Steps

1. Fill a pot with plenty of water and bring to a boil.
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2. Add the somen noodles to the boiling water and cook until al dente. Be careful to prevent boiling over while cooking.
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3. Drain the cooked somen noodles, rinse thoroughly under cold running water while rubbing to remove sliminess, and drain well. This step is key! Rinsing well under cold water prevents the somen from sticking together and gives them a firm texture, resulting in a delicious dish.
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4. Trim the stem from 1 eggplant, cut it in half lengthwise, score the surface lightly, and chop into bite-sized pieces about 3cm long.
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5. Soak the chopped eggplant in water for about 5 minutes to remove bitterness.
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6. Cut 1/2 green onion into pieces about 3cm long.
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7. Cut 150g of thinly sliced pork belly into bite-sized pieces (about 4 portions), season lightly with salt and pepper (to taste), and separate the slices.
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8. Remove the eggplant from the water after soaking and pat it dry thoroughly with paper towels.
   🕒 04:18
9. Drizzle 1/2 tbsp of sesame oil over the dried eggplant and toss to coat evenly. This step is key! Coating with oil beforehand prevents the eggplant from absorbing too much oil and discolouring, allowing you to cook it with minimal oil.
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10. Place the eggplant, cut-side down, in a frying pan and cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes.
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11. Flip the eggplant, add the chopped green onion and seasoned thinly sliced pork belly, and stir-fry until everything is cooked through.
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12. Once the ingredients are cooked, add 400ml of water, 6 tbsp of mentsuyu, 2 tsp of chicken bouillon powder, and 2 tbsp of mirin. Bring to a boil.
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13. Simmer for about 1 minute after it starts boiling. Taste and adjust the seasoning; it should be slightly stronger than you'd normally prefer for dipping noodles. Turn off the heat. This step is key! A slightly stronger flavor is recommended for a dipping sauce.
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14. Pour the dipping sauce into a bowl and arrange the drained somen noodles in bite-sized portions.
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15. Dip the cold somen noodles into the warm dipping sauce and enjoy with the meat and vegetables.
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