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two plates of soba noodles, one served warm and the other cold with veggies

Soba Noodles

Today's Soba Noodles are made two ways: Warm and Cold. While they can be interchanged, we made two varieties so you can get the best of both worlds. A warm and tasty soba noodles recipe, and a refreshing vibrant soba noodles salad. Read along for step by step and video.

Course main, Main Course, Main Dish, noodles, side, Side Dish, vegetarian
Cuisine Asian, Japanese
Keyword how to cook soba noodles, noodles, Soba noodles, Soba noodles recipe, soba noodles salad, what are soba noodles
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 534 kcal
Author Mahy

Ingredients

Soba Noodles

  • 1 pack Soba Noodles
  • 5 cups Boiling water

Warm Soba Noodles

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon Miso Paste
  • 1 tablespoon rice Vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1 1/2 tabelspoon Sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt and pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1/3 cup green onions minced
  • 1/4 cup sesame seeds toasted

Soba Noodles Salad

  • 2 Tablespoons sesame oil
  • 3 Tablespoons Rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Honey or lightbrown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
  • 1 bok choy thinly sliced
  • 1 small cucumber thinly sliced
  • 2 small Bell peppers any color
  • 2 Green onions sliced
  • 1/2 cup snap peas sliced in half
  • 1/3 cup cilantro and mint leaves
  • 2 tabelspoons sesame seeds toasted

Instructions

  1. Like any noodles and pasta, you'll need to cook the soba noodles in boiling water. However, you MUST rinse the soba noodles under cold water after cooking to remove any starches.
    A hand holding a bunch of soba noodles showing how they look close up, raw and uncooked with the toasty color
  2. Unlike other types of pastas, you shouldn't salt the water.
  3. Drop the noodles in the water and boil for a few minutes until tender, then drain the noodles.
  4. To keep the noodles from sticking together, toss them in oil while you make the sauces.
    Soba noodles cooked in boiling water and drained in a sieve over a large bowl

  5. Warm Soba Noodles Recipe

  6. In a bowl mix together the sauce ingredients, or the base flavor. This includes the soy sauce, miso, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar and seasoning.
    A bowl with soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, sugar, seasoning mixed together to make the sauce for soba noodles recipe
  7. Over a non stick skillet, sauté the green onions and sesame oil for just a few seconds until fragrant.
    green onions cooking in a skillet with sesame oil
  8. Add in the sauce base from the bowl and cook for about a minute to simmer and infuse.
    The sauce ingredients all added to the skillet with the green onions to simmer.
  9. At that point you're ready to add in the cooked soba noodles. Add them in and toss them with the sauce.
    cooked soba noodles added to the skillet and tossed well in the simmering sauce to coat
  10. Finish off with plenty of toasted sesame seeds, some black sesame seeds if you want too. And we love adding in more green onions at the end.
  11. This dish is the PERFECT compliment to our viral Miso Cod. We can't urge you enough to pair them and try it for yourself!
    The sesame noodles recipe plated and garnished with lots of sesame seeds, and served with miso cod optionally.

  12. Soba Noodles Salad

  13. In a medium bowl, mix all the dressing ingredients together. This includes the sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, some honey and seasoning.
    A bowl of soy sauce, rice vinegar and honey used to make the dressing for the saba noodle salad

  14. Add the cooked and cooled soba noodles on to a plate and top with the veggies you choose. Thinly sliced bokchoy, snap peas, cucumbers, colored bell peppers and green onions.

    the veggies and herbs are added over the cooked and cooled soba noodles.

  15. Add the cilantro leaves, mint leaves and sesame seeds.

  16. Pile the veggies over the noodles and drizzle with the dressing above.
    A hand drizzling the dressing over the veggies and cold soba noodles
  17. Toss everything well to coat.
  18. Likewise, we LOVE to serve this salad with our Miso Cod or Sweet Chili Salmon. You can of course keep it vegetarian as is too.
    cold soba noodles salad on a plate, with veggies , herbs and dressing

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

 

Soba Noodles Tips

  1. Soba noodles are easy to find across plenty of grocery stores, not necessarily Asian stores only. They have a distinct toasted color and come in packs of sticks looking.
  2. You'll find some brands break easier than others, so its best to read reviews if you can.
  3. The soba noodles should be primarily made of buckwheat flour and water. This makes it naturally gluten free, however some brands add some flour. The flours stabilize the texture of the noodles. So if you're gluten free, make sure you read the label.
  4. Cook the soba noodles in UNSALTED boiling water. This helps them maintain their texture  and prevents them for sticking together.
  5. Avoid overcooking the soba noodles as they will become gummy and mushy. Read the package instructions and keep an eye on it.
  6. When the noodles are ready, you need to RINSE them under cold water. This removes any excess starch that could be hanging on, so it prevents sticking.
  7. If you're still preparing the recipe and the noodles have cooked, it's best to toss them in some oil. This prevents any further sticking to the noodles. Use any neutral oil and toss it with the noodles.
  8. Soba noodles are GREAT served warm or cold. You can use the same sauce either way but today we highlighted two different sauces.
  9. If you don't cook much Asian, make sure your sesame oil is fresh. It's one of the most commonly stored ingredient, and ca go rancid.
  10. Toasting the sesame seeds before using here adds so much nutty fresh flavor.
  11. Use any veggies you have for the salad recipe.
  12. Feel free to adjust the salt depending on your soy sauce. Some brands tend to be saltier than others. When possible, always buy low sodium and organic soy sauce.

Recipe Variations

  • Make it spicy! We love adding chilli flakes to the sauces, it gives a nice kick!
  • We used cilantro and fresh mint, you can also use Thais basil for a zesty flavor.
  • Add protein like tofu, Miso Cod or Sweet Chili Salmon for seafood options. You can also use some Chili Lime Shrimp.
  • Play around with the veggies to your taste! Add avocados, some carrots, edamame, and your favorite veggies.

What To Serve with Soba Noodles?

Truthfully, we shared the warm and cold variation to show you how tasty they are as is. However, you can serve it with plenty of main dishes.

What Does Soba Noodles taste Like?

They taste very nutty and earthy. So for that we love rich flavorful sauces to pair with them.

Soba Noodles VS Udon?

Both those noodles originate from Japan, so comparison is valid. Udon are thick, chewy noodles made of flour with a mild subtle flavor. It's not gluten free and doesn't have any nutrients, unless you serve it with other ingredients.
Soba noodles are made of buckwheat flour. So they are nutty in tase and they're thin noodles. They're more nutritious and naturally gluten free.

Soba Noodles VS Ramen

We love our Birria Ramen and Spicy Ramen Bowl, so we're not taking sides here. Ramen is similar to udon, made primarily of flour. The only  difference is that it is thinner, with a springy chewy texture.
 

 

 
Nutrition Facts
Soba Noodles
Amount Per Serving
Calories 534 Calories from Fat 216
% Daily Value*
Fat 24g37%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Polyunsaturated Fat 10g
Monounsaturated Fat 9g
Sodium 2183mg95%
Potassium 1015mg29%
Carbohydrates 71g24%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 15g17%
Protein 18g36%
Vitamin A 11010IU220%
Vitamin C 154mg187%
Calcium 380mg38%
Iron 6mg33%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.