Put the noodles in a serving bowl and top it off with your favorite toppings. Tanabata is also known as the Star Festival, because it is a celebration of the reuniting of the lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi (or the stars Vega and Altair), separated by the vast expanse of the Milky Way, for one night a year when Orihime is allowed to cross to be with Hikoboshi. 3 tablespoons soy sauce Brent said it looked too good to not try so we bought the ingredients and are giving it a try! Serve the somen with the cucumber ribbons on a bed of ice cubes in a shallow bowl, along with individual cups of chilled dipping sauce and toppings on the side.

Drain the somen in a colander and rinse them under cold running water, to cool and remove the excess starch from the surface of the noodles. hiyashi somen, keep it up. So I will say the shorter version again :-) But since I've moved to Hainan, China, I've come to like Hainan version using the same kind of noodles. This is either July 7th, or August 7th, depending on whether the region celebrates the holiday according to the Gregorian calendar, or the lunar calendar. Thanks for sharing! They write the wishes on small colorful pieces of paper, known as tanzaku (短冊), and hang them on bamboo, sometimes accompanied by other decorations. In a small bowl, mix rice vinegar, vinegar, and soy sauce together. kamaboko, cut in thin strips (fish cake) 3 . Tanabata is a beautiful holiday — I remember writing my wishes on tanzaku at school and bringing it home. 2 . Somen Salad. I'm originally from Hawaii so I've tasted the Japanese Somen Salad. The delicate noodles, which are easily broken, also remind me of the precarious position of the man on the ladder, which makes me smile. Pinned as a reminder to come back. Total Carbohydrate Chill in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Hiyashi somen—thin, delicate wheat noodles served chilled with tsuyu, a dipping sauce—is one of the most popular meals during the hot and humid summers in Japan. eggs. By this point a small crowd of onlookers had gathered, and I think we all held our breath as each change was made, hoping that the man would retain his balance. Just pour the sauce on top, mix, and you're ready to eat ^_^ Simple and elegant, so refreshing on a … somen noodles, 2. After visiting the temple, Mr. Fuji and I happened to walk down one of the wider streets of the village and saw one of the shop owners balancing at the top of a precarious ladder, while several other men steadied its legs.

It was such fun to follow your Instagram pictures while you were on your trip…it was obvious how much joy you and your family felt being in Japan. Japan, Your love of Japanese culture, ritual and custom shines through here. They write the wishes on small colorful pieces of paper, known as tanzaku (短冊), and hang them on bamboo, sometimes accompanied by other decorations. These noodles are something that I could happily eat every single day.

The day we visited was July 6th, the day before Tanabata, and the little village was alive with preparations for the holiday. Freshly grated ginger Get smart with the Thesis WordPress Theme from DIYthemes.

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1 . And I had completely forgotten about this special holiday as I have not celebrated it for, oh, about 40 years? It would be a pleasure to have you join us! It’s been a long time for me since I’ve been to your blog, and now that I am back, I see that I’ve been missing a lot – lovely recipe and great shots! Here's how to make it. During my trip to Tokyo two years ago, Mr. Fuji and I went out to Jindaiji, the second oldest temple in Japan. For the somen tsuyu (dipping sauce):

I got to know somen last summer when I spent a few weeks in the countryside in Japan, and eat it regularly. Tanabata, The Japanese Somen Salad version I got from my mother and the Hainan Noodles I got from observing street cooks here in Hainan. I am actually attempting this for dinner tonight. stalks green onions, chopped . Love the sound of those chilled delicate noodles on a hot summer day. -Your favorite foodie slave ;). So people pray for good weather and also make wishes for themselves. Reading this lovely post is like a quick visit to Japan. its really amazing and nice pictures, specially decorations and fodds, its my favorite food and i like it so much, appreciated and i am going to share this link with my friends at facebook. I love Tanabata soooooo much that I wrote it into my second book and made it a very significant holiday for my two protagonists :) Such a fun and colorful holiday! It’s also one of the foods enjoyed on Tanabata, one of my favorite Japanese holidays. appreciated man. After getting nods of approval from the two women below, he carefully climbed down the ladder, which was quickly dismantled, and then the moment was over. I loved learning about this holiday! Serve the somen with the cucumber ribbons on a bed of ice cubes in a shallow bowl, along with individual cups of chilled dipping sauce and toppings on the side. Put the noodles in the boiling water and cook for two minutes or until the noodles hand from your chopsticks. We launched less than 2 months ago and already have hundreds of bloggers on board. All rights reserved. I'm originally from Hawaii so I've tasted the Japanese Somen Salad. Copyright © 2020 La Fuji Mama. But will only a Persian or Japanese cucumber work, since I doubt being able to find that kind of thing where I live. Thank you for your beautiful photos, and taking me back to my childhood. A beautiful post and a delicious sounding dish. head napa cabbage, shredded (chinese cabbage) 1 . travel,

There’s nothing better on a hot summer day than some nice cold somen. Scallions, thinly sliced I just left a long long comment here but I don’t see it :-(. So people pray for good weather and also make wishes for themselves. Somen salad is a chilled noodle dish with toppings (like fish cake, cucumbers, carrots, and many more options), and a flavorful sauce poured all over the noodles.

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But since I've moved to Hainan, China, I've come to like Hainan version using the same kind of noodles. Toasted sesame seeds. If the day is rainy, it is said that the Milky Way will flood, making it impossible for Orihime to cross and be with Hikoboshi. cup ham or 1 cup char siu pork, chopped . tsuyu, { 15 comments… read them below or add one }. 1/2 Persian cucumber (or 1 Japanese cucumber), sliced into thin ribbons (I like to use a vegetable peeler!) in Japan, Japanese, Main Course, Rice & Noodles, Tanabata, Travel. I’ll be sure to make some cold somen on the the 7th! ❤︎, impressed to read. If the day is rainy, it is said that the Milky Way will flood, making it impossible for Orihime to cross and be with Hikoboshi. 1 1/4 cups dashi Jindaiji, package somen noodles, boiled or 1 package other thin pasta. 1/4 cup mirin, Toppings: What is a Persian cucumber? Bring the tsuyu to a rolling boil over medium heat and then remove the saucepan from the heat and let cool. It is said that somen noodles resemble the Milky Way or weaving threads (significant because Orihime was a weaver), making it a perfect dish to be consumed on Tanabata. To eat, each person seasons their sauce to taste with the toppings, then dips the chilled somen into the sauce before eating. I wonder what memories you’ll associate your summer somen with?

cucumber, cut in slivers (optional) Next post: Visiting Edo-Tokyo, A Walk Through History.

That bamboo ladder is amazing. Dipping the cool slippery noodles, often served on a bed of ice cubes to keep them perfectly chilled, into the lightly flavored tsuyu (dipping sauce), and then carefully sucking them into my mouth, trying not to drip tsuyu on my chin, is a wonderful way to take a timeout during the hot summer and remember my favorite Tanabata moment.

They critically examined the arrangement and clucked like little mother hens, calling out instructions to the man on the ladder to switch this decoration with that—a process he patiently bore, despite how exasperating it must have been to move decorations taller than he was as he balanced on the rungs of the ladder. As the decorating proceeded, two women emerged from their shops to weigh in on the process. The experience, although seemingly insignificant, was so beautifully perfect that now when I think of Tanabata, it is always associated with this memory. Make the somen tsuyu: Mix the somen tsuyu ingredients together in a medium saucepan. Episode 23: Summer eatin’, having a blast… | Miso Hungry Podcast, Washoku Wednesday: Dashi (Japanese Broth) | Uncovering Japan, Visiting Edo-Tokyo, A Walk Through History, Umeboshi Gohan (梅干しご飯) — Pickled Plum Rice, Stay-at-home Japanese Vegan Cream Stew (クリームシチュー), Eryngii Suimono (Clear Soup with King Oyster Mushrooms). 1.

Also, I would like to invite you to share some of your photos on RecipeNewZ (with Z) – it’s a new recipe sharing website (building which kept me too busy to visit here). I love Jindaiji, but the quaint little village surrounding the temple is even better, giving you the feeling that not much has changed since the Edo period of Japan.

Pour noodles in a colander to drain the water. Your post made me smile. I like this recipe because it is very easy to make and that there are many different toppings. thanks, That looks very fresh and yummy, your pictures are so beautiful ! 3. Thanks for the idea Fuji! I like this recipe because it is very easy to make and that there are many different toppings. 5 %, g of japanese somen noodles (available in the Asian section of most supermarkets). Prepare the somen: Cook the somen noodles according to the package directions. Tanabata literally  means “evening of the seventh,” and is celebrated every year on the seventh day of the seventh month. Put drained noodles in another large bowl and add add cold tap water or ice; Let noodles cool. Happy Tanabata! The Japanese Somen Salad version I got from my mother and the Hainan Noodles I got from observing street cooks here in Hainan. To eat, each person seasons their sauce to taste with the toppings, then dips the chilled somen into the sauce before eating. The man carefully hung large, brightly colored paper decorations onto tall bamboo branches, making adjustments here and there, and then stopping to examine his work. What a beautiful post!