Kikkoman Hon Tsuyu Soup Base Recipe

Different Types Of Tsuyu

At Japanese grocery stores, you will encounter many brands and types of Mentsuyu. All the bottles have the Japanese word , short for Mentsuyu . Here are some common Tsuyu you will see:

Best Tsuyu Overall: Kikkoman Hon Tsuyu

This yummy tsuyu is versatile, and its made by one of the most popular Japanese condiment manufacturers, Kikkoman. Their products are affordable, and youll find them in most pantries.

Kikkoman Hon Tsuyu is a classic stock/sauce that you can use for everything. Its the kind of sauce that has a mild but distinct fishy flavor because its mostly made with kelp and bonito flakes, soy sauce, mirin, and sake.

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Hon tsuyu must be diluted in water, but its flavor is not overpowering, so it makes a great base for udon and soba soups, salads, and cold dishes too.

You can taste the delicate seafood flavors of the bonito flakes and the saltiness of the kelp. Combined with the sweetness of mirin and the savoriness of soy sauce, this sauce gives the ultimate umami taste.

If youve trying tsuyu for the first time, I recommend an authentic brand like Yamaki.

Their tsuyu sauce is made in Japan, and the tsuyu is known as one of the best-tasting ones out there. The sauce is made of high-quality ingredients, including lots of bonito flakes and the best kind of kelp.

Its like a premium dashi stock in a bottle. You can expect an authentic umami flavor from this stock.

You can use Yamaki Men Tsuyu liquid seasoning for all kinds of Japanese dishes, including soups, hot pot, noodle dishes, rice, and salads.

Tsuyu To Water Ratio For Common Dishes

• For a rich dipping sauce, use a 1:1 ratio
• For noodle soup, use 1:3
• For cold soba noodles, you need a 1:3 ratio
• For a hot noodle soup, you need 1: 6 or 1:8 for a milder taste
• For donburi rice bowls, use 1: 3
• For hot pot, you need about 1: 6 or 1: 8, depending on how much flavor you need
• For stews and simmer foods, use a 1: 4 ratio

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Kikkoman Hon Tsuyu Vs Yamaki Men Tsuyu

The most notable difference between these two tsuyu liquid seasonings is that the Kikkoman one is more popular in America, while the Yamaki is a Japanese pantry favorite.

Also, the Yamaki tsuyu is stronger and has a richer seafood flavor than its more mild Kikkoman counterpart.

Kikkoman is generally cheaper and more readily available in grocery stores. However, Yamaki is worth the slightly higher price tag because it has a distinct aroma and is more umami.

If you want an authentic rich, yet balanced taste, Men Tsuyu is a must-try. On the other hand, Hon Tsuyu is the best versatile sauce you can use in all kinds of Western & Asian recipes.

How To Dilute Concentrated Tsuyu

Each brand has different instructions for diluting the Metsuyu. Find the usage guide on the bottle that looks like this.

The Ratio of Tsuyu to Water

• Dipping sauce for cold noodles Tsuketsuyu 1 : 3
• Hot noodle soup Kaketsuyu 1 : 6-8
• Donburi dishes or Tentsuyu 1 : 3-4
• Oden or Nabemono 1 : 8-10
• Nimono 1 : 4-6

Example for Noodles

• Dipping sauce 1/3 cup Mentsuyu + 1 cup cold water
• Hot noodle soup 1/4 cup Mentsuyu + 2 cups water + I usually add a splash of mirin.

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Authentic Japanese Flavors Now In Your Pantry

When you are looking forward to make that Japanese dish you have been craving for but cannot find all the different variety of ingredients, that’s when the Ultimate Kikkoman Concentrated Hontsuyu Soup Base comes to your rescue.

What makes this condiment a go-to option is the perfect balance of salty, sweet, and umami flavor that this single base offers.

Enhanced note of Umami flavor

It is not easy to bring out that perfect, rich umami flavor in the dish everytime. To make your life easier, the tsuyu is made with Bonito, sardines soda bonito fish flakes, the soup base has a mouth-watering umami flavor. You can use this as a base for Japanese soups, stews, and stir fries or simply as a dipping sauce for fried chicken or any side dishes.

Use just the right amount with the easy to squeeze bottle

The easy-to-squeeze bottle lets you control the amount of tsuyu you wish you add into your dish.

Kikkoman Concentrated Hontsuyu Soup Base 500 Ml

The ultimate Japanese seasoning.

Get salty, sweet, and umami flavour into your Japanese cooking all at once with Kikkoman’s concentrated hontsuyu soup base. Made using bonito, sardine, and soda bonito fish flakes, this 4x concentrated, all-purpose tsuyu has a particularly potent umami flavour. Better still, this tsuyu comes in an easy-to-use squeezy bottle, so you will always use just the right amount. Use this tsuyu as a base for Japanese soups, stews, and stir fries.

ITEM ID: #11961

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How Much Does Instacart Delivery Or Pickup Cost

• Delivery fees start at $3.99 for same-day orders over $35. Fees vary for one-hour deliveries, club store deliveries, and deliveries under $35.
• Service fees vary and are subject to change based on factors like location and the number and types of items in your cart. Orders containing alcohol have a separate service fee.
• Tipping is optional but encouraged for delivery orders. It’s a great way to show your shopper appreciation and recognition for excellent service. 100% of your tip goes directly to the shopper who delivers your order.

• There may be a “pickup fee” on your pick up order that is typically $1.99 for non-Express members. Express membership waives this like it would a delivery fee.
• Pick up orders have no service fees, regardless of non-Express or Express membership.

Kikkoman Concentrated Hontsuyu Soup Base 300 Ml

The ultimate Japanese seasoning.

Get intense umami flavour with hints of salt and sweetness into your Japanese cooking with Kikkoman’s concentrated hontsuyu soup base. Made using bonito, sardine, and soda bonito fish flakes, this 4x concentrated, all-purpose tsuyu has a potent flavour that works deliciously well for soup and noodle dishes, nabe hot pots, stews, stir fries, and as a dressing or seasoning.

ITEM ID: #11962

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The Difference: Dashi Vs Tsuyu Vs Mentsuyu

In addition to the Mentsuyu broth, Kikkoman Hon Tsuyu is also popular in some countries. So a while ago, I did research on how they differed and posted this article.

Further, many of us Japanese cant clearly tell the difference between Dashi , Tsuyu , and Mentsuyu .

Therefore, today I also researched online how these are different from one another.

Cooking Notes For Udon:

We like to buy frozen udon noodles. Refrigerated udon noodles tend to come packaged in a mix of oil and water which should be rinsed off before using.

In our video, we use a Japanese chili seasoning called Shichimi. You can substitute this with a few pinches of Korean gochugaru

Alrighty, I hope you enjoy these simple udon recipes. If you enjoy either one, tag us on IG and show us your bowl.

We love flipping through pics of your creations in the morning

-Daniel out

• 2.5 CupsWater
• 2-3small pieces ofKelp
• Smallhandful ofKatsuobushi
• 2TablespoonsHontsuyu Soup Base Sauce
• 1teaspoon Soy Sauce

• 3-4piecesSeasoned Tofu Pockets
• Apinch ofShichimi Spice Mixture

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What Is Mentsuyu For

In Japan, we use Mentsuyu as a basic sauce or broth to flavor everything from noodle dishes, rice bowls, hot pots to tempura dipping sauce.

The multipurpose sauce gets a real depth of flavor and smokiness from the use of kombu and bonito flakes. As it happens, these two ingredients are the elementary components to make dashi the Japanese soup stock that characterize the distinct flavor of Japanese food.

In this recipe, soy sauce contributes to the savory tones, and mirin imparts sweetness that ties everything together.

Making Mentsuyu at home is as easy as combining all the ingredients in a pot and let it simmer down to a concentrated sauce. You can store it in a mason jar and keep in the refrigerator for up to a month. The sauce will come in handy when you need it to season your favorite noodle dishes.

When ready to use, you just need to thin it out with water! The ratios of Mentsuyu to water will differ depending on the recipes.

Best Types Of Tsuyu & Best Brands

While you might think all tsuyu is the same, its not quite true. There are actually many types and varieties of tsuyu.

Lets look at the most popular ones.

• Straight: this is the kind of tsuyu has a delicate mild flavor, and it does not have to be diluted with water.
• Double concentrated: this refers to a stronger tsuyu that you must dilute with as much as three or four times water.
• Soba tsuyu : this type of tsuyu is made specifically for soba noodle dishes like cold soba noodles , salad, and soup.
• Somen tsuyu: another base made for somen noodle dishes.

Im going to list some of the best brands and the standout tsuyu from each.

Some of the best brands include:

• Kikkoman
• Shirakiku

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Kikkoman Hon Tsuyu Soup Base Koidashi

• Great s a dipping sauce for tempura and other fried foods
• Add water to adjust the strength of the flavor
• Serve hot or cold

Memmi Noodle Soup Base

Ever wonder how to make real ramen noodle soup? Kikkoman Memmi Noodle Soup Base makes it easy to get authentic Japanese flavor in just minutes! This ready-to-use soup base is the secret to creating the satisfying soups you get in your favorite Asian restaurant. A balanced combination of savory fish stock, traditionally brewed soy sauce, sugar and touch of vinegar, Kikkoman Memmi Soup Base is concentrated. In just one bottle you have all you need for a variety of soups and dipping sauces. Just dilute Memmi Soup Base with water according to the directions on the bottle, add the appropriate garnish, and ramen, udon, somen or soba soups are ready in as much time as it takes to cook the noodles. Or use it as a dipping sauce for tempura, pot stickers or grilled meats and vegetables. Kikkoman Memmi Soup Base makes it easy to get true Japanese flavor right in your own home.

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Why We Love This

We love having a batch of mentsuyu sauce in the fridge so its always on standby whenever we get hungry! Its so refreshing to dip cold soba noodles in the chilled mentsuyu sauce, especially in summer. But you can also enjoy it warm, poured straight over a batch of freshly cooked noodles.

Traditional mentsuyu recipes call for real dashi stock made from a base of kombu and dried bonito flakes. We prefer to use dashi powder for a quick and easy alternative to making real dashi.

Hontsuyu Soup Base For Noodle Kikkoman

Hon Tsuyu is basically extracted bonito and japanese niboshi sardine oil mixed with soy sauce. It’s used as a soup base for noodles such as Udon, Soba , and Somen.

We recently enjoyed it with Udon soup, see recipe link below. We added a piece of barbecued fish to the soup and served it with beer, for a delicious combination.

It can be served hot or cold. Refrigerate after opening. We offer premium quality Kikkoman brand imported from Japan.

Ingredients: dried bonito extract, soy sauce , dried sardine extract, water, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate, alcohol, corn syrup, mirin , kelp extract, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, lactic acid. Product of Japan.

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Kake Soba With Hon Tsuyu Broth

If you enjoy cooking and you really appreciate a certain style of cuisine, I encourage you to immerse yourself into it. Not for the sake of being a highbrow, because nobody likes a pretentious foodie, but for the sake of experience and understanding for the sake of embracing the dish as it was intended. To me, thats just honest cooking.

My BBB Sean, who runs Diversivore a detailed and scientifically-rooted food blog that pushes readers to explore and enjoy the world of food is extremely well-informed with East and Southeast Asian cuisine. He is always able to answer my curiosities . When we first met, I thought he was a chef. The guy just knows his stuff, and his enthusiasm over becoming deeply involved with a dish has been tremendously inspiring to me. Instead of just thinking about how cool it would be to create these dishes from scratch, I simply do it. Ive learned a lot since weve become friends, and hes basically my personal Siri when Im at the Korean Market. I couldnt possibly write this profound post without giving him a well-deserved nod. And honestly, his site is totally worth checking out. Hes broken the barriers of standard food blogging and is doing something really different.

Now onto this dish.

Best Straight Tsuyu And Best For Soba Noodle Soup: Shirakiku Soba Noodle Soup Base

If youre a big fan of soba noodles like I am, youll love this refreshing sauce. This tasty tsuyu is highly recommended for soba noodle soup and cold soba noodle salads.

It is a straight tsuyu, so you dont have to dilute it. Thats why its suitable as a dipping sauce too.

Shirakiku is a well-known Japanese brand and makes all kinds of tasty seasonings and sauces for various dishes. Their mentsuyu is highly rated by customers because it offers the classic taste people expect.

Since you dont need to dilute this tsuyu, it is quite mild flavored. If you like a delicate savoriness, but with a hint of dashi taste, youll be impressed by the versatility of this sauce.

Dont worry its not exclusively made for soba noodles. It tastes amazing in udon, somen, ramen, as well as with rice too.

If you love the thin white somen noodles used for soup and salads, you will appreciate the special somen tsuyu from Morita.

While you can use it for all kinds of Japanese dishes, this sauce works well with thin noodles because it has a rich yet mild flavor.

It is a straight tsuyu, so you dont need to dilute it before adding it to your food.

Morita Tsuyu has a classic rich and mild umami flavor. It is made of Hokkaido tangled seaweed and dried bonito flakes from Yaizu.

There is no chemical seasoning, so its a healthier tsuyu than the ones that contain many preservatives.

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Best Strong Flavor Tsuyu & Best For Cold Noodles: Mizkan Oigatsu

Some people want their udon or soba noodle soup to have a rich, dashi flavor. If you prefer a stock with lots of fishy bonito flavor and aromatic kelp, then youll love this Mizkan tsuyu.

Its a concentrated liquid seasoning, and you should definitely dilute it. For most soups and dipping sauces, go for a 1:3 ratio, or else it will overwhelm the taste of your food.

The flavor of this tsuyu is much richer than the mild varieties I previously mentioned, but its tasty, so its one of Japans favorites.

Its the kind of sauce that is best for zaru soba and other cold noodle dishes because it adds lots of rich aromas.

Customers rave that this is the closest youll get to the authentic zaru soba sauce you can find at Japanese restaurants.

If youre looking for a premium sauce with fantastic taste, then you need to try aged Kiku tsuyu.

Its one of Japans best aged tsuyus made on Shodoshima Island. They use only high-quality soy sauce, bonito flakes, and kelp.

Each bottle of Kiku tsuyu is aged for 2 years in 150-year-old barrels before being sold. Therefore, the flavor is intense but very smooth and balanced.

Think of it as gourmet food, as the price is pretty high for a bottle. But there are no preservatives, and all the ingredients are carefully selected.

Considering it takes over 2 years to make, its the kind of gourmet sauce you can use to make the tastiest dishes for your friends and family.

I recommend using this tsuyu in stews, soup, oden, and tempura.

Please Refer To Fishwatch For Reliable Information And Updates On Sustainability

While laying out the ingredients for this dish most of them new to me I couldnt help but grin. I knew right off the bat that I wanted to pour myself into this one. This got me thinking pretty deeply about food and my passion for cooking.

Its pretty fascinating to think about how food has evolved not only with methods and techniques, but in how we connect with it. Its hard to believe that there was a point in time where food was simply a means for sustainability. Food wasnt eaten to enjoy it was eaten to survive. Today, we have such deep emotional attachment to it. Food is love food is fond memories of people in our lives, past and present. Food is homemade soup when youre sick food is how pizza fixes everything when youve had a rough week.

Food goes beyond the plate upon which it sits.

For me, creating a dish from scratch and experiencing the labor of love that goes with it is incredibly fulfilling, and there was something a little extra special about this Kake Soba with Hon Tsuyu Broth. If you know me well, you know that I am head over heels in love with East and Southeast Asian cuisine. So, you can imagine how thrilled I was to step out of my comfort zone and into culinary territory that Im completely enamored with.

And it was the best thing.

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