Grilled Eggplant Soba Noodles Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do I make sure soba noodles don't stick together? ›

As soba noodles are very delicate, gently wash the noodles together for about one minute with your hands. But do wash them thoroughly as this step also helps remove any starch left on the surface. This will prevent the noodles from sticking together and becoming one large clump when plate.

Always rinse soba noodles under cold running water to remove the surface starch and drain them well afterwards. Keep in mind that fresh soba cooks faster than dried soba. Once the soba noodles are cooked, be sure to serve them immediately while they are fresh.

It's easy for a package of soba to turn into a big gummy mess, but if you follow these tips, you'll have sure soba success! First, unlike regular pasta, it's essential that you cook your soba in unsalted water. Make sure not to overcook them! Don't forget to set a kitchen timer for the time listed on the package.

Serve toppings warm or cold, cooked or raw. Steamed baby bok choy, radishes, bean sprouts, hard boiled egg half, cilantro. Edamame, shredded red cabbage, tofu, green onion. Steamed broccoli, sautéed mushrooms, red bell pepper, sesame seeds.

The fact that soba noodles can be served either hot or cold and in a myriad of different ways adds to its mass appeal. Soba noodles are a favorite of both locals and travelers to Japan due to their versatility.

Unlike pasta, there's no need for salt. Add the soba to the boiling pot in a circular motion, separating the noodles from each other. Cook the noodles for 4-5 minutes or according to the package instructions (each brand is slightly different). Stir the noodles occasionally to prevent sticking and cook until tender.

And with soba, if you overcook the noodles even by just one or two minutes, they get soft and start breaking. So it's important to keep an eye on the time and to eat them quickly once they're ready.” Inaoka also recommends keeping the cooking water.

Buckwheat flour on its own is expensive, and the noodles it produces tend to be brittle. When anywhere from 10 percent to 30 percent wheat flour is added, the result is a little more tender and chewy, but not as glutinous and stretchy as noodles made from 100 percent wheat flour.

Cook according to package directions, usually about 7 to 8 minutes. If the water starts to foam and boil over, add a ½ cup of cold water to bring the temperature back down. Taste a noodle for doneness.

Dried soba can be stored as you would any other dried pasta or noodle (dry, cool, dark pantry is best) until the sell-by date listed on the package; semi-dried or half-fresh noodles should be kept as you found them at the store.

Why are soba noodles expensive? ›

The prices of Japan's beloved 'soba' noodles have been increased for the first time in 10 years due to Ukraine's invasion. Ukraine, also known as the “breadbasket of the world,” is unable to export its products to Europe, Africa, and Asia that relies on the vast, fertile farmlands of the Black Sea region.

Soba noodles are good for your health because they are gluten-free, high in flavonoids, and help balance your blood sugar. Soba noodles are a Japanese alternative to regular pasta. They're mostly made with buckwheat flour, which is both gluten-free and full of healthy proteins, vitamins, and minerals.

Soba is a Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour and water, and sometimes a bit of whole-wheat flour to keep the noodles from deteriorating. Making soba by hand is an intensely complicated process that artisans spend years studying.

Soba is Japanese for buckwheat, which is a nutritious, grain-like seed that's gluten-free and — despite its name — unrelated to wheat. Soba noodles can be made solely of buckwheat flour and water, but more commonly also contain wheat flour and sometimes added salt.

If things do get gummy, drain the noodles, rinse them under cold water, and plunge them into an ice bath. This will stop the cooking process while washing away some of the starch. Now you're ready to sip and slurp your way to soba-induced bliss.

To make perfect Soba Noodles:

Add Soba Noodles to boiling water and boil for 4-5 minutes. Rinse under cold water (to remove starch and prevent overcooking) and drain. If serving in hot soup, quickly blanch noodles in boiling water before use.

5 Important Tips When Cooking Soba Noodles

Stir the water with chopsticks so the soba noodles are not stuck together. Rinse the noodles under cold running water to remove the starch. Chill the noodles in ice water for 30 seconds. The noodles will firm up for a more chewy texture.