Shaved Frozen Tomato Udon

https://youtu.be/YOQkcsXgOl8

Cold noodles are a life-saving, essential staple for hot, humid summers in Japan. Although it is not as hot or humid where I live now compared to Nagoya where I grew up, Japanese cold noodles are still my top choice during the summer months.

Today, I’m excited to introduce this fun, refreshing twist: Shaved Frozen Tomato Udon!

By freezing a whole tomato and shaving it over chilled noodles, it melts into a fresh, delicious icy soup paired with a homemade microwave savory sauce. Perfect for hot summer days when you want something light, fast, and satisfying!

Ingredients

• 1-2 servings Udon noodles (fresh, frozen, or dry)

• 1 Medium tomato (frozen whole)

• Toppings: Shiso leaves, green onions, basil or whatever you like!

Mentsuyu sauce

• 2 tbsp Soy sauce

• 1 ½ tbsp Mirin

• 1 tbsp Sake

• 1 tbsp Water

• 1 tsp Sugar

• ¼ tsp Dashi powder

Instructions

1. Core the tomato, score an "X" on the bottom, freeze in a bag for at least 4 hours.

2. <Once the tomato is fully frozen>

   Quickly dip in water to peel off the skin, then return to the freezer until ready to serve.

3. Mix sauce ingredients and microwave on High for about 1 minute to cook off the alcohol. Cool it down or chill in the fridge.

4. Cook udon noodles according to package instructions. Rinse under/in cold water and drain well.

5. Place noodles on a plate, pour 2–2.5 tbsp of chilled sauce over them, and shave ⅓ to ½ frozen tomato over the top using a fine grater.

6. Garnish with your favorite herbs and enjoy!