Japanese Soba Bowl Food

THE BEST SESAME SOBA NOODLES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the soba noodles for 4-5 minutes or just until tender, stirring occasionally so the noodles don't clump. Drain in a colander and rinse well under cold water, tossing to remove the starch.
• While the noodles are cooking, in a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, sugar, and black pepper. Set aside.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the canola oil and heat until shimmering then add the chopped green onions. Cook, stirring, for 15 to 30 seconds or until fragrant.
• Add the soy and sesame mixture and cook for 30 seconds, Add the noodles and toss until the noodles are heated through. Add the remaining minced green onion and half of the sesame seeds. Garnish with the remaining seeds and serve warm or at room temperature.

YAKISOBA

Steps:

• Shredded pickled red ginger (beni shoga or kizami beni shoga; see Cook's Note)
• For the yakisoba sauce: Whisk together the Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, sugar and soy sauce in a small bowl and reserve.
• For the yakisoba: Place the noodles in a bowl, add about 1 teaspoon of the oil and stir to separate.
• Heat the remaining oil in a skillet over high heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the pork belly and sear on all sides, about 3 minutes. Stir in the mushrooms, onion and carrot and cook until tender but not cooked all the way, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the cabbage and cook until almost tender, about 1 minute. Stir in the scallions and cook until slightly softened, about 30 seconds. Sprinkle in some pepper.
• Add the noodles to the skillet and lower the heat to medium. Stir to warm and combine the noodles with the vegetables in the skillet for about 30 seconds. Stir in the yakisoba sauce and cook until the sauce is absorbed and distributed, about 1 minute. Plate up and top with the dried green seaweed and pickled red ginger if using.

SOBA NOODLE VEGGIE BOWL

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Drop in soba noodles and return to a boil. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 7 minutes. Drain.
• Meanwhile, combine soy sauce, oyster sauce, and mirin in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, onion, and green beans and saute until softened but still crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Add soba noodles and toss with the cooked vegetables. Mix in soy sauce mixture and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Add baby spinach and cook until desired doneness, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve in a bowl.

AUTHENTIC YAKISOBA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook soba in boiling water, stirring occasionally, until noodles are tender yet firm to the bite, 5 to 8 minutes. Drain noodles and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a wok over medium heat. Add pork and stir-fry with a pinch of salt and pepper, about 5 minutes. Transfer meat to a plate, reserving oil in wok. Add carrots, onion, ginger, and garlic to the wok and stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add cabbage to the wok and stir-fry briefly, about 1 minute. Add drained soba noodles. Pour in 1/2 the yakisoba sauce and stir-fry until noodles and vegetables are covered with sauce, about 3 minutes. Return pork to the wok. Add additional sauce as desired. Remove from heat.
• Garnish yakisoba with kizami nori and a small pile of beni shoga just before serving.