Soba Noodle Salad With Grilled Plums Food

SOBA NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Gather all the ingredients.
• To make the dressing, combine the vegetable oil, sesame oil, and crushed red peppers in a small saucepan.
• Whisk it all together and infuse the oil over medium heat for 3 minutes. Alternatively, you can put these ingredients in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 3 minutes. Set aside to let it cool a bit; be careful while handling as it'll get very hot.
• Add the honey and soy sauce to the oil mixture.
• Whisk it all together until the honey has completely dissolved.
• Bring water to a boil in a large pot (you do not need to salt the water for cooking soba). Cook the soba noodles according to the package instructions, but make sure they are al dente. Drain into a colander and rinse the soba noodles under cold running water. This step is important to remove the excess starch from the noodles and to stop the cooking. Drain well and transfer to a large bowl.
• Thinly slice the green onions and chop the cilantro into small pieces.
• Add the dressing, green onions, cilantro, and sesame seeds to the bowl with the soba noodles.
• Toss everything together. Transfer to a serving bowl or plate. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

SOBA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Drop in the noodles and carrot and cook until tender, 2 to 4 minutes; add the edamame for about 15 to 30 seconds just to warm, then drain everything in a colander. Set aside.
• In a large salad bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, lime juice, miso and mirin or sugar. Add spinach, noodles, carrot, edamame, scallion, and toss; then taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with grated ginger at the table.

GRILLED PLUM SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium high.
• For the dressing: In a large bowl whisk together the honey, vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt until emulsified. Set the bowl aside.
• For the salad: Drizzle the plums with the olive oil and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Place the plums on the hot grill and cook until golden brown all over, about 1 minute per side. Remove from the grill and let cool slightly before cutting into wedges.
• Add the radicchio and endive to the bowl with the dressing, season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and toss well to coat. Add the plums and toss gently. Sprinkle with the feta and pistachios.

PEANUT SOBA NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• For the soba noodle salad: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the soba noodles until just tender according to package directions, 6 to 7 minutes. Reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking water, drain and run the noodles under cool water to stop cooking and ensure they stay firm. Drizzle with a little sesame oil and toss so they don't stick together. Set aside.
• For the peanut dressing: Place the sesame oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and ginger and lightly saute (take care to not overheat as the sesame oil burns easily). You just want to gently warm and infuse the oil to cook the garlic and ginger, about 2 minutes. Add to a blender with the peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, Sriracha and reserved soba cooking water (hot). Blend until completely smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Mix together the carrots and scallions with the noodles in a large mixing bowl. Dress with the peanut dressing then serve garnished with the chopped roasted peanuts.

BUCKWHEAT NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk together the vinegar, sugar, ginger, honey, tamari, sesame oil, and chili sauce in a large bowl until combined. Slowly whisk in the canola oil until the dressing is emulsified.
• Add the noodles, carrot, pepper, cucumber, green onions and cilantro. Gently mix to combine and serve.

GRILLED PLUM SALAD WITH AGED GOUDA AND PECANS

Steps:

• For the dressing: Whisk the vinegar, honey, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Gradually whisk in oil, starting with a few drops and adding the rest in a steady stream to make a smooth, slightly thick vinaigrette. Set aside.
• For the salad: Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush the plums with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Grill the plums until slightly soft, about 1 minute per side. To get distinct grill marks, resist the temptation to move the fruit around on the pan as it cooks. Cut the plum wedges in half crosswise and toss with the dressing. Set the plums aside to marinate in the dressing for 15 minutes. (The salad can be prepared up to this point 1 hour before serving.)
• Right before serving, toss the greens with the plums and dressing. Divide the salad among 4 serving plates and scatter the cheese and pecans over the tops.

COLD SOBA NOODLE SALAD

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.
• Toss noodles with sesame oil in a medium bowl. Divide noodles evenly between the 5 containers.
• Top noodles with edamame, carrot, green onions, and cilantro, dividing them evenly between the 5 containers. Place lids on containers. Pour 1/4 cup peanut sauce into each dressing container. Refrigerate until ready to eat. Mix 1 dressing container with 1 serving of soba salad to serve.

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 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.