Soba "Nama soba" - 生蕎麦

Nama soba is fresh, uncooked buckwheat noodles - the raw counterpart to the more familiar dried soba sold in bundles. Soba is one of Japan's oldest noodle traditions, traditionally made from buckwheat flour kneaded with water and cut into thin strands.

Because it is fresh rather than dried, nama soba cooks in just one to two minutes and has a softer, more delicate bite with a pronounced buckwheat aroma. It can be served hot in a dashi-based broth or chilled and dipped in tsuyu sauce with wasabi and spring onion.

• Origin: Japan
• Category: Fresh noodles
• Usage: Boil briefly and serve hot in broth, or rinse in cold water and serve chilled with dipping sauce.
• Storage: Keep refrigerated and use promptly, as fresh noodles have a short shelf life; can be frozen for longer storage.