[Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture] Have you heard of the local delicacy "Shiroishi Onmen"? We'll also introduce some recommended recipe variations!

a local specialty of Miyagi Prefecture"Shiroishi Umen,"? It's popular within the prefecture, but it's probably an unfamiliar food to people outside of Miyagi.

So, this time we will introduce the appeal of Shiraishi Onmen and some recommended recipes

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What kind of ingredients are Shiraishi Onmen?

First, we will tell you about the characteristics and appeal of Shiraishi Onmen

Shiroishi Onmen is a specialty of Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture

Shiraishi Udon noodles are a dish with a history of approximately 400 years andare popular in Shiraishi City, in the southern part of Miyagi Prefecture.

Its origins date back to the Genroku period of the Edo period

At that time, in the castle town of Shiroishi, a man named Suzuki Ajiemon had developed an upset stomach and was bedridden for days without eating. Worried about his father, Ajiemon's son learned how to make noodles without oil from a traveling monk, and after practicing the method, his father began to recover

When this story reached the ears of the lord of the castle at the time, the noodles were presented to him, and"heartwarming act,"because of"Onmen" (warm noodles). It is said that from this point on, the noodles began to be manufactured and sold mainly in the castle town.

Nowadays, if you go to a supermarket in Miyagi Prefecture, you can almost always find Shiraishi Onmen sold in the dried noodle section

Are somen noodles and Shiraishi warm noodles different?

Shiraishi Umen noodles look similar to somen noodles and are classified under the same category, butthe presence or absence of oilandthe length of each noodlethe key differences are

Firstly, while somen noodles are generally made by stretching the noodles with cooking oil,oonmen noodles are made without using oil, making them gentler on the stomach and easier to digest.

longabout 19 centimeterswhile somen noodles areoonmen noodlesare shorter, at about 9 centimeters, making them easier to boil and eat.

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Where can I buy Shiraishi Onmen?

Shiraishi Onmen can be purchased at most supermarkets and department stores in Miyagi Prefecture. Unlike somen noodles, Shiraishi Onmen can be eaten all year round, so they are often available regardless of the season

If you are visiting Miyagi Prefecture as a tourist, in addition to the supermarkets, it is a good idea to check out the local specialty corners in the train stations

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Introducing a delicious way to eat Shiraishi Warm Noodles!

From here on, we will introduce some delicious recipes for Shiraishi warm noodles

How to boil it deliciously

Shiraishi Onmen are boiled in hot water just like somen noodles, and then eaten by dipping them in soup or stir-frying them. When boiling, we recommend soaking them in plenty of hot water for about 3 minutes, then removing them and rinsing them lightly under running water to remove the slime, which will give them a smooth texture

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【Recipe 1: Okuzukake

"Okuzukake" is a local dish from Miyagi Prefecture that contains plenty of vegetables and warm noodles, and the combination of the thick soup and smooth noodles is excellent

material

• 3 bundles of Shiroishi warm noodles
• 1/4 carrot
• 3 shiitake mushrooms
• 1 piece of fried tofu
• 1 pack of commercially available dashi
• Mentsuyu (noodle soup base)
• Water-dissolved potato starch (appropriate amount)

How to make it

1. Cut the carrots into chrysanthemum shapes, slice the shiitake mushrooms into bite-sized pieces, drain the oil from the fried tofu and cut it into thin strips, and parboil the Shiraishi warm noodles
2. Put water in a pot, add the ingredients from step 1, the dashi and noodle soup base and bring to a boil
3. Once the vegetables are soft, add the water-dissolved potato starch and turn off the heat when it thickens
4. Place the Shiraishi warm noodles in a bowl and add the hot soup to complete the dish

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【Recipe 2: Shiraishi Warm Noodle Chanpuru

We also recommend stir-frying Shiraishi Onmen. If you stir-fry it with vegetables, you can get some vegetables in and it's great for a home lunch!

material

• 2 bundles of Shiroishi warm noodles
• 1 bag of bean sprouts
• 1 bunch chives
• 1/2 carrot
• 2 chikuwa
• 2 tablespoons white dashi
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Sesame oil (appropriate amount)

How to make it

1. Wash the bean sprouts, cut the chives into 3-4cm pieces, and shred the carrots and chikuwa
2. Pre-boil the Shiraishi warm noodles and rinse thoroughly in cold water
3. Add sesame oil to a frying pan, season with salt and pepper, and stir-fry 1. Once softened, add 2 and stir-fry
4. Add the white dashi and mix lightly to finish

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【Recipe 3: Natto Kimchi Warm Noodles

The combination of easily digestible Shiraishi warm noodles, fermented natto, and deliciously spicy kimchi makes this a delicious dish to eat even when you don't have much of an appetite

material

• 1 bunch of Shiroishi warm noodles
• 100g kimchi
• 1 pack of natto
• Crushed seaweed (as needed)
• Green onions, as needed
• Sesame oil (appropriate amount)

How to make it

1. Mix the natto and kimchi well
2. Pre-boil the Shiraishi warm noodles and then rinse thoroughly in cold water
3. Place 2 in a bowl, sprinkle with 1, seaweed, and green onions, and finally drizzle with sesame oil all over

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Be sure to try the delicious Shiraishi warm noodles!

This time, we introduced the appeal of "Shiroishi Umen," a specialty of Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture, and some delicious recipe variations. Shiroishi Umen is easy to eat, easy to digest, and smooth, making it a food that can be recommended for everyone from children to the elderly. You can buy it at supermarkets, so why not give it a try?

Shiraishi Warm Noodles <Information>

• Link:Oshu Shiraishi Udon Noodle Cooperative Association Website

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