Soba Noodle Salad With Grilled Plums Recipes

SOBA NOODLE SALAD WITH GRILLED SIRLOIN

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium high. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Whisk the rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey and sesame oil in a large bowl. Whisk in the vegetable oil. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the dressing into a small bowl.
• Add the soba noodles to the boiling water and cook as the label directs. Drain and rinse under cold water; set aside. Season the steak with salt and pepper and brush all over with the reserved 2 tablespoons dressing. Season the red onions and squash with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper.
• Grill the steak until medium rare, 3 to 5 minutes per side; let rest 10 minutes. Grill the red onions and squash, turning as needed, until charred and tender, about 6 minutes. Thinly slice the steak against the grain and season lightly with salt. Chop the onions and slice the squash.
• Add the noodles, onions, squash, radishes and herbs to the bowl with the dressing; drizzle with any accumulated juices from the steak and toss. Divide among bowls. Top with the steak.

COLD SOBA NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Toast sesame seeds in a dry non-stick pan on medium heat till golden brown.
• Bring a pot of water to boil and add salt. Put in the soba noodles and cook for about 6 minutes or until tender but not mushy. Plunge drained soba into bowl of ice water.
• In a large mixing bowl, mix vinegar, soy sauce, honey and oil. Add drained, cooled soba and chopped spring onions and mix well.
• Mix in toasted sesame seeds and toss well. Adnd give that lemon wedge a good squeeze. Mix well.

SOBA NOODLE SALAD WITH CHICKEN AND SESAME

Steps:

• Whisk rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, sesame oil, brown sugar, soy sauce, and ginger together in a large bowl until dressing is combined.
• Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Add soba noodles, stir, and return water to a boil. Boil noodles until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain noodles in a colander under cold running water until cool, about 1 minute.
• Heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken breast pieces until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 2 to 4 minutes. Add garlic, salt, and pepper; stir until fragrant, about 1 minute more.
• Toss soba noodles, chicken, celery, carrot, red pepper, cilantro, green onion, and sesame seeds together with dressing in large bowl.

SOBA NOODLE AND STEAK SALAD WITH GINGER-LIME DRESSING

Steps:

• Cook soba noodles according to package instructions. Rinse under cold water, drain well and set aside. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, lime juice, ginger, sesame oil and brown sugar; set aside.
• Season the steak well with salt and pepper. Heat a large cast-iron pan over medium-high until very hot, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the canola oil and when it shimmers, add the steak and cook, undisturbed, until it begins to get crisp and golden on the outside, 3 to 4 minutes. (If you are using skirt steak, you may need to cut it into 2 or 3 pieces to fit in the pan, then cook for 2 to 3 minutes.) Flip and finish cooking, about 3 minutes more for medium-rare. Set aside and allow the steak to rest while you prepare the rest of the salad.
• Turn heat to medium and add the bok choy. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to brown and char in spots, 2 to 3 minutes, adding another teaspoon or so of oil if needed to help if the pan is too dry. Remove from the heat.
• In a large bowl, toss the soba noodles, carrots, radishes (if using) and half the scallions. Drizzle with the ginger-lime dressing to taste and divide among plates or in serving bowls. Thinly slice the steaks against the grain and top each portion with some of the steak and the bok choy. Scatter the remaining scallions and the mint over top and season with flaky salt, if desired. Serve with any leftover dressing in a small bowl to be passed at the table.

SOBA AND HERB SALAD WITH ROASTED EGGPLANT AND PLUOTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Cover a sheet pan with foil. Place the eggplant in a large bowl and season with salt to taste. Add 2 tablespoons of the oil and toss well. Spread on the baking sheet in an even layer. Place in the oven and roast for 20 minutes, or until the eggplant is soft when you pierce it with a fork and beginning to brown on the edges. It will look dry on the outside surfaces. Remove from the oven and very carefully fold over the foil and crimp the edges so that the eggplant is now contained within a foil envelope, where it will steam and become softer. Set aside until the eggplant cools.
• Meanwhile, cook the soba noodles. When they're done, drain, rinse with cold water, shake well in the colander and transfer to a bowl. Add the sesame oil and stir together.
• Heat a wok or a large heavy frying pan over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a few seconds when added to the pan. Add 1 tablespoon of the sunflower oil and the tofu. Let sit in the pan to sear for 30 seconds, then stir-fry until lightly browned. Add 1 teaspoon of the soy sauce, toss together, then remove from the heat and add to the noodles. Add the roasted eggplant and the minced chiles, the plums or pluots and all of the chopped herbs if serving right away, half of them if serving later.
• In a small bowl or measuring cup mix together the seasoned wine vinegar, the remaining soy sauce, salt to taste, the lime juice and zest, and the garlic. Whisk in the remaining oil. Taste and adjust seasoning. Toss with the noodle salad and serve.

SOBA NOODLE & EDAMAME SALAD WITH GRILLED TOFU

Steps:

• Heat dressing ingredients in your smallest saucepan, simmer for 30 secs, then set aside.
• Boil noodles following the pack instructions, adding the edamame beans for the final 2 mins cooking time. Rinse under very cold water, drain thoroughly and tip into a large bowl with the spring onions, beansprouts, cucumber, sesame oil and warm dressing. Season if you like.
• Brush tofu with the veg oil, season and griddle or grill for 2-3 mins each side - the tofu is very delicate so turn carefully. Top the salad with the tofu, scatter with coriander and serve