What are Japanese Soba Noodles?
Soba, a staple of Japanese cuisine, is considered as a true representation of its culinary heritage. Japanese soba is a type of noodle made from buckwheat flour, derived from buckwheat seeds. Compared to udon, which is primarily made with wheat flour and water, soba offers a distinct flavor with a uniquely smooth texture when swallowed.
The delightful aroma and gentle flavor
One reason people crave soba is its delightful aroma and gentle flavor. Soba noodles are rich in natural taste and possess a fragrant quality. The aroma that comes when soba is boiled is particularly appetizing. Additionally, the flavor of soba is very mild, making it a perfect match with a variety of other ingredients, thus expanding the range of dishes you can enjoy.
The Firmness and Texture
Soba noodles have a unique texture as they do not contain gluten, which ist found in wheat flour. They offer a firm and chewy feel, and with each bite, the aroma and flavor spread throughout your mouth. This texture and flavor are among the reasons why people are drawn to soba. Especially in hot weather, the refreshing quality of soba can be particularly appetizing.
How to basic cook Japanese Soba Noodles.
1. Bring water to a boil.
Start by bringing a large pot of water to a rolling boil. A general guideline is to use about 1.5 liters of water for every 3.5 oz (100 g) of dried soba noodles. Since the noodles will expand as they cook, it’s important to have plenty of water in the pot to ensure they have enough space to move around freely.
2. Cook the Noodles
Add the noodles to the boiling water, and make sure not to let them stick together. Gently and quickly stir to prevent clumping. Adjust the heat to maintain a gentle boil and cook for the time specified on the package.
3. Remove and Rinse the Noodles
Once the noodles are cooked, use tongs or a slotted spoon to remove them from the pot and place them in a strainer. Rinse the noodles thoroughly under cold running water.
*To enjoy soba-yu, remove the noodles and keep the leftover broth from boiling the soba.
4. Serve the Noodles
Drain the noodles well and place them into a serving dish.
For cold soba, serve the noodles on a plate or bowl with dipping sauce. For warm soba, transfer the drained noodles to a bowl with hot soup.
＊Enjoy the Soba-Yu
Gently heat the remaining soba-yu in the pot and enjoy it by pouring into a teapot or a teacup.
Drinking It Straight
Drinking warm soba-yu like tea after a meal can be soothing and comforting, warming your body. Enjoy it as is to fully appreciate the aroma and flavor of the soba that spreads throughout your mouth. Sipping soba-yu offers a delightful conclusion to your soba dining experience.
Mixing with soba dipping sauce
After enjoying the plain soba-yu, you can add the leftover soba dipping sauce to it. Adding condiments like green onions or wasabi enhances the flavor, offering a different experience.
Following these steps, you can enjoy delicious Japanese Soba noodles cooked to perfection.
Easy and delicious Japanese Soba Noodles recipies.
Veggie Sesame Noodle（cooking time：15 min）
Ingredients (For 3 servings)
- 6.3oz (180g) Dried Soba noodles
- 1/3 cup Soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon Sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons Rice wine vinegar
- 2 cloves Garlic (grated)
- 2 teaspoon Red pepper flakes
- 1 bunch of Green onion (chopped)
- 1/2 cup Cilantro (chopped)
- 1 Red bell pepper (sliced thin)
- 1/4 head of Red cabbage (sliced thin)
- 1 whole Carrot (shredded)
- 1/4 cup toasted Sesame seeds
Method
1．Boil the soba noodles according to the package instructions, then drain and rinse them with cold water.
2．In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, garlic and red pepper flakes to make the dressing.
3．Add the cooked soba, chopped vegetables, and toasted sesame seeds to the bowl, and mix well.
4．Serve on a plate, and your dish is ready to enjoy.
Coconut Tempeh Soba Noodles（cooking time 15 min）
Ingredients (For 3 servings)
- 6.3oz (180g) Dried Soba noodles
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 2 Brown onions (diced)
- 8 Garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 Lemon
- 4 Tomatoes (finely chopped)
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 200g packet of Tempeh (diced)
- 1 can Coconut mil
Toppings
- 2 Green onions (minced)
- 1 Red chilli pepper (minced)
Method
1．Boil the soba noodles according to the package instructions, then drain and rinse the noodles with water.
2．Add half of the olive oil to a pot and heat over low heat. Add the onion and garlic, and sauté until the onion becomes translucent.
3．Cut the lemon in half. Thinly slice the peel and roughly chop the lemon. Add them to step 2. Add tomatoes and salt, mix gently, and simmer for about 5 minutes. Then, add coconut milk and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
4．Heat the remaining coconut oil in a frying pan and sauté the tempeh until it turns golden brown.
5．In a bowl, pour the cooked soba and the soup from step 3. Add the sautéed tempeh from step 4. Finally, top with green onions, red chili pepper, and the remaining lemon before serving.
Let’s enjoy authentic, easy, and delicious Japanese soba noodles in the comfort of your own home !
Here are some of hakubaku’s recommended soba noodles products.
