Sesame Soba Noodle Soup With Cucumber Salad

Sesame Soba Noodle Soup With Cucumber Salad
4.5 from 2 ratings
I'm a soba noodle fanatic. In Japan, the noodles are often served as is with a dipping sauce of soy, dashi, and scallions. Why not, I wondered, use them in soup? Here's the result of my self-interrogation, a great soup, enhanced with sake, and served with a cool cucumber salad. This makes a great — and healthy — light lunch or first course. Click here to see Beam Ming Tsai into the Kitchen.
Servings
4
servings
Ingredients
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • one 8- to 9-ounce package soba noodles
  • 2 tablespoon canola oil
  • 2 large onions, sliced thinly
  • 1 cup sake
  • 3 tablespoon naturally brewed soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 2 quarts fresh vegetable stock or low-sodium store-bought vegetable broth
  • 1 heaping tablespoon wasabi powder
  • 1 tablespoon room-temperature water
  • 1 small english cucumber, sliced very thinly*
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Directions
  1. Fill a large bowl with water and add ice. Bring a medium-sized stockpot or soup pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the noodles until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain and transfer to the bowl. When the noodles are cold, drain well and set aside.
  2. Return the pot to the stove and heat over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the canola oil and swirl to coat the bottom. When the oil is hot, add the onions, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and sauté, stirring once, until caramelized, 10-12 minutes.
  3. Add the sake, and scrape the bottom of the pan to incorporate the brown bits, about 30 seconds. Add 2 tablespoons of the soy sauce, sesame oil, and stock and bring to a simmer. Add the noodles and heat through.
  4. Meanwhile, in a medium-sized bowl combine the wasabi, water, remaining soy sauce, and remaining canola oil. Add the cucumber, toss, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add half of the sesame seeds and toss.
  5. Divide the soup among 4 soup plates. Make a mound of the noodles in each, top with the cucumber salad, garnish with the remaining sesame seeds, and serve.