Recipe Soba Noodles with Smashed Cucumber & Sesame
Gluten-free option
Nut-free option
Budget friendly
Freshly Picked
Easy peasy
Lazy dinners
Main meals
This soba noodle dish is fresh and light, but packed with toasty, nutty flavours and a nice kick from the chilli flakes and spring onion. You may gain new appreciation for the simple cucumber after this one!
You will need
Serves 2
- 1 packet soba noodles
- 3 spring onions, finely sliced, whites cut into 2 or 3-inch pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon toasted white sesame seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon toasted black sesame seeds
- Salt
Cucumber herb salad
- 1/2 cucumber
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon toasted white sesame seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon toasted black sesame seeds
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes
- 1 tablespoon golden syrup
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1/2 bunch mint
- 1/2 bunch coriander
Dressing
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon golden syrup
- 3 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes
Recipe: Simon Toohey
Directions
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Step 1
Fill a pot with water and bring to the boil.
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Step 2
Pick and wash the mint and coriander. Roughly chop the cucumber into small but odd shapes, place in a mortar and pestle and lightly smash to break them down a bit and remove some water. Then cover with 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and half the toasted sesame seeds along with salt, chilli flakes, and golden syrup. Add the juice of half a lemon, mint and coriander.
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Step 3
Turn a burner on a low flame and cover with a heatproof wire wrack. Season the whites of the spring onion with a pinch of salt and a drizzle of sesame oil. Place them on the wire rack and cook for a few minutes, turning occasionally, until they begin to colour.
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Step 4
For the dressing, mix the soy, golden syrup, 3 tablespoons sesame oil, 1 tablespoon water and chilli flakes in a bowl and add most of the chopped spring onions, reserving some for garnish.
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Step 5
When the water starts boiling, pour in 1 tablespoon salt and place the soba noodles in, giving a gentle stir so they are all immersed in the water and not sticking together. After 3 minutes or when they are cooked through, remove from the water and rinse with cold water to cool them down.
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Step 6
Transfer your noodles to a serving bowl. Top with the cucumber and herb salad, finish with the rest of the sesame seeds and spring onions, and drizzle over the dressing.
Recipe: Simon Toohey
