For a long time now, long before Instagram, I’ve viewed food as art. I love looking at a beautiful, put-together plate with color, symmetry, balance and sometimes even height. Eating is something you do with all five of your senses and most people eat with their eye before any of the other senses are involved.
As I created a dish for the second round of the Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Summer Side Showdown in the summer of 2018, I knew I needed something that would be beautiful and could be served outside. The theme of the second round is “Perfect for a Picnic” and to me, that means you need to be able to bring it with you and actually eat it outside. However, that doesn’t negate that idea in my mind that it should also look beautiful.
In finding something that would hold up well to transport to a picnic or a summer barbecue and to summer heat, I immediately thought about pasta.
But, I didn’t want to do just plain pasta dish. We have hundreds of Italian pasta variations that my family has brought along to summer barbecues throughout my life and while all of them are delicious, they all seemed a bit plain to me.
My grandmother used to say to me, “How do you know you don’t like something unless you try it?”
Her words have echoed in my head throughout my life and have really led me to be a bit adventurous when it comes to food. I like to think I can possibly have that same impact on other people and entice them to try new things that I know they will love – even if they don’t think they will.
When most people think of noodles they think of Italian-style pasta, Udon or ramen, but there’s a noodle that’s become a favorite in our house due to its flavor and versatility: Soba noodles.
Soba is the Japanese name for buckwheat. Soba noodles are made from buckwheat and are a good source of nutrients like protein, fiber and iron, according to livestrong.com. They have a bit of a nut-like taste to them and also “have about half the calories and carbohydrates as typical white flour pasta.”
Mixing the Soba noodles with all the beautiful summer vegetables and an incredible soy honey lime dressing became a no-brainer for me. All the flavors sing together and all the colors pop. You may start eating this dish with your eyes, but it will resonate with all of your sense and in the end your belly will be happy.
Grab the full recipe below! For more side dish recipes, click here.
- Salad Ingredients:
- • 6-8 oz of Soba noodles
- • 4 carrots, peeled
- • ½ cup of cilantro, chopped.
- • 2 cups of frozen edamame, cooked
- • 10 oz. of sugar snap peas
- • 16 oz. jar of roasted red peppers, washed and sliced
- • ¼ cup of sesame seeds
- • 1 Tbsp. of sesame oil
- Dressing Ingredients:
- • ¼ cup of soy sauce
- • 2 Tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil
- • 2 Tbsp. honey
- • 1 Tbsp. sesame oil
- • 1 Tbsp. of ginger, grated
- • 1 ½ Tbsp. lime juice
- • Optional: 1 tsp. of Sriracha
- Boil 5 cups of water and then add Soba noodles. Cook about 6-8 minutes until tender and then drain.
- Add 1 Tbsp. of sesame oil to the noodles to prevent them from sticking together and then chill in the refrigerator.
- Mix soy sauce, extra virgin olive oil, honey, sesame oil, ginger and lime juice. Whisk until well combined and then refrigerate.
- In a small pot, boil three cups of water and cook your sugar snap peas for 3 minutes. You want them cooked and crisp but not limp.
- Cook your edamame in the microwave according to package directions.
- Slice the carrots into ribbons with a vegetable peeler or strips with a Julienne peeler and chop the cilantro.
- Wash your roasted red peppers and slice them.
- Combine all the ingredients with the noodles and mix well OR combine all the ingredients except the sauce, cilantro and sesame seeds. You can make this dish the night before and combine everything and chill. Personally, I think it gets better with age.
- OR
- Add the sauce and cilantro to the mixture right before serving and mix thoroughly.
- Before serving sprinkle with the sesame seeds and top with some additional cilantro.
I will have to try it out … looks delicious and healthy.
❥ tanvii.com
This looks amazing!! So light yet savory!
I love soba noodles!! This looks like the ultimate summer dish, so fresh!
Cooking is definitely a delicate balance of art and science. And this noodle bowl looks like art worth eating.
This looks delicious. I love how you use fresh, seasonal veggies in this dish. I know I would love it. The wine sounds delicious with it.
I love fresh veggie recipes so much! I have never got to try Soba noodles but I would love to give them a whirl sometime.
I’ve never had so a noodles but this looks delicious! Love that it includes so many veggies!
I have never used Soba noodles, but I am going to try them. This salad is almost too pretty to eat!
I’ve never tried soba noodles before, but they sound like a great option! I love that they have so much more to them without the calories and carbs.
It looks so amazing and refreshing! What a great summer meal!
I didn’t think I’d like soba noodles, but I was pleasantly surprised. I bet our family would love this recipe. I love all the veggies in it.
I have never heard of soba noodles. I wish I could have them on my low carb diet because this dish looks delicious and healthy!
Good luck on the vote! This meal looks perfect for hot days and exactly like something my husband would love
This looks so fresh and yummy! I’ve never tried soba but I’m so interested in giving it a try!
This dish looks like it would be fantastic. I am all for getting in veggies especially in summer.
Such s beautiful dish. I love sobs noodles! They are nowhere near as well known as they should be. This recipe only helps them get there. Stunning
I tried these noodles for the first time not long ago and I really love them! We don’t eat them enough.
This plate and the whole table look gorgeous! I love noodles and I like finding different original recipes to try myself.
Oh, this looks super yummy. I will definitely have to try this. I love trying new recipes!!
This is one kind of noodle we have not yet had. And we’ve tried many of them actually. Rice noodles, vegetable noodles, glass noodles, zucchini noodles….I will look for these soon. YUM. Your salad looks amazing and I wish you good luck.
This noodle salad looks like it would be really tasty. I have never had anything quite like this before!
This look like such a refreshing meal, especially for when it is hot and humid in Chicago!
I haven’t heard about Summer Vegetable Soba Noodle Salad before but it sounds great! Your instruction is easy to follow, which I appreciate a lot. I’ll try to make my own!
When I see colorful plates, I know I’m going to love it. I can’t wait to try these soba noodles with all of those colorful veggies.
I have never heard of soba noodles until today. You have created a beautiful salad and I love how colorful it is too. Summer veggies are the best too.
I tried this last night and it was so tasty!! Great recipe
Oh nice! This is my idea of the perfect dish! I love noodles and the colours in this are great! It sounds so appetising!
My daughter doesn’t eat meat so this would be something she would enjoy. I am always looking for new recipes to try for her. Thanks!
This looks so good! Never tried anything like this before, but will need to give it a shot.
Such a great summer dish! I can’ wait to make it!
Oh yum! This looks amazing I’ll have to try to make this sometime!