If you've ever enjoyed a bowl of soba or udon and wondered how the broth could taste so clean yet deeply flavorful, the secret lies in Mentsuyu, a versatile Japanese seasoning made with just four simple ingredients.
Add the ¾ cup usukuchi soy sauce, ½ cup sake, 1 tablespoon evaporated cane sugar and 1 dashi pack to a small pot and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat to maintain a simmer and cook for 3 minutes.
¾ cup usukuchi soy sauce, ½ cup sake, 1 tablespoon evaporated cane sugar, 1 dashi pack
Remove the pot from the heat and let the mentsuyu cool to room temperature. You can also speed this up by putting the pot in an ice bath. When the mentsuyu is cool enough to touch, squeeze the dashi pack and discard.
Pour the mentsuyu into a bottle and keep refrigerated until you're ready to use it. It should keep for several months in the fridge.