Cold Sesame Soba Noodles with Nori

Enjoy these refreshing, flavorful cold sesame soba noodles, which are tossed in a light sesame sauce and topped with crunchy nori strips. This delicious, easy recipe is the perfect side dish for any meal, including simple weeknight dinners, potlucks, and grill days.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

Noodles: 

3 (90-grams each) bundles soba noodles 

1 tablespoon sesame oil, divided

2 tablespoons tahini

3 tablespoons hot water 

1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon soy sauce, reduced sodium 

1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon rice vinegar

2 teaspoons honey

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tablespoon ginger, shredded

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 

Toppings:

1 stalk scallion, thinly sliced

½ medium red bell pepper, julienned

8 sheets (.17 ounces total) nori seaweed, sliced into ⅛-inch strips 

2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Instructions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the soba noodles. Cook uncovered over medium heat for 5 minutes just until tender, stirring occasionally to keep the noodles from sticking together. Drain soba noodles in a colander and rinse well with cold water. Transfer to a large bowl, then lightly toss with 2 teaspoons of the sesame oil. Place in the refrigerator to chill for 15 minutes. 

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini and hot water until smooth. Then one at a time, stir in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, remaining teaspoon of sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and black pepper. 

3. Remove the noodles from the refrigerator. Pour the sauce over the noodles, mixing with tongs to coat the noodles evenly with sauce. 

4. Transfer noodles to a large serving bowl or four individual serving bowls and top with scallions, bell peppers, nori seaweed strips, and toasted sesame seeds. Makes 4 servings (1 ½ cups each).

Notes:

• If you prefer noodles al dente, cook for 4 minutes. Be sure to drain and thoroughly rinse noodles with cold water immediately after cooking.

• Add nori seaweed strips immediately before consuming for optimal freshness.

• Try additional toppings, such as julienned carrots and radish, roasted sweet potato cubes, or shelled edamame beans.

• Add heat and flavor with a dash of chili oil.

• Store (reserve nori seaweed strips to add just before serving) in an air-tight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Nutritional Information per Serving (1 ½ cup serving):

360 calories, 58 grams carbohydrate, 2 grams fiber, 13 grams protein, 11 grams total fat, 2 grams saturated fat, 743 milligrams sodium, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 4 grams total sugar

Recipe by Jamie Mok, MS, RD, RYT, a Los Angeles-based dietitian nutritionist and yoga teacher who integrates science-based nutrition with a mind-body approach to inspire healthy change from within. She is the owner of Yogini RD LLC, a nutrition and wellness company that provides personalized nutrition counseling, private yoga lessons and group classes, and corporate wellness services.