Steps

1. Add water to a pot and bring to a boil.
   🕒 01:33
2. Boil the somen noodles (to your liking) in the boiling water for about 30 seconds less than the package instructions, to keep them slightly firm. Drain well. [This is the key!] Since the somen noodles will be warmed in the soup at the end, boil them slightly firm and reduce the cooking time.
   🕒 01:42
3. Rinse the boiled somen noodles in cold water, rub them, and thoroughly drain any excess water. [This is the key!] Rinsing and rubbing in cold water prevents the somen noodles from sticking together.
   🕒 02:19
4. Cut off the core of the napa cabbage. Cut the core into 2-3cm wide pieces and the leaves into 3cm wide pieces.
   🕒 02:35
5. Cut the thinly sliced pork belly into bite-sized pieces.
   🕒 02:54
6. Add sesame oil to a pot and heat over medium heat for about 30 seconds.
   🕒 03:02
7. Add the thinly sliced pork belly, break it apart with chopsticks while stir-frying, and season with salt and pepper (to taste).
   🕒 03:17
8. Once the pork is about halfway cooked, add the napa cabbage cores and stir-fry. [This is the key!] Stir-frying the napa cabbage cores first, as they take longer to cook, ensures even cooking throughout.
   🕒 03:33
9. When the napa cabbage cores become translucent, add the napa cabbage leaves, sprinkle with salt and pepper (a pinch), and stir-fry. [This is the key!] Stir-frying the napa cabbage leaves until wilted concentrates their moisture, flavor, and sweetness.
   🕒 03:49
10. Once the leaves are wilted, add water 600ml, Mirin (Sweet Rice Wine) 1/2 tbsp, Cooking Sake (Rice Wine) 1 tbsp, soy sauce 1 tsp, chicken stock granules 1 tbsp, grated ginger 1/2 tsp, and grated garlic 1/2 tsp. Mix well and bring to a boil. [This is the key!] The soup quantity is a guideline for 2-3 servings. If there are many ingredients, adjust the seasoning according to the amount of water.
    🕒 04:26
11. Once boiling, add the portion of somen noodles you'll be eating into the pot and warm them for about 20 seconds. [This is the key!] Since somen noodles are cold, warm them lightly in the hot soup before serving.
    🕒 04:50
12. Serve in bowls, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds (to taste) and scallions (to taste), and it's done.
    🕒 05:11