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Japanese Men Tsuyu Recipe

The term "men Tsuyu" comes from the Japanese words "men," meaning noodles, and "tsuyu," referring to stock or sauce, making its literal translation "noodle sauce."
This Japanese condiment is believed to have originated in the 14th century, when miso tare—a mixture of miso and water—was a key ingredient in Japanese cuisine. Miso tare is considered a precursor to men Tsuyu. Over time, bonito flakes (katsuobushi) were added to enhance its flavor, and by the 17th century, dashi (a traditional Japanese stock) became a key ingredient in the sauce. This early version of mentsuyu was particularly popular as a sauce for soba noodles.
As tastes evolved, so did men Tsuyu, adapting to regional and individual preferences. Today, it is widely available in pre-made form at Japanese and Asian grocery stores, making it a staple for modern kitchens.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 12 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 10
Calories 87 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Soy sauce – 1 cup
  • Mirin – 1 cup
  • Sake – ½ cup
  • Kombu – 1 piece
  • Katsuobushi – ⅓ cup

Instructions
 

  • Begin by taking a large saucepan and adding soy sauce, mirin, sake, kombu and katsuobushi to it. It is generally recommended to use dark soy sauce instead of light soy sauce as it helps provide the sauce with a richer flavour. Also, you can use shiitake mushrooms instead of katsuobushi if you want to prepare a vegan version of this sauce.
  • Adjust the heat to medium-high and wait till the stock comes to a boil.
  • Now, make sure to reduce the heat to a low as soon as it reaches a boil. Allow the soup to simmer for around 5–7 minutes. Keep in mind that men Tsuyu should thicken a little before you remove it from the heat.
  • Once done, take the pan off the heat and, using a fine mesh strainer, carefully strain the prepared sauce to get rid of the kombu and katsuobushi, and there you have it!
  • Allow the prepared sauce to cool completely before adding it to other dishes or storing it for future usage. The men Tsuyu will be fit for consumption for about a week. And remember to store it in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 87kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 2gSodium: 1402mgSugar: 10g
Keyword Japanese Men Tsuyu Recipe
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