tororo, natto, green onions, and a quail egg.
Step 4. Serve and Enjoy
- Pour soba dipping sauce (optional; recipe in yesterday's video).
Read more: 15-Minute Japanese Curry Udon: Quick, Easy, & Delicious Weeknight Dinner
Tips
- The stickiness in natto and tororo comes from mucin, which is good for your health.
- Slopping the noodles enhances the flavor.
Nutrition
- Calories: 250
- Fat: 7g
- Carbs: 40g
- Protein: 12g
FAQs
1. What is tororo?
Tororo is finely grated Japanese mountain yam (yamaimo). It creates a unique, slimy texture and adds nutritional value to the soba.
2. Can I substitute the yamaimo?
While yamaimo provides the best texture and flavor, you can try substituting with other starchy vegetables like finely grated daikon radish, but the slime and flavor will differ.
3. Where can I find soba noodles?
Soba noodles are readily available at most Asian grocery stores and increasingly in well-stocked supermarkets, often found in the international aisle.
Enjoy your delicious and healthy bowl of tororo soba! This recipe is a perfect balance of flavors and textures, offering a satisfying and nutritious meal. Now you can savor the unique experience of this popular Japanese dish anytime you like.