Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Hiyashi Chuka (Cold Ramen Noodle Salad)



Hiyashi Chuka is a Japanese cold noodle salad usually served in summer. Cold ramen noodles come with a colourful assortment of toppings, drizzled with a slightly tangy sesame-soy-vinegar dressing. I first tried this dish two years ago at a Japanese restaurant when it was on the special summer menu. It was a scorchingly hot day and the refreshing taste from the cold noodles provided some cool respite from the summer heat.

This dish can be served as an appetizer or main meal, and is great for picnics and parties too. The toppings can be arranged on a separate platter so that your guests (or whoever you're serving) can help themselves to their own choice of vegetables, meat, egg and so on. Some ideas for the toppings include shredded omelette, ham, seafood, cucumbers, carrots, green seaweed (ogonori), wakame, ikura, tomatoes, salad leaves, and the list goes on. In my dish, I used salad leaves, cucumbers, egg, wakame, tomatoes, and some shredded roast duck and char siu (bbq pork). I would have included green seaweed if I had some. It has a delicate and mildly salty taste to it, and lends a cool textural crunch to every bite. I added a little chilli oil to my dressing as it gives a little "smokiness" to the flavour, but you can omit that if you want to make it non-spicy. Here is the recipe below.


Hiyashi Chuka (Cold Ramen Noodle Salad) Recipe
Serves 2

Ingredients

300g fresh ramen noodles
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar

Topping ingredients:
2 cups mixed salad leaves
1/2 cup julienned cucumber
1 tbsp dried wakame, soaked in hot water until softened
Green seaweed
Shredded nori
Chopped scallions
Shredded ham/chicken/meat/prawns/crabstick (optional)

Dressing:
3 tbsp sesame oil
1 1/2 tsp grated  ginger
3 tbsp Japanese rice vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 1/2 tbsp caster sugar
1/2 tsp chilli oil (or to taste)
1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds


Method

Prepare the dressing by whisking all the ingredients together in a bowl until well combined. Put it in the fridge to chill.

Combine the beaten egg with salt and sugar. Heat up a large non-stick pan/wok and lightly grease it with vegetable oil. Pour the egg mixture into the pan and swirl it around quickly to make a large thin omelette. Once cooked, remove and let it cool before shredding it thinly. Set aside.

Cook the ramen in boiling water for 30 seconds or until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water. Then plunge it into a bowl of iced water to cool.

To assemble, place the salad leaves in a bowl and arrange the noodles over them with the topping ingredients. Drizzle over with the dressing and toss until combined. Serve cold.


5 comments:

Nami | Just One Cookbook said...

One of my favorite summer noodles! This year I only made once because it was a rather cool summer. I kind of miss eating Hiyashi Chuka. Yours look really delicious and lots of salad around it - healthy!

Jayanthy Kumaran said...

wow..looks gorgeous...such a nice color imparted n very tempting..
first time here...love your space..
nice presentation with excellent cliks..
Am your happy follower now.;)
do stop by mine sometime..
Tasty Appetite

Sook said...

I know, I am commenting on all your posts... I am seriously impressed with your creativity and photos! Yum!

Fern @ To Food With Love said...

@Jay: Thanks for stoppping by. I've just followed you too! You have heaps of delicious Indian recipes, I'll be learning lots from you :)
@Sook: Feel free to comment on everything (ok, maybe that's a bit much). Happy to know that you're reading my posts ...:)

Anonymous said...

This dressing is AMAZING!!!!!
This has become a staple at my house