By Kanako Koizumi
In recent posts, I have expressed admiration for seasonal food and ingredients. Well, in Japan, there is nothing more seasonal than Hiyashi Chuka in summer time. Toward the end of the Tsuyu (Japan’s rainy reason from mid-June to the end of July), you start seeing banners flapping in front of local Chinese and Japanese eateries that read, ”Hiyashi Chuka Hajimemashita (Hiyashi Chuka is now available).” That means, “Summer is here. If you don’t eat Hiyashi Chuka now, it will be gone before you know it.”
Hiyashi Chuka, chilled ramen noodles with a variety of shredded vegetables, eggs, meat toppings, and cold tare (vinegar dressing), is a very popular dish that is often made at home. The easiest way to make it is to get a packaged Hiyashi Chuka kit that includes noodles and tare, which you can find in many Asian grocery stores these days. But it’s so easy to make your own tare, and topping choices are very flexible. You can use any leftover veggies in the fridge, although Kinshi tamago (shredded egg crepe), cucumber, and either ham, cha-shu pork, or chicken tenders are seen in most recipes.
The most common tare is amazu dare (a soy sauce-based sweet and sour dressing). There is also goma dare, a richer tare that includes sesame paste. I am sharing a simple recipe with amazu dare. You can then add some creative twists to make your own version of Hiyashi Chuka. Recently, I went to Uwajimaya to get some ramen noodles for Hiyashi Chuka (regular fresh ramen noodles can be used to make Hiyashi Chuka), only to find the shelf empty. So, waste no time making your own Hiyashi Chuka before it’s gone for another year!
Hiyashi Chuka (Chilled Ramen with Amazu Dare dressing)
Serves 4
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Passive time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
Amazu Dare (yields about 2 cups)
- 180 ml. or 6 fl. oz. kombu dashi (to make, soak a 4-inch piece of kombu (dried kelp) in 2 cups room temperature water for an hour, then remove and discard kombu)
- 180ml or 6 fl. oz. soy sauce
- 200-220 ml. or about 7 fl. oz. rice vinegar
- 6 tbsp. sugar
- 100 ml. or 3.5 fl. oz. mirin
- 1 tbsp. sesame oil
- 2 tbsp. juice from grated fresh ginger (optional)
- About 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
Noodles and toppings
- 12-16 oz. ramen noodles (preferably uncooked noodles, available in the freezer section at Asian groceries)
- 6-8 oz. chicken breast fillets, chicken tenders, store-bought cooked cha-shu pork, or cooked ham
- 1 oz ginger root (if using chicken)
- I bunch green onions, about 3″ of green part only (if using chicken)
- 2 Persian or 1/3 English cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly julienned
- 2 medium tomatoes, each cut into 8 wedges
- Note: You can also add other vegetables such as wakame seaweed, blanched bean sprouts, shredded lettuce, or cooked shiitake mushrooms.
- 4 eggs
- A pinch of salt
- 1/2 tsp. potato starch mixed with 1/2 tsp. water
- 2 tbsp. powdered Japanese mustard mixed with 2 tbsp. water, or 2 tbsp. prepared mustard paste
Instructions
- For amazu dare, combine all ingredients except ginger and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Turn off heat, add ginger and lemon juice, and transfer tare to a container. Allow it to cool to room temperature, then chill in fridge. The tare will keep for up to a month in the fridge, so you should have enough to make Hiyashi Chuka several times.
- For Kinshi tamago (shredded egg crepe), beat eggs and add a pinch of salt and the potato starch mixture. Mix well. Heat a 9-inch non-stick or greased stainless steel pan over medium heat. Pour one quarter of the egg batter into the pan, spreading the batter evenly to cover the entire bottom of the pan. Cook for about 30 seconds, or until the surface is no longer wet and the edges are starting release from the pan edges. Pick up the edge of the crepe and flip it. Cook for about 10 to 15 seconds, transfer the crepe to a cutting board, and cool to room temperature. Cut the crepe into quarters, stack the pieces into a pile, then slice them thinly. Put aside.
- If you are using chicken breast for the meat topping, place chicken in a deep pot and add enough water to cover by one inch, along with ginger root and green onion. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-high, and cook for one minute. Cover pot and turn off the heat. Leave the lid on for about 30 minutes; chicken will continue to cook with residual heat. Cut into chicken to make sure it is no longer pink inside. Tear cooked chicken into shreds. If you are using cha-shu pork or cooked ham, slice into matchstick-sized pieces about 2 inches long. Put aside.
- For noodles, boil 7-8 cups of water in a deep pot. Follow the cooking instructions on the package. Cooking time is usually 1-3 minutes. Drain noodles and give them a quick rinse under cold running water.
- Divide the cooked noodles into four portions and put each serving in a shallow bowl or on a plate. Garnish with Kinshi tamago, cucumber, meat, and tomatoes, and put a teaspoon of mustard on the edge of the bowl or plate. Pour 4 oz of amazu dare around the noodles and mix tare and mustard if you like as you toss the toppings and noodles together. Enjoy the authentic Hiyashi Chuka experience!
Recipe by Kanako Koizumi | www. kozmokitchen.com
Kanako, a native of Akita, Japan, is a chef, author and instructor focused on authentic Japanese home cooking. She will be teaching Bento and Izakaya classes in June at Tom Douglas’ Hot Stove Society and ChefShop in Seattle. Chef Kanako also offers in-home private cooking classes for groups up to 12. You can reach her at info@kozmokitchen.com.
Kanako is teaching onigiri hands-on and sushi making classes at Hot Stove Society in August. Sign up now and let’s have more fun together!
- Bento demo and Onigiri Hands-on class:https://www.hotstovesociety.com/classes/bento1
- Sushi Making Class: https://www.hotstovesociety.com/classes/sushi1
