Sunday, June 26, 2011

Soba noodle salad with ginger and mizuna

Greetings from the Bluebonnet sickbed. Not exactly a primo summer vacation destination. However, to make up for the lack of surf and tropical drinks, we have plenty of iced water and Nyquil. After battling this wicked stubborn cold for weeks, here I sit, unable to launch into summer vacation festivities with the kids. Total and absolute bummer.

Guest chef Will took pity on me and whipped up a fresh, cool, gingery dish that soothes my sinuses. This soba dish incorporates those dark green leafy vegetables (mizuna, in this case) that's supposed to be an amazing source of vitamins, folate, carotenoids, and other goodies that keep us healthy. I'm in dire need of healthy these days. I think I'm personally responsible for deforesting half of the continental USA with my kleenex usage. By the way, if you don't have any mizuna, you can substitute watercress.


Soba noodle salad with ginger and mizuna

1 large bunch mizuna, washed, stemmed, and chopped
1 large carrot or 2 small carrots, sliced diagonally into thin slices
1/2 hothouse cucumber, cored and sliced into matchsticks
6 ounces dried soba noodles
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, peeled and diced fine
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Cook soba noodles per directions in boiling water. Drain and rinse with cool water until they are no longer hot.

In a large bowl, combine mizuna, carrot slices, soba noodles, and cucumber.

In a small bowl, whisk together ginger, garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar,
and sugar. Pour over salad and toss. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

3 comments:

  1. This looks wonderful! 100% Buckwheat Soba is one of those not specifically gf items that are gluten-free anyway that I love to keep in the house. I'll have to try this recipe out. Thanks for sharing.

    Oh, and for a really horrible mucousy head cold, I recommend chilled Jeznowka(blackberry brandy) in a whiskey glass instead of the nyquil. I had a cold that wouldn't quit last year, and one of the lacrosse dads told me to go to the liquor store and get some. I laughed, and continued to take cold meds. I mentioned in passing to a friend what the dad had said, and she answered, "my father swore that stuff could cure anything." So I gave it a whirl, and I felt better the next morning.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Jeznowka sounds way yummier than Nyquil. I'll have to stock up to prep for my next cold. I'm on week four of this one and finally taking the antibiotic route. Definitely not as fun as brandy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. love soba! will have to try this. so sorry you are sick. but you did say wicked, which made me laugh. you are so new england now!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for commenting. I love reading your thoughts and responses.