Soba Noodles • A Warm Recipe + Cold Soba Noodles Salad {Video} • Two Purple Figs

Today’s Soba Noodles are made two ways: Warm and Cold. While they can be interchanged, we made two varieties so you can get the best of both worlds. A warm and tasty soba noodles recipes, and a refreshing vibrant soba noodles salad. Read along for step by step and video.

These are not your average noodles if you haven’t tried them before. Soba Noodles are a delicacy from Japan, which have a unique taste. You can toss anything with them, use them for  Birria Ramen or Creamy Chili Crab Pasta. Make a Spicy Ramen Bowl using them, or have them as a side dish.

What are Soba Noodles

These unique noodles coming from Japan are made using buckwheat flour. So they have a distinct nutty taste and soft texture. Aside from the taste and texture they’re highly nutritious. High in fibre and protein compared to other noodles. They’re also better for you in blood sugar regulation.

Soba means buckwheat in Japanese , which is the main ingredient. While pure buckwheat flour and water should be the ingredients, you’ll often find minor traces of other flours.This is to maintain the elasticity of the texture. So if you’re entirely gluten free, it’s best to read the label.

These Soba noodles are also easy to cook, super tasty and pair with your favorite sauces. So today we’re sharing a warm and a cold recipe to inspire you!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Soba Noodles. Our hero ingredient. Super tasty noodles with a good nutritional profile and a soft texture.
• Soy Sauce. The main ingredient for the sauce, it adds umami and flavor. Use low sodium soy sauce.
• Miso. For taste and umami as well. We use white miso, organic.
• Sesame oil. To emulsify the dressing and also for taste.
• Toasted sesame seeds. Toasted sesame seeds are great for crunch, taste and value.
• Green onions. They flavor  to the noodles.
• Sugar. To balance the saltiness of soy sauce, vinegar and other flavors.
• Rice vinegar. Used for the cold soba noodle salad, it makes the base for the salad dressing.
• Cilantro. bright and zesty, the perfect freshness booster to finish the soba noodles recipe.
• Shredded Veggies. This is entirely up to your taste or whatever you have on hand. We used Bok choy, snap peas, a variety of colored peppers, cucumbers, and more green onions.

How to Cook Soba Noodles

1. Like any noodles and pasta, you’ll need to cook the soba noodles in boiling water. However, you MUST rinse the soba noodles under cold water after cooking to remove any starches.
2. Unlike other types of pastas, you shouldn’t salt the water.
   
3. Drop the noodles in the water and boil for a few minutes until tender, then drain the noodles.
4. To keep the noodles from sticking together, toss them in oil while you make the sauces.

Warm Soba Noodles Recipe

1. In a bowl mix together the sauce ingredients, or the base flavor. This includes the soy sauce, miso, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar and seasoning.
   
2. Over a non stick skillet, sauté the green onions and sesame oil for just a few seconds until fragrant.
   
3. Add in the sauce base from the bowl and cook for about a minute to simmer and infuse.
   
4. At that point you’re ready to add in the cooked soba noodles. Add them in and toss them with the sauce.
5. Finish off with plenty of toasted sesame seeds, some black sesame seeds if you want too. And we love adding in more green onions at the end.
   
6. This dish is the PERFECT compliment to our viral Miso Cod. We can’t urge you enough to pair them and try it for yourself!

Soba Noodles Salad

1. In a medium bowl, mix all the dressing ingredients together. This includes the sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, some honey and seasoning.
   
2. Add the cooked and cooled soba noodles on to a plate and top with the veggies you choose. We thinly sliced bokchoy, snap peas, cucumbers, colored bell peppers and green onions.
3. We also added cilantro leaves, mint leaves and sesame seeds.
   
4. Pile the veggies over the noodles and drizzle with the dressing above.
5. Toss everything well to coat.
   
6. Likewise, we LOVE to serve this salad with our Miso Cod or Sweet Chili Salmon. You can of course keep it vegetarian as is too.

Soba Noodles Tips

1. Soba noodles are easy to find across plenty of grocery stores, not necessarily Asian stores only. They have a distinct toasted color and come in packs of sticks looking.
2. You’ll find some brands break easier than others, so its best to read reviews if you can.
3. The soba noodles should be primarily made of buckwheat flour and water. This makes it naturally gluten free, however some brands add some flour. The flours stabilize the texture of the noodles. So if you’re gluten free, make sure you read the label.
4. Cook the soba noodles in UNSALTED boiling water. This helps them maintain their texture  and prevents them for sticking together.
5. Avoid overcooking the soba noodles as they will become gummy and mushy. Read the package instructions and keep an eye on it.
6. When the noodles are ready, you need to RINSE them under cold water. This removes any excess starch that could be hanging on, so it prevents sticking.
7. If you’re still preparing the recipe and the noodles have cooked, it’s best to toss them in some oil. This prevents any further sticking to the noodles. Use any neutral oil and toss it with the noodles.
8. Soba noodles are GREAT served warm or cold. You can use the same sauce either way but today we highlighted two different sauces.
9. If you don’t cook much Asian, make sure your sesame oil is fresh. It’s one of the most commonly stored ingredient, and ca go rancid.
10. Toasting the sesame seeds before using here adds so much nutty fresh flavor.
11. Use any veggies you have for the salad recipe.
12. Feel free to adjust the salt depending on your soy sauce. Some brands tend to be saltier than others. When possible, always buy low sodium and organic soy sauce.

Recipe Variations

• Make it spicy! We love adding chilli flakes to the sauces, it gives a nice kick!
• We used cilantro and fresh mint, you can also use Thais basil for a zesty flavor.
• Add protein like tofu, Miso Cod or Sweet Chili Salmon for seafood options. You can also use some Chili Lime Shrimp.
• Play around with the veggies to your taste! Add avocados, some carrots, edamame, and your favorite veggies.

What To Serve with Soba Noodles?

Truthfully, we shared the warm and cold variation to show you how tasty they are as is. However, you can serve it with plenty of main dishes.

What Does Soba Noodles taste Like?

They taste very nutty and earthy. So for that we love rich flavorful sauces to pair with them.

Soba Noodles VS Udon?

Both those noodles originate from Japan, so comparison is valid. Udon are thick, chewy noodles made of flour with a mild subtle flavor. It’s not gluten free and doesn’t have any nutrients, unless you serve it with other ingredients.

Soba noodles are made of buckwheat flour. So they are nutty in tase and they’re thin noodles. They’re more nutritious and naturally gluten free.

Soba Noodles VS Ramen

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