Throw them in a bowl and top with an egg or sauteed shrimp, and you’ve got dinner! Because they’re so quick, they’ve become our go-to for fast weeknight meals. There is a lot of variation in soba noodle brands. Alex and I have tested dozens, and we find that every brand of soba is different. Some are very thin and tend to break, so we try to look for soba that are thicker and hold up better. Make sure to experiment a bit to find the brand of soba that you like best!
Soba noodles Soy sauce or liquid aminos Toasted sesame oil: make sure it is toasted, not regular! Toasted sesame oil is intended for flavoring, whereas regular sesame oil is neutral in flavor Rice vinegar Honey or maple syrup Miso: It’s optional, but adds great flavor (see below). Garlic Optional garnish: Green onions and sesame seeds add visual interest and another flavor layer.
If you don’t rinse, the soba becomes very gummy and mushy. It also absorbs the sauce and becomes dry instead of saucy. So please: rinse your soba after cooking! You’ll notice a big difference. You can find miso at most major grocery stores near the other Japanese ingredients. There are many different types of miso, all with different flavors: red, yellow, and brown. We used brown miso here, which contributed to the dark color of these noodles. We love using miso to get a meaty or cheesy flavor in recipes: it’s great in miso ramen and even works to substitute Parmesan flavor in vegan pesto. It’s almost like using salt on food: it brings out the existing flavor and takes it to new heights! It only takes 3 minutes to toast sesame seeds, and you can store leftovers in a sealed container for months. Go to How to Toast Sesame Seeds.
Top with an egg. The easiest way to make it dinner! Top with a fried egg or soft boiled egg. Dinner, solved! Top with tofu. This Pan Fried Tofu is our favorite method for weeknights, and our Baked Tofu gets rave reviews. Or try Marinaded Tofu, which is incredibly simple with no cooking required. Top with shrimp. Try this quick and healthy Sauteed Shrimp! Use plain sesame oil for cooking and add a drizzle of rice vinegar and soy sauce at the end (instead of the lemon). Add edamame. This quick side is so simple! Try with Easy Edamame or Spicy Edamame. Serve with a stir fry! Try it with our Easy Stir Fry Vegetables. Serve as a side dish to shrimp or salmon. Try it with Teriyaki Salmon or Shrimp and Broccoli.
5 from 4 reviews
