Kitsune Soba
Savory Kitsune Soba Recipe for Your Quick Meal
Kitsune Soba is a comforting bowl of buckwheat noodles topped with sweet and savory simmered Abura-age (fried tofu pockets). While you might recognize Abura-age from Inari Sushi, it’s equally delightful paired with a warm bowl of noodles. The sweet soy-based sauce infuses the Abura-age, creating a juicy topping that pairs perfectly with the umami-rich dashi soup and chewy soba noodles.
This recipe became my go-to when I needed to whip up a quick yet satisfying lunch. It’s simple, delicious, and perfect for when you’re short on time but still craving something homemade.
Also, this could be your go-to for the New Year’s Eve soba tradition, too!
RECIPE
Servings: 2
Time: 30 min
Ingredients:
Soba noodles (enough for 2 servings)
1/4 cup Mentsuyu (Japanese noodle soup base)
2 cups Water
Chopped scallions (for garnish)
Ginger slices if desiered
For the Inari, Simmered Abura-age topping:
3-4 pieces of abura-age (Fried Tofu Pouches)
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tbsp Mentsuyu (Japanese soup base)
1/2 tbsp Mirin
1 cup water
Instructions:
Prepare the Simmered Aburaage
In a pot, combine sugar, soy sauce, mentsuyu, mirin, and water.
Boil water and pour onto the abura-age to remove the excess grease.
Add the abura-age to the pot, bring it to a boil.
Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes with an otoshi-buta (drop lid).
Once it’s cooked, cool it down, cut it to bite sizes for the topping.
Cook the Soba Noodles
Boil water in a pot and cook the soba noodles according to the package instructions.
Drain the noodles, rinse under running water.
Prepare the Soup Base
In a separate pot, boil 2 cups of water.
Mix in the mentsuyu.
Assemble the Kitsune Soba
Add the cooked soba noodles to the bowl.
Pour in the soup base.
Top with the simmered abura-age and garnish with chopped scallions.
My Kitchen Tool:
Yukihira Pot for any 1-2 serving noodle cooking
What is Kitsune Soba?
"Kitsune Soba" translates to "Fox Soba."
It features soba noodles (made from buckwheat flour) served in a warm, savory broth made from dashi, soy sauce, and mirin. The highlight of the dish is the abura-age, thin slices of fried tofu simmered in a sweet soy-based sauce until juicy and flavorful.
Why Is It Called "Kitsune"?
The name "Kitsune," meaning "fox," is rooted in Japanese folklore and cultural symbolism. Here’s why this dish is associated with foxes:
1. Foxes and Abura-age
Legend has it that foxes love Abura-age. In Japanese mythology, foxes (kitsune) are often depicted as intelligent and mystical creatures, sometimes serving as messengers for the deity Inari, who is associated with rice and agriculture. Offerings of Abura-age were commonly made at Inari shrines, as it was believed to be a favorite food of these divine foxes. Over time, dishes featuring Abura-age came to be associated with the word "kitsune."
2. Folklore Connections
Foxes are also seen as shape-shifters in Japanese folklore, able to disguise themselves as humans. The dish’s name could symbolize the playful and mysterious nature of foxes, with the Abura-age serving as a humble yet transformative ingredient that elevates the simple soba noodles into something magical.
3. Color Symbolism
The golden-brown hue of fried Abura-age resembles the color of a fox’s fur, making the connection even more visually apparent.
