Chilled Eggplant with Somen Noodles (OR Capellini)

Name: Chilled Eggplant with Somen Noodles (OR Capellini)
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 1 medium (*about 300g) Eggplant *cut into small pieces; 2 tablespoons Canola Oil; 1/2 cup ‘Mentsuyu’; *Note: See ‘Method 1’ to find how to make ‘Mentsuyu’; 1 Spring Onion *finely chopped; Chilli Flakes *as required; 1 teaspoon Grated Ginger *optional; 2 servings ‘Somen’ Noodles OR Capellini (Angel Hair Pasta)

Hiroko Liston @hirokoliston

Melbourne, Australia

What you see in the photo is not ‘Somen’ Noodles. I used ‘Capellini’ (Angel Hair Pasta) this time, because someone had eaten all my ‘Somen’ in the pantry! Fortunately I had ‘Capellini’, which textures is similar to the texture of ‘Somen’. Italian pasta are actually quite suitable for Japanese cooking. This is a summer dish and it should be served COLD. You need to cook Eggplant and chill in the fridge in advance.

Hiroko Liston @hirokoliston

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Ingredients

2 servings

1medium (*about 300g) Eggplant *cut into small pieces
2 tablespoonsCanola Oil
1/2 cup‘Mentsuyu’
*Note: See ‘Method 1’ to find how to make ‘Mentsuyu’
1Spring Onion *finely chopped
Chilli Flakes *as required
1 teaspoonGrated Ginger *optional
2servings ‘Somen’ Noodles OR Capellini (Angel Hair Pasta)

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Steps

1

To make 1/2 cup ‘Mentsuyu’, combine following ingredients in a saucepan and boil for a few minutes. See more details at my ‘Mentsuyu’ recipe page.
- 1/2 cup Water
- 1/3 teaspoon Instant Dashi Powder
- 1 & 1/2 tablespoons Mirin
- 2 tablespoons Soy Sauce
2

Heat Oil in a frying pan, cook Eggplant over medium heat until soft.
3

Combine ‘Mentsuyu’, Chilli Flakes and Ginger (*optional) in a bowl, add cooked Eggplant and set aside to cool. When cooled, place in the fridge to chill.
4

Cook ‘Somen’ Noodles as instructed. DO NOT add Salt to the water. If you cook ‘Capellini’, you need to add some Salt to the water.
5

When noodles are cooked, drain and rinse well in COLD water, and drain well again. The noodles should be cold.
6

Place drained cold ‘Somen’ Noodles in a bowl, place the marinated eggplant, top with some finely chopped Spring Onion, then pour the marinade (mostly ‘Mentsuyu’) over and enjoy!