This Abura Soba recipe is a delicious and flavorful Japanese noodle dish. The noodles are tossed in a savory sauce made with sesame oil, soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and chili oil. The dish is then topped with minced garlic, green onions, bean sprouts, shredded nori, toasted sesame seeds, and a soft boiled egg. It’s a simple and satisfying meal that can be prepared in under 30 minutes.
The dish hails from Japan, where it’s popular as a quick and satisfying meal, especially in busy urban areas. It’s perfect for those days when you want a hearty, flavorful bowl of noodles without the long process of preparing broth. The noodles themselves are typically thick and chewy, giving them the perfect texture to hold up to the rich sauce. The magic happens when the noodles are tossed in a combination of soy sauce, sesame oil, and sometimes a hint of vinegar, creating a balance of salty, nutty, and tangy flavors.
What makes Abura Soba truly special is its versatility. It can be topped with a variety of ingredients depending on your taste. Classic toppings include sliced pork, soft-boiled eggs, green onions, and bamboo shoots, but feel free to get creative. You can add chili oil for heat, sesame seeds for crunch, or even a little nori for an extra umami boost. The combination of flavors and textures in every bite makes it a memorable dish.
Abura Soba is often served at specialty shops in Japan, but it’s easy to recreate at home with a few basic ingredients. It’s a great meal for those looking for something different from the usual noodle soups, but still crave the satisfying depth of traditional Japanese flavors. Whether you’re new to Japanese cuisine or a seasoned pro, Abura Soba offers a delicious twist on your classic noodle dish that will keep you coming back for more.
Ingredients
- 200 g ramen noodles
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp mirin
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp chili oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 Green onions chopped
- 1/2 cup bean sprouts
- 1/4 cup nori shredded (seaweed)
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 egg soft boiled, sliced
Instructions
- Cook the ramen noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sesame oil, soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and chili oil.
- Heat a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the cooked noodles to the skillet and toss to combine with the garlic.
- Pour the sauce over the noodles and stir fry for 2 minutes until heated through.
- Remove from heat and divide the noodles between two bowls.
- Top the noodles with chopped green onions, bean sprouts, shredded nori, toasted sesame seeds, and sliced soft boiled egg.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Just made this but I forgot the bean sprouts, still good but I’d recommend them.
Took me a while to make this, but totally worth it. Next time I’ll chop my onions better tho.
This recipe is awesome! My whole family loved it. I added some chicken for protein.
Noodles good. I no know what mirin is tho. Can just use vinegar?
Simplistic flavor, not bad but not great either. A bit boring tbh.
Absolutely delicious! Used peanut instead of sesame oil, didn’t have any, and it worked!
It was alright, but felt like something was missing. Maybe more chili oil next time?
Um, can someone explain what nori is? Is it like seaweed? Not sure if I can find that.
Yes! Nori is indeed like seaweed. It’s often used in sushi. You can usually find it in the Asian aisle at the grocery store or at an Asian market. Don’t worry, it’s not too hard to find!
I dunno, I’m not a fan of seaweed stuff. Is that really necessary? Can’t you just skip it? Sounds weird to me.
This is the real deal! Love how simple yet authentic this recipe is. Made it last night and it was a hit!
Delicious! The sesame and garlic combo is just perfect. Will be making this again!
Sounds like a lot of work for noodles. I just boil them and eat with soy sauce.
Loved it!! Perfect comfort food after a long day. 🍜
Looks good, but isn’t it kinda simple? I feel like there’s gotta be more to comfort food than just noodles and sauce.
I totally agree! This dish really hits the spot. I love that it’s so easy to make too! 😍
My mom used to make abura soba too! And it was way better, no offense. This one looks easy tho.
I get what you’re saying! Nothing beats a mom’s cooking. But this recipe looks pretty convenient and I might give it a try. Thanks for sharing!
Too much soy sauce, wow. Only eated half because I couldn’t palate it. Disappointing.
I tried making it, but it turned out kinda bland. Maybe I didn’t add enough chili oil?