Quick Dinner Recipes with Soba Noodles

There are many reasons that people buy soba noodles. Clearly, they like the taste, and many enjoy taking advantage of the fact they are also relatively healthy. Another key motivation is the fact that they are so quick and easy to prepare. The result is that noodles are ideal for meals that are both delicious and convenient.

Why you should buy soba noodles?

Soba noodles originally come from Japan, and are made from buckwheat. Despite the name, this is not a form of wheat and is actually more closely related to rhubarb. That means that, unlike regular wheat, it does not contain gluten. Buckwheat noodles are ideal for coeliacs, those with an allergy or intolerance for gluten, or those looking for food with a low glycaemic index. They are also vegetarian, vegan and kosher, as well as rich in many important amino acids, minerals, fibre and other nutrients.

Alongside the taste and health benefits, soba noodles have another advantage. You can cook them in about five minutes. All you need to do is boil a pan of water, add the noodles, use a fork to separate them, then drain and rinse when done. Simple, and a perfect accompaniment to the following quick recipes:

Soba noodle salad

Salads are clearly one of the quickest forms of dinner to make because they involve a minimal amount of cooking. All you need are a few appropriate vegetables as well as oil, vinegar, garlic, herbs and spices to add to the seasoning or dressing. You can adjust amounts or add and take away ingredients to suit your own taste.

.       Broad beans/sugar snap peas/soybeans
.       Broccoli

These can be cooked in just a few minutes using the same water as the noodles.

.       Cucumber
.       Radish
.       Scallions
.       Bell pepper (red, yellow, orange or green)
.       Carrot

These can be served raw.

Dressing

.       Rice vinegar
.       Sesame oil
.       Mirin/Sherry
.       Garlic
.       Ginger
.       Soy sauce
.       Honey
.       Chilli
.       Fresh coriander

Whisk together your dressing, then just take your preferred combination and volume of ingredients and mix them all together. You could add tofu or a hardboiled egg for some protein.

Soba noodle soup

This is one of the most traditional ways to eat soba noodles. You can serve noodles that have been cooked and chilled on the side of a bowl of broth, or mix warm noodles with the broth in the same bowl. Again, you can combine a variety of ingredients to make the broth:

.       Dashi
.       Scallions
.       Onion
.       Garlic
.       Chilli
.       Ginger
.       Mushrooms
.       Soy sauce
.       Shrimp
.       Duck meat
.       Dried seaweed

You cook the noodles in one pan and simmer the other ingredients together in another. If serving in the same bowl, add noodles first and ladle broth over the top.

These are just two of the dinner options when you buy soba noodles. You could also make a stir fry, or use them as a substitute for pasta in an Italian-themed dish. Just add a tomato, cheese or cream sauce.

 

Your options are limited only by what you have in your cupboard and your own personal taste. Whatever you choose, all you will need to do is boil, simmer or fry for a few minutes and your tasty, nutritious dinner will be ready to enjoy.