Description
A vibrant and refreshing Sesame Soba Noodles recipe featuring tangy sesame dressing, fresh mint, creamy avocado, crisp snap peas, and colorful radishes. This quick and easy dish is perfect for a light lunch or dinner, combining Asian flavors with nutritious ingredients for a satisfying and flavorful meal.
Ingredients
Sesame Dressing
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons tamari, plus more for serving
- ½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil, plus more for serving
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- ½ teaspoon maple syrup or honey
Soba Noodles
- 6 ounces soba noodles
- 1 lemon wedge, for squeezing
- 2 avocados, sliced
- 2 cups blanched snap peas
- ¼ cup edamame
- 1 watermelon radish or 2 red radishes, very thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves
- Sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, tamari, toasted sesame oil, grated fresh ginger, grated garlic, and maple syrup or honey until well combined. Set the dressing aside to let the flavors meld.
- Cook soba noodles: Bring a large pot of unsalted water to a boil. Add the soba noodles and cook according to the package instructions, usually about 5-7 minutes. Once cooked, drain the noodles and rinse thoroughly under cold water to remove excess starch and prevent clumping.
- Toss noodles in dressing: Transfer the cooled soba noodles to a bowl and toss them with the prepared sesame dressing until evenly coated. This ensures every strand is flavorful and moist.
- Prepare the toppings: Squeeze fresh lemon juice onto the avocado slices to prevent browning. Prepare the blanched snap peas, edamame, thinly sliced radishes, and fresh mint leaves, setting them aside ready for assembly.
- Assemble the bowls: Divide the dressed soba noodles evenly into 2 to 4 serving bowls. Top each bowl with the lemon-squeezed avocado slices, snap peas, edamame, radishes, and fresh mint. Sprinkle generously with toasted sesame seeds for an added nutty crunch.
- Optional finishing touches: Drizzle additional tamari or toasted sesame oil over each bowl if desired to adjust flavor intensity to your taste.
Notes
- To ensure noodles don’t stick together, rinse well under cold water after cooking.
- For a gluten-free option, use 100% buckwheat soba noodles or a gluten-free soba alternative.
- Maple syrup can be substituted with honey or agave nectar for a different sweet note.
- This dish is best served chilled or at room temperature, making it perfect for meal prep or warm weather meals.
- Feel free to add protein like grilled tofu, chicken, or shrimp to make it more substantial.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Japanese