Soba Soup With Spinach Food

SOBA NOODLES IN BROTH WITH SPINACH AND SHIITAKES

Steps:

• Place the kombu and shiitakes in a large bowl, and cover with 4 1/2 cups hot water. Soak for 30 minutes. Place a strainer over a bowl and drain. Squeeze the mushrooms over the strainer, then rinse. Remove the mushroom stems and discard. Slice the caps thinly.
• Meanwhile, cook the soba noodles. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, add the soba. As the water comes back to a boil, add 1/2 cup of cold water to prevent it from boiling over. Allow to come back to a boil again, and add another 1/2 cup of cold water. Check for doneness, and if necessary bring back to a boil one more time and add another 1/2 cup of cold water. The soba should be tender all the way through but al dente -- slightly firm to the bite. Transfer immediately to the ice water, and allow to cool for a few minutes, then drain.
• Bring the water back to a boil, salt generously and add the spinach. Blanch for one minute, and transfer to a bowl of ice water. Drain, squeeze out excess liquid, and cut the squeezed bundle of spinach into four pieces.
• Divide the noodles, spinach, mushrooms and green onions among four large soup bowls. In a saucepan, combine the soaking water from the kombu and mushrooms, the sake, mirin and soy sauce. Bring to a simmer. Taste and adjust seasonings. Pour over the ingredients in the soup bowls, and serve at once.

CHICKEN SOBA NOODLE SOUP

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, combine the chicken thighs, chicken broth, sliced ginger, scallion whites, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds pepper in a large saucepan. Cover and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, about 8 minutes. Uncover and gently simmer until the chicken is cooked through, 5 to 10 more minutes.
• While the chicken cooks, trim the snap peas and thinly slice. Peel the carrots and halve lengthwise, then thinly slice.
• Add the soba noodles to the boiling water and cook as the label directs. Drain and rinse under warm water, then vigorously shake off the water. Divide among bowls.
• Using tongs, remove the chicken to a plate. Discard the ginger and scallions from the broth and skim off any foam. Shred the chicken and return to the broth. Add the shiitakes and carrots, return to a simmer and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in the soy sauce and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Stir in the snap peas.
• Ladle the soup over the noodles. Top with the scallion greens and grated ginger; sprinkle with shichimi togarashi.

SOBA SOUP WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium. Add mushrooms, scallion whites, garlic, and ginger; season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are tender, 6 minutes.
• Add broth and 3 cups water; bring to a boil. Add soba; reduce to a simmer, and cook 5 minutes. Add spinach; cook just until tender, about 1 minute. Add lime juice and soy sauce. Serve topped with scallion greens.

SOBA SOUP WITH SPINACH AND TOFU

Steps:

• Make the broth: In a saucepan bring the water to a boil.
• Stir in the dashi and simmer the mixture, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes.
• Stir in the soy sauce and the sugar and simmer the broth for 5 minutes.
• Strain the broth through a fine sieve into a heatproof bowl and pour it back into the pan.
• In a kettle of salted boiling water cook the noodles for 3 to 5 minutes, or until they are al dente, being careful not to overcook them, drain them in a colander, and rinse them under cold water.
• Add the carrots to the broth and simmer them, covered, for 5 minutes.
• Stir in the spinach and the tofu and simmer the soup for 1 minute.
• In a small bowl stir together well 1/2 cup of the soup broth and the miso and pour the mixture back into the pan.
• Divide the noodles among 6 large bowls, ladle the soup over them, and sprinkle each serving with some of the scallions.
• I sometimes sprinkle toasted nori over the soup.
• Enjoy!