If you are looking for a simple and quick recipe, you are in the right place. This dish is a number one for me in the “I don’t have time to cook” category. Soba noodles can be prepared as a warm meal that will fill you up, but it is also nice in a cold version, especially during the hot summer months.
What are Soba Noodles Made of?
Soba noodles originate from Japan, they are thin and made from buckwheat flour. However, they are usually not gluten-free. Soba noodles contain a mix of flour – buckwheat and wheat. Buckwheat flour should, of course, have a larger share, and this is then also reflected in the color – the noodles are darker. Although this may not always be the rule. There is also hulled buckwheat which has greenish yellow color therefore the noodles have also lighter color (if they are not dyed). Wheat flour is added because buckwheat flour alone would not hold the noodles, they would fall apart.
Traditionally, soba noodles are made only from buckwheat and wheat flour and water, but you can also come across variants like noodles with green tea powder or seaweed.
How to Serve Soba Noodles?
You probably wouldn’t find soba noodles in a version like this recipe below in Japan. It is not the typical way to prepare soba noodles in Japan.
However, in a version like this you can serve them as a side dish or have them as a main dish when combined with, for example, hard-boiled eggs or smoked mackerel fillets.
Warm or Cold Noodles
As I mentioned, soba noodles are usually prepared in a different way in Japan. There are many restaurants and small stalls (mainly around the metro) where they only serve soba noodles. If you are looking for cheap and quick food to eat (often standing up), then you will definitely head here.
Soba noodles as a warm dish are served in soup or broth with different toppings (eg with egg or tempura).
Cold soba noodles are not in the soup, but they are served separately and dipped in the sauce. And it can be also served with tempura. After cooking, the noodles are always rinsed under running water so that they do not stick together. Therefore, when you prepare this recipe in a warm version, it is good to serve the noodles immediately.
Interested to discover more about Japanese cooking? Let’s keep in touch on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
Sharing is caring:
Soba noodles recipe
Ingredients
- 1 bundle of soba noodles
- 2 tbsp soya sauce
- 1/2- 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp honey
- 1 egg
- Wasabi or something spicy (you can omit if you don't eat spicy food)
- Sesame seeds and green onion
Instructions
- Cook the noodles according to the instructions. Soba noodles are usually cooked quickly and you have to be careful not to overcook them.
- Hard-boil the egg.
- Mix soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, wasabi, grated ginger and sesame seeds (I recommend to roast the sesame seeds).
- Mix this sauce with the cooked noodles. Garnish with green onion or other fresh herbs you prefer. If you want the cold version, first rinse the noodles with cold water.
Itadakimasu! [itadakimas]
