Garlic Soba and Zucchini Noodles

Soba NoodlesRecipe originally posted on August 28th, 2013. Last updated August 9th, 2015.

Bell Pepper

Garlic and Ginger

Zucchini Noodles | http://naturallyella.com

Garlic Soba and Zucchini Noodles  | http://naturallyella.com

Zucchini Soba Noodle Bowl | http://naturallyella.com

Garlic Soba and Zucchini Noodles with Bell Pepper | http://naturallyella.com

A couple weeks ago, I made M a “meat and potatoes” dinner. The chicken was stuffed with chives and cream cheese and the red potatoes were wonderfully roasted with a myriad of herbs. I thought he would be excited because I rarely (in fact, this may have been the first) make him a so-called “meat and potatoes” meal.

Turns out, I forgot one key thing: he’s not a meat and potatoes kind of guy (potatoes are, in fact, one of the foods he doesn’t really like). He’d happily eat (my favorite) one-dish meals with the occasional burger thrown in every now and again. So, I’ve been working up an arsenal of quick, one-bowl dinners that we both can enjoy (like my favorite peanut noodle bowl).

Every time I see a recipe with zucchini noodles, my only thought is that I’m not doing that enough (because really, it’s pretty amazing). I purchased a julienne peeler for Sur La Table a couple months back and as of recent been going crazy noodling vegetables (noodling is probably not a verb in the sense of making noodles, but hey, I like it).

Pairings for Soba Zucchini Noodles

This dish is a great lunch or light dinner that comes together in roughly 20 minutes. While I used zucchini noodles and pepper; snow peas, broccoli, spinach, and/or carrots would make a great addition. I find this is one of those recipes that’s good to whip up on a Sunday and eat for lunch in the days following.

Appetizer: If you feel like going all out for a special dinner, make potstickers for the opening dish. The link is for sweet potatoes but you could easily do sweet corn (or some other summer vegetable).

Salad: When I eat a soba noodle bowl, it’s usually a one-dish kind of meal. However, I’ll occasionally throw together a simple salad of greens, tomatoes, and a drizzle of dressing.

Drink: Crisp and dry white wine- I go with my stand by of Pinot Grigio.

Garlic Soba and Zucchini Noodles
 
Prep time

Cook time

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This is one of my quick, go-to lunches that I can make on one day and eat for two. I’ll warn you that I love garlic (reason I include 4 large cloves-gives it a kick of heat), but you can always reduce the amount to 2 cloves.
Author:
Recipe type: Lunch
Serves: 2

Ingredients
  • 4 ounces soba noodles
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, grated
  • 1 tablespoon grated ginger
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon honey or vegan substitute
  • ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 small yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 small zucchini, julienned into noodles, roughly 2 cups worth
  • 2-3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Instructions
  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add soba noodles and cook until tender, 4-5 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water, set aside.
  2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Add grated garlic and ginger, cooking for 1 minute. Pour in soy sauce, water, and honey. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook for 2 minutes.
  3. Add in the thinly sliced red onion and pepper to the soy sauce mixture, cooking until tender, another 3-4 minutes. Next, add zucchini noodles, stirring to coat the noodles. Cook for 1-2 minutes (I like my zucchini noodles to still have a slight crunch). Taste and add more soy sauce or honey if desired.
  4. Toss with soba noodles and serve with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. While you can serve this dish warm, I find I like it cold (and usually the next day!)

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