What are soba noodles? – Interesting information and 7 delicious recipes!

No matter whether with Bolognese or Carbonara sauce, baked in the oven - in Germany, pasta is very often on the menu and in different variations. But in Japan, noodles are eaten just as often. While sushi or tempura shrimp are known to everyone, soba noodles are also part of traditional Japanese cuisine. They are made from buckwheat and water and have a strong and nutty flavor. They have a grayish, slightly brownish hue and look a bit like thin whole-wheat spaghetti. Learn what health benefits they have and how to eat them. In our article you will also find many delicious recipes with soba noodles.

Translated from Japanese, Soba means “buckwheat” and describes the noodles of the same name that are found in Japana centuries-long traditionhave. But when buying, you should always make sure that they are only made from buckwheat flour and are not mixed with wheat flour. In some cases they are made by mixing around 80% buckwheat flour and 20% wheat flour. The reason for this is that pure buckwheat is very expensive. The Japanese value these noodles so much that they prepare them for the New Year. Each guest is given a bowl of soba, which they are supposed to finish by midnight. Why this particular dish? The resilience of the buckwheat plant and the length of the noodles represent longevity and health. Furthermore, the ease with which they are bitten through symbolizes a break with the turmoil of the past year.

How are they eaten?

In Japan, the pasta is traditionally served on bamboo with a broth, sometimes in a small bowl and garnished with spring onions. Depending on the season, the broth is warm or cold and consists of rice wine, fish stock, dark soy sauce and a little sugar. Hot soba noodles are served in a deep bowl with broth. You also get a bowl with various spices, such as ginger and wasabi. If you are curious and want to try the cold version, you should follow a few rules to fully develop the excellent taste of the dish. First, mix the dip with a little spring onions and wasabi. Then dip your pasta in the sauce and only then can you eat it. In traditional Japanese restaurants you will still be served a small teapot. This is called Soba-yu and it is the water in which the noodles were cooked. It is intended for you to mix with the remaining dip and simply drink the drink after eating.

In most countries, slurping while eating is considered very impolite. But in Japan this is not the case. All Japanese noodle dishes should be eaten while slurping, as this is the only way the full aroma and taste can develop. If you don't slurp ramen or soba at all or don't slurp it loudly, you'll tell the cook that it doesn't taste good.

Traditional pasta or soba noodles?

Buckwheat flour has a lot of health benefits. As a gluten-free grain, it is a great alternative for people who cannot consume wheat. It also helps with diabetes, high blood pressure, varicose veins and fights many heart diseases. With 280 calories per 100 grams, 20 grams of carbohydrates and around 13% vegetable protein, soba noodles are undoubtedly the healthier optionAlternative to the usual pasta, which in comparison contains 340 calories per 100 grams.

Delicious recipes with soba noodles

Classic Kake Soba Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 liter dashi broth (preferably freshly prepared, but instant is also possible)
• 2 tbsp mirin (Japanese rice wine)
• 1 THE Sake
• 2 THE Soy Sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 5 leaves of white or Chinese cabbage
• 200 grams of soba noodles
• 1 spring onion (cut into thin rings)

Preparation:

• Heat the dashi broth in a large pot and add the soy sauce, mirin, sake and salt. Mix everything well and bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Bring water to the boil in another pot and add the soba noodles. Drain the pasta through a sieve about 30 seconds before the end of the time specified in the cooking instructions and rinse well with ice-cold water. This will wash away the unpleasant mucus.
• In the meantime, wash the cabbage leaves, remove the stalk and cut into fine strips. Place on the dining table along with the spring onions.
• As soon as the broth is simmering, add the noodles and cook again for about 30 seconds over high heat.
• To serve, first just divide the pasta into bowls and then pour the broth over it and you're done!

Fried noodles with vegetables

With this recipe, there are no limits when it comes to choosing ingredients - almost anything you can find in the fridge can be used.

Ingredients:

• 200 grams of soba noodles
• 200 grams of broccoli
• 100 grams of cauliflower
• 150 grams of mushrooms
• Spring onions
• Soy and bamboo sprouts to taste
• some ginger, salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp Curry paste

Preparation:

• Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente and drain well.
• Cut the vegetables into bite-sized pieces.
• Heat some oil in a wok pan. Fry ginger briefly and add curry paste. Stir everything for 1 minute.
• Then the chopped vegetables are added little by little. Fry over medium heat for about 15 minutes.
• Mix in the pasta and fry for 1 minute.

With homemade parsley pesto

Ingredients:

• 300 grams of soba noodles
• 40 grams parsley, coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons pine nuts, lightly roasted without fat
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 2 THE Soy Sauce
• 3 tbsp olive oil

Preparation:

• Bring water to a boil in a pot and cook soba noodles according to package instructions. Rinse well.
• In the meantimePrepare the parsley pesto: To do this, put the parsley, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, soy sauce, sesame and olive oil in a blender and mix everything until smooth.
• Mix the pasta with the sauce. If desired, sprinkle with a little Parmesan and serve.

Delicious soba noodles with roasted cherry tomatoes

Ingredients:

• 200 grams of soba noodles
• 3 Tbsp travel vinegar
• 2 THE MISO
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 EL Honig
• 1 onion
• some ginger, grated
• 250 grams of cherry tomatoes
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tbsp grated lime peel
• 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

Preparation:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
• In a bowl, stir the rice vinegar, miso, ginger, sesame oil, honey, lime juice and lime zest until smooth and season with salt.
• On a baking tray, mix cherry tomatoes with 3 tablespoons of miso dressing and season with salt. Roast for 20 minutes, turning occasionally.
• Cook the pasta in the boiling water for 4 minutes until al dente. Drain well and cool under cold water.
• Add the pasta, chopped onion and remaining dressing to the tomatoes and stir well.
• Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

With coconut curry

Ingredients:

• 250 grams of Japanese pasta
• 500 grams of green asparagus
• 50 grams of mung bean sprouts
• 75 grams of cherry tomatoes
• 1 tbsp ginger, grated
• 1 shallot onion, finely diced
• 2 tablespoons coconut milk
• 2 cans of coconut milk
• 1 tsp Curry paste, rot
• 250 grams of chicken fillet
• Salt, pepper
• Coriander, fresh

Preparation:

• Wash the asparagus, cut off the ends and cut the asparagus spears into diagonal pieces.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a large pot and sauté the shallots and ginger for 1 minute. Add coconut milk and curry paste and simmer covered for about 10 minutes.
• Cook pasta according to package instructions.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a pan and fry the asparagus for about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes shortly before the end of the cooking time and then remove them from the pan after a few minutes.
• Cut the meat into strips and fry in the pan for 5 minutes, season with salt and pepper.
• Add vegetables, chicken and sprouts to the coconut milk. Roughly chop the coriander and add it to the curry. Season with salt, pepper and a little lime juice.
• Arrange the noodles and curry in bowls and sprinkle with a little coriander.

Cold soba noodles for hot summer nights

Ingredients:

• 250 grams shrimp, peeled
• 200 grams of pasta
• 1 sheet of nori seaweed, cut into thin strips
• 120 ml mirin (Japanese rice wine)
• 100 ml soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 Tbsp Reissig
• Salt, pepper
• Wasabi, optional

Preparation:

• Heat sesame oil in a pan over medium heat. Add shrimp and sauté for about 2-3 minutes. Season and set aside.
• Cook the pasta in boiling water for 4 minutes until al dente, drain well and rinse under cold water.
• Fill a large bowl with ice cubes and water and add noodles.
• Prepare the dipping sauce by mixing the mirin, soy sauce and rice vinegar well in a small bowl.
• To serve, divide the soba into bowls and top with shrimp and nori seaweed. Serve the side dishes and sauce in other bowls and enjoy!

Spring rolls

Ingredients:

• 4 Travel paper sheets
• 150 grams of pasta
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 200 grams of shiitake mushrooms
• 1 THE Tamarisauce
• 4 tbsp peanut butter
• 1 avocado, sliced
• Basil and mint, fresh

Preparation:

• Heat sesame oil in a pan. Add mushrooms and fry for about 5 minutes.
• Place the rice paper sheets between 2 slightly damp kitchen towels and let them soften for about 2 minutes.
• In the meantime, cook the pasta in boiling water according to the package instructions.
• Spread the rice paper sheets with peanut butter. Place some of the pasta, mushrooms and avocado in the middle. Season with salt, pepper and basil.
• Fold the rice paper over the filling at the top and bottom and wrap it tightly.
• Serve with tamari sauce as a dip.

Vegan mit Tofu

Ingredients:

• 300 grams of pasta
• 1 package of tofu, diced
• 100 ml rice vinegar
• 2 THE Soy Sauce
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp Sesame
• 100 grams of white cabbage
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 spring onion, cut into thin rings
• 1 teaspoon ginger, grated

Preparation:

• Cook pasta according to instructions. Rinse well under cold water and set aside.
• In a small bowl, mix the rice vinegar, soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, sugar and sesame well and chill.
• Heat remaining sesame oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the tofu and fry until golden brown - about 4-5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
• Add the ginger, garlic and white cabbage to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, for 2-3 minutes.
• Mix everything together well in a large bowl and serve.
• Garnish with chopped peanuts if desired.