Stop what you are doing now and listen. I am going to tell you about one of the best recipes I’ve come across this year.
Having bought some Cha Soba (green tea buckwheat noodles), this quaint and easy recipe called Otsu from Super Natural Cookbook by Heidi Swanson of 101CookBooks caught my eye. Heidi says “Unlike many pasta recipes that leave you feeling weighed down and sluggish, this one makes for a healthy, invigorating, and energizing meal that will quickly become a favorite.”
The soba noodles are tossed with a fiery ginger-sesame dressing and a generous dose of cucumbers, scallions, and pan-seared tofu (which I did not include). For non-vegetarian version, you can add sautéed prawns or other meat protein. This Soba Salad is amazingly flavorful, with fiery kick of the ginger and refreshing at the same time. It is the sort of dish you could serve anytime – for lunch, dinner, potluck, picnic, warm or cold — and this Soba Salad will be a hit. Even though a serving of the Soba Salad is light, it is rather filling lunch for me to get on with my day and it lasted until dinner.
I’ve made this delightful Soba Salad 3 times since then. Even typing this post makes me dream of this dish for lunch tomorrow!
As this the best recipe I’ve tried this year, I’m submitting this post to Your Best Recipe, a monthly roundup of your best recipes hosted by Spicie Foodie. This is for the December 2011 roundup, so check the roundup of all the other recipes at the end of Dec 2011.
- 240g [url href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002WQ8UC0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002WQ8UC0&linkCode=as2&tag=juasde-20&linkId=XSPS5SLE6E7GRSVV” target=”_blank”]Dried Soba Noodles[/url] (3 stacks of Soba Noodles)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh Coriander (not in mine, it’s one of the food I cannot eat)
- 3 Green Shallots, thinly sliced
- 1 Cucumber, peeled, cut in half lengthwise, seeded, and thinly sliced
- 4 tablespoon toasted [url href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003LPKEMU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003LPKEMU&linkCode=as2&tag=juasde-20″ target=”_blank”]Sesame Seeds[/url], for garnishing
- Sesame Dressing
- Grated zest of 1 Lemon
- 1 inch Fresh Ginger, peeled and grated
- 1 tablespoon [url href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Z93FQC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000Z93FQC&linkCode=as2&tag=juasde-20″ target=”_blank”]Honey[/url]
- 3/4 teaspoon [url href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00269XE0Q/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00269XE0Q&linkCode=as2&tag=juasde-20&linkId=ZX4W3743CWZAC6JD” target=”_blank”]Chilli Powder[/url]
- 1/2 teaspoon [url href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EITYUU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000EITYUU&linkCode=as2&tag=juasde-20″ target=”_blank”]Salt[/url]
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed Lemon Juice
- 1/4 cup [url href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050ILBB4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0050ILBB4&linkCode=as2&tag=juasde-20&linkId=6S7TNSBOU7SYVKUA” target=”_blank”]unseasoned Rice Vinegar[/url]
- 3 tablespoon [url href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FB6BA6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FB6BA6&linkCode=as2&tag=juasde-20″ target=”_blank”]Soy Sauce[/url]
- 2 tablespoon [url href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ULUVU4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004ULUVU4&linkCode=as2&tag=juasde-20&linkId=7ULJW57GBE4EUA3T” target=”_blank”]Extra-Virgin Olive Oil[/url]
- 2 tablespoon [url href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005PNMTEW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005PNMTEW&linkCode=as2&tag=juasde-20″ target=”_blank”]Sesame Oil[/url]
- Cook the soba in boiling salted water according to instruction on the packet. Mine says cook for 4 minutes. Then drain and rinse under cold running water.
- While the soba is cooking, prepare the sesame dressing by combining the first 8 of the dressing ingredients. Whisk the mixture while slowly drizzle in the olive oil and sesame oil. [br][img src=”http://www.justasdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/SobaSesameDressing3.jpg” width=”255″ height=”190″] [img src=”http://www.justasdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/SobaSesameDressing4.jpg” width=”255″ height=”190″]
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the soba, the dressing and the rest of the ingredients. Toss until well combined.
- Serve and garnish with coriander and toasted sesame seeds. [br][img src=”http://www.justasdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/SobaSesameDressing5.jpg” width=”255″ height=”190″] [img src=”http://www.justasdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/SobaSesameDressing6.jpg” width=”255″ height=”190″]
Comments
23 responses to “Soba Salad with Sesame Dressing”
Shannon thanks for sharing your suggestion about adding roast duck into it. My daughter liked the soba salad and she loves roast duck too so the combination may be just great for her 😀 I’ll give it a try one of these days 😀
Roast duck is a good idea, I’ve yet to try it but I think will be great. Soba salad will be great on this super hot weather
Fantastic dressing and dish!! I’ve been into soba recently, and this is a great variation! Thanks for recipe.
Hi Heegyum, thanks for dropping by my blog and leaving your lovely comment. Hope you like the recipe and do update me how it turn out for you. Have a great day!
Oh! Love this recipe! I ‘m having soba noodles twice a week for my diet & was figuring out how to make different dressing! Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe! Will try TODAY! 🙂
Hope you love this soba salad as much as I do! you got me curious what kind of soba diet is that?
This is the best recipe I have also come across this year. It’s was my first time to try it,my kids were delighted.Thanks for the post.
Now looks just like my cup of tea…….wonderful darling and thank you so very much for sharing!
[…] **Shannon L., Just As Delish, Soba Salad with Sesame Dressing […]
Hi, new to your site, I love this dish and I would add the tofu just because I love it.
Thanks and it’s nice to meet you.
That does look amazing! The dressing alone is fantastic and love all of the goodies tossed in with the noodles 🙂 Love the photos as well, beautiful Shannon 🙂
so honoured to get a comment from a great photographer like you!
Yum! I am a sucker for delicious and healthy dishes! You got me spot-on on this one!
try it one day, i bet you will love it!
I love the whole idea of this recipe from the incredible looking fiery sauce to its combination with soba noodles. It’s easy to see how this has made it to one of your favourite recipes. I can’t wait to give this a try for lunch some day this week.
I just made this soba salad with roast duck yesterday, even my picky sister loves it! I think it will also become one of your favourites too! Let me know how it turn out
Ann: Thank you!
Jaclyn: Thanks for dropping by.. i know you will love this light soba salad. missing you.
Ridwan: Thanks, yup they are delicious and healthy!
Ping: The Korean glass noodle dish, is it Chap Jae? also with sesame seed
Shaz: Yup, you got that right
Looks amazing. I will give this one a go. Thanks and keep them coming!
Wow – it certainly looks delicious, too!
Sounds super delicious. And bonus that it’s healthy too.
Yum! My kind of lunch. I’d made something similar with Korean glass noodles but with less seasonings. This sounds a lot more flavorful.
looks so yummy and very healthy,great recipe !!