Harvest moons are one of the many wonderful fall occurrences which highlight the beauty of the season. The bright full moon, tinted a dusky yellow, seems to be closer, fuller, and more splendid in the autumn months than at any other time. Mystery seems to hang in the air when there’s a harvest moon, and the nights seem that much richer because of it.
The moon shines down as brightly in fall in Japan as it does here in the US, and neither nationalities are immune to the allure of this seasonal wonder. The Japanese would make an evening of gazing at the autumn moon during jugoya, literally 15th night. It is said that the moon on this night is the brightest and most beautiful of the season. There’s even a term for this lunar admiration- tsukimi: “moon viewing”.
This autumnal dish is gets its name, tsukimi, (tsuki, “moon”, mi, “viewing”) from the resemblance it bears to the moon on an autumn night. The egg represents the moon floating in elegant “clouds” of udon noodles.
Tsukimi Udon
Ingredients
- 1 package udon, soba, or your favorite noodles
- 6 cups dashi, seafood, or veggie stock
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 3 tbls. mirin*
- 1 1/2 tbls. sugar (more or less to taste)
- 4 eggs
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- 4 dried shitake, optional
Directions
1.) Boil noodles according to package instructions until they’re al dente. While noodles are cooking, boil together dashi or stock, soy sauce, mirin, shitake-if using- and sugar.
2.) Divide noodles into four oven-proof bowls. Ladle soup over noodles and carefully crack one egg on top each bowl of noodles. If you’re leery about eating raw egg and don’t trust that the egg will be poached enough by the hot soup, place the bowls in a microwave on high for 50 seconds or in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for three minutes or until the egg barely sets. Garnish with green onions and serve.
Makes 4 Servings
I liked tsukimi udon because it’s:
- very easy to make
- healthy but tasty
- elegant
Tsukimi udon is a simple dish but it’s also an elegant one. If the moon’s not handy one night when you’re feeling the need for a little lunar love, make tsukimi udon and enjoy your autumn evening in style!
Difficulty: Very Easy | Time: 20 minutes | Ingredient Availability: Easy
*If mirin is unavailable, use sake or white wine with half a tablespoon of sugar.