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This quick and easy Soba Noodles Recipe is healthy, simple and addicting. Loaded with tender vegetables, clean flavors and succulent texture- keep it vegan or add your favorite protein. Make it in 35 minutes! Video.
Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.
Omar Khayyam
This Easy Soba Noodles recipe gives all that amazing noodle satisfaction along with a huge boost of nutrition from the buckwheat in the soba noodles. I think I could eat these noodles every day! There is just something about the texture and gratifying mouth feel of noodle dishes that is so comforting. I love that soba noodles are such a powerhouse of sustenance, making them a healthy indulgence!
This stirfry comes together really fast. Once all of the ingredients are prepped and ready, it takes just minutes to cook. The sauce is simple and really highlights the flavor of the buckwheat in the soba noodles and enhances the fresh veggies perfectly.
You can switch out vegetables to whatever you have on hand. Cutting the veggies in thin strips allows them to cook quickly and makes it easier to get noodles and veggies together in each bite.
I find this Soba Noodle Stirfry most comforting when served warm but it is also quite delicious at room temperature. My kids eat the leftovers cold right out of the fridge!
We also love this Soba Noodle Salad, an easy dish perfect for sharing at warm weather gatherings.
Table of Contents
Quick & Easy Soba Noodles Video
Leftovers are best eaten in a day or so after making. Unfamiliar with Soba noodles? Check out the Recipe FAQS near the end of the post.
Ingredients
- Soba noodles- buckwheat noodles
- Vegetables: shiitake mushrooms, carrot, garlic, ginger, napa cabbage, bell pepper, green onions
- Oil: sesame oil
- Vinegar: rice vinegar
- Sweetener: maple syrup
- Soy sauce: low sodium soy sauce, Braggs Liquid Aminos, tamari, or smoked shoyu
- Sesame Seeds: toasted white sesame seeds or black sesame seeds
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make Soba Noodles
STEP ONE
Thinly slice all your ingredients.
I like cutting the carrots in thin strips either using a julienne peeler, a mandolin or a spiralizer. Cutting them with a knife is fine too! Keeping them evenly cut will ensure a uniform texture.
STEP TWO
Bring water to a boil and cook the soba noodles according to the package, just slightly on the al dente side.
If using 100% buckwheat soba, do not add salt to the cooking water, it can effect the texture and sturdiness of the noodle.
Drain in cool water to remove gluten and starchiness. This helps the texture and prevents the soba noodles from getting gummy and gluey. Set aside.
STEP THREE
Stir together the sauce ingredients: sesame oil, rice vinegar, maple syrup, soy sauce.
STEP FOUR
Heat oil over medium-high heat in a wok or skillet. Add napa cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, carrot strips, and a sprinkle of salt. Stir constantly for 2-3 minutes. Stir in garlic and ginger for 1-2 minutes.
STEP FIVE
Add bell pepper and white part of the green onion, and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until just tender but still crisp.
STEP SIX
Add the soba noodles and sauce. Toss together 1-2 minutes, letting it thoroughly heat through.
STEP SEVEN
Sprinkle with green onions and toasted sesame seeds.
Add a sprinkle of the black sesame seeds if desired.
Recipe FAQS
Nutty and earthy in flavor, soba noodles are made of buckwheat and may be one of the healthiest noodles to eat!
They are similar to a spaghetti noodle in size, a bit more tender, and a whole lot more nutritious!
Soba translates to buckwheat in Japan where soba noodles originate. Buckwheat is a pseudocereal grain, harvested from the seeds of non-grasses. (Quinoa and amaranth are other common examples of gluten-free pseudocereals).
Buckwheat flour is incredibly nutritious, containing fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and protein, as well as a great prebiotic, feeding all the good gut bacteria and they also have a low glycemic index helping maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Soba noodles are pretty easy to find in the Asian section of most grocery stores, natural markets, and Asian markets.
Yes! Authentic soba noodles are made from 100% buckwheat flour. Buckwheat is gluten-free! Though most commonly, buckwheat soba noodles contain 20-40 percent wheat flour. Make sure to check the ingredients!
Udon Noodles
Udon noodles are most commonly are served hot.
A hearty thick noodle made from wheat flour, not gluten-free.
Mild and neutral flavor with a chewy texture.
Soba Noodles
Soba noodles are used in both hot and cold dishes.
Similar in shape to a spaghetti noodle.
Many varieties are gluten-free.
High in fiber and protein.
Earthy, nutty flavor with a soft texture.
The darker the noodle the more buckwheat it contains.
Though they are very similar in size, soba noodles tend to cook more quickly.
Soba noodles can be gluten-free.
Typically spaghetti is made with flour that contains gluten.
Soba noodles have a softer texture, a more earthy flavor and are higher in nutrients.
Spaghetti has a slightly chewier texture and a more mild neutral flavor.
How to Serve Soba Noodles
Serve them hot or at room temperature.
Serve them as a main dish or as a side dish with your favorite protein. Here are some ideas:
- hard-boiled or fried egg
- crispy tofu, or Baked Tofu
- chicken (leftover rotisserie chicken, stir-fried strips or cubes)
- shrimp
- steak strips
Other Recipes You May Enjoy
- Japanese Farm-Style Teriyaki Chicken
- Seasoned Japanese Rice with Furikake
- Miso Tofu Wrap with Winter Squash and Furikake
Let us know how you like this!
Love this recipe? Please let us know in the comments and leave a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below the recipe card.
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Easy Soba Noodles
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: vegan, main,
- Method: stirfry
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This easy Soba Noodles Recipe is healthy and simple. Loaded with tender vegetables, clean addicting flavor and succulent texture. Keep it vegan or add your favorite protein.
Ingredients
Stir Fry:
- 8–9 oz. soba noodles
- 1 tablespoon high heat oil (such as peanut oil, coconut oil or avocado oil)
- 2 cups napa cabbage, shredded
- 5–6 shiitake mushrooms, sliced thin
- 1 large carrot cut in thin strips
- 4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 1-inch knob of ginger, minced
- 1 bell pepper, sliced in thin strips
- 1/2 bunch green onions, chopped fine- separating the white from the green stems
- 3 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
- black sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
Soba Noodle Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce, Braggs Liquid Aminos, or Smoked Shoyu
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil and cook the soba noodles according to the package, (just slightly on the al dente side). Drain in cool water to remove starchiness. (This helps the texture and prevents the soba noodles from getting gummy and gluey).*See notes for more cooking tips.
- Stir together the sauce ingredients: sesame oil, rice vinegar, maple syrup, soy sauce.
- Heat oil over medium-high heat in a wok or skillet. Add napa cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, carrot strips, and a sprinkle of salt. Stir constantly for 2-3 minutes. Stir in garlic and ginger for 1-2 minutes. Add bell pepper and white part of the green onion stir-frying for 2-3 minutes until just tender but still crisp.
- Add the soba noodles and sauce. Toss together 1-2 minutes letting it thoroughly heat through.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions. Add black sesame seeds for garnish if desired.
Notes
TIPS for cooking: Since the buckwheat does not contain gluten it can break more easily. Don’t stir while cooking and test for doneness before cooking time finishes. Cook in plenty of water. Don’t salt the cooking water. Do not overcook. Rinse immediately and thoroughly in cold water.
Serve hot or at room temperature.
Serve as a main dish or as a side dish with your favorite protein.
Optional additions: hard-boiled or fried egg, crispy tofu, chicken breast, shrimp, steak strips.
Leftovers are best eaten in a day or two after making.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6.5 g
- Sodium: 692.3 mg
- Fat: 14.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 56.5 g
- Fiber: 2.8 g
- Protein: 11.9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: soba noodles recipe, easy soba noodles, vegan soba noodles, easy soba noodles recipe,
We really enjoyed this recipe and had leftovers the next day. I used 9 oz of noodles which was a bit more than the recipe, I think. Next time I will double the sauce
Glad you enjoyed! More sauce can’t hurt.
The taste was yummy but my noodles were mushy. I only cooked them for 3 minutes and then ran them under cold water. Do you have a suggestion for keeping noodles in tact?
★★★
You might try a different brand of soba noodles- I have success with Eden buckwheat soba. You want to Cook in plenty of water. Don’t salt the cooking water. Do not overcook. Rinse immediately and thoroughly in cold water. I will add these tips to the notes in the recipe card.
Really loved this recipe. First attempt was longer than anticipated, but now that I’ve don’t if, super easy meal to repeat. Like the noodles and simple veg mix. I used some diagonal cut celery in place of the cabbage, turned out just fine. My toddler approved as well! We paired it with some baked tofu (also from Feasting At Home) and some similar marinade thin sliced steak for my husband. Tastes great cold too!
★★★★★
Perfect Madison, love how you made it work for everyone!
Another fabulous dish that did not disappoint!
I really wanted to make this but didn’t have napa cabbage or soba noodles so I substituted with thinly sliced baby bok-choy and Japanese udon noodles (cooked al-dente and rinsed well). I had everything else and used low sodium soy sauce and added a little cubed cooked chicken breast at the end with the noodles to heat through. Cooked in a large cast iron skillet. Perfectly seasoned as written and delicious! My husband thanked me for not using any chili pepper flakes, ha-ha! Thank you again.
★★★★★
Perfect Celine! Love the improvising and so happy you enjoyed!
Made this as is and it’s now a family favorite! Everything was easy to prep and then throw together. Each tip was helpful. I made mine vegetarian using mushrooms as the protein source, great the next day cold as welL!
★★★★★
Excellent Melissa! I am so glad you found it helpful.
Excellent!
★★★★★
This was very good. I’m not sure about the ‘quick’ part. I added chicken thigh pieces so maybe that was what added some time but my kitchen was a disaster after. 🤣 I doubled the sauce because I had the chicken and a bit more veg. This was my first time making soba noodles and they came out great. Thank you for the tips on making them! Great recipe and teen kids enjoyed it too.
★★★★
oh dear! Well glad it turned out well in the end!
If adding chicken, next time I would marinate it. I would also add red pepper flakes or sambal oelek sambal as a matter of personal taste as I like spicy food.
★★★★
That’s a good idea Dawn.
Really great tasting and simple to put together. Only changes: I added skirt steak slices and did not include maple syrup. A gréât foundational soba recipe.
★★★★★
Sounds great Jess!
Thank you for the great recipe. I did not have peppers and mushrooms but that was not a problem because I was looking for something to serve with Pan-seared Salmon with Chia Crust and this was just perfect combination.
★★★★★
Oh great!!!
The recipe is misleading in that it says to soak noodles to remove gluten. Soba noodles are gluten free! People that can’t eat gluten may be mislead by the above statement.
Oh, I see what you mean. (Though not all soba is gluten free. Be sure to check the ingredient list!)
Fixed that comment in the recipe instructions. Thanks Merrilee!
Sylvia & Tonia, This recipe is so good! You hit it out of the park with this one. The recipe seems simple, but the flavors and textures are complex and so satisfying with a umami finish. We used thawed frozen extra firm tofu which absorbed the marinade so well. Again thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
★★★★★
oh great idea on the frozen tofu! So glad you enjoyed this one!
I tried this tonight as vegan family visiting. A big success.
Thank you Valerie, great to hear!
Ka-Me soba noodles are more expensive but texture is better and there is no need to boil first.Available at a small store near me but can be found on Amazon
★★★
Will have to track those down and give them a try.
How would I incorporate baked tofu into the recipe? Does it need to just warm up at the end of the stir fry? It’s not crispy tofu. Thanks.
Hi Ginny, That’s what I would do, throw it in near the end. 🙂
Yummy. I added some edamame, but otherwise followed the directions as written. I will certainly make it again. Thanks for the great recipe!
★★★★★
Thanks Krista!
Delicious! I added stir fried cubed chicken – will be adding to my weekly rotation.
★★★★★
Perfect and great to hear Mariana!
I made this for dinner last night. My fam gave it a two thumbs up! I added grilled chicken…..love the shiitakes too!
★★★★★
Great to hear!
We really loved the flavor to this dish, but the noodles just fell apart in the pan while mixing. And, it wasn’t at all pretty like your presentation. I followed the instructions for the noodles and rinsed several times under cold water. What should I have done differently? I even went to the store today and purchased buckwheat noodles as that was the only ingredient missing.
Sorry about that Pearl! It sounds like the noodles may have been overcooked. You might try testing them a couple minutes before the stated time to check the texture, keep them on the al dente side. Just curious if they were 100% buckwheat or if they had some wheat flour in them?
100% buckwheat.
Since the buckwheat does not contain gluten it can break more easily. Best if you don’t stir while cooking and keep testing for doneness before cooking time finishes. Thanks for letting us know Pearl, I will make a note of it in the recipe.
This was great! Pretty much made as written. I love how simple the sauce is. FYI recipe calls to add Napa cabbage twice.
★★★★★
ooo thanks for the catch Summer! Glad you enjoyed it!
Delicious and easy! I added some sambal chili and Japanese bbq sauce to the dressing for the noodles and it turned out great.
★★★★★
Perfect Chris! Glad you enjoyed.
Looks delicious! Will give this a try!
Let us know what you think Susan!