Cold Soba Noodle Salad | Food-4Tots | Recipes for Toddlers

16 September 2013 | 18 comments
Posted in Featured Articles, Japanese, noodles, One-dish meal, salad

Recipe for Cold Soba Noodle Salad
Serve: 3-4
Ingredients for salad:
160g dry soba noodles (note 1)
1 poached chicken breast, about 150g (note 2)
2 eggs (made into thin omelette, shredded finely)
1 Japanese cucumber (rinsed, deseeded and cut into julienne strips)
One quarter of a small red cabbage, about 25g (shredded finely)
Ingredients for salad dressing:
6 tablespoons light soy sauce
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
3 tablespoons brown sugar/ castor sugar/ honey (add one more tablespoon if you want it sweeter)
2 teaspoons sesame oil
4 tablespoons sesame seed (note 3) + extra for tossing
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons salad oil
Pepper
Methods:
Prepare all the ingredients for salad. Keep in the fridge to chill.
In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for salad dressing until smooth (If you are not using it right away, refrigerate it.). Taste and adjust seasoning.
Pour over the noodle salads. Toss to combine well. Sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds. Serve.
Notes:
How to cook soba noodles – Fill a large pot with plenty of water and bring it to the boil. Add the noodles and cook according to the package instructions. It usually takes about 6-8 minutes. Take a strand to eat. It should be cooked through. When cooked, drain the noodles into a coriander and immediately transfer to a pot of cold water. Start to “wash” the noodles. Grab a handful, swish and rub them in the water to get rid of the starchiness. Then, return the noodles to the coriander and rinse with in cold water, ensuring that the noodles are well separated. Drain and shake off as much water as possible. Toss the noodles with a little sesame oil or salad oil if not using right away. Refrigerate them while you prepare other ingredients.
How to poach and shred chicken – Wash the chicken breast. Rinse and pat dry. Lightly season chicken breast with salt and pepper. In a medium pot, add the chicken breasts and fill with water or broth one inch above the chicken. Add a pinch of salt to the water. Bring the pot to boil and immediately turn the heat to low. Skim off any foam that rises. Cover partially and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and cover with lid. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Remove the chicken from the broth and shred the meat with fingers.
How to toast and ground sesame seeds – In a frying pan, dry fry seeds (without oil) over a medium low heat until they are fragrant and turn golden brown. Once it’s done, remove from the pan and let it cool down. Put toasted sesame seeds into a food blender to grind until powdery. Make more so that you can sprinkle some on the salad when serving.
You can prepare the ingredients and salad dressing one day ahead and store them in the refrigerator.
You can enjoy this noodle salad either chilled or at room temperature.
If you love hot and spicy food, add some wasabi paste to the salad dressing.

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18 Comments

Ling says:
16 September 2013 at 11:51 pm
I can almost taste the goodness just by looking at your fantastic photos! 🙂 I can never get enough of sesame. Thanks for taking time to share again!
Reply
- food-4tots says:
  19 September 2013 at 2:56 pm
  Ling: Thank you!! Thanks for your wonderful support! 😉
  Reply
tigerfish says:
17 September 2013 at 12:51 am
I think what takes most time is how finely the ingredients have to be sliced 😛 love a cold soba noodle salad like this.
Reply
- food-4tots says:
  19 September 2013 at 2:57 pm
  Tigerfish: Not really. Shredding the chicken is more time consuming than slicing the ingredients: Glad you like it. 🙂
  Reply
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Alice says:
17 September 2013 at 8:31 am
Lovely! A great idea for a simple lunch and healthy too! 🙂
Reply
- food-4tots says:
  19 September 2013 at 2:58 pm
  Alice: Yes, do give it a try! 🙂
  Reply
Nammi says:
20 September 2013 at 1:28 pm
HI!!!! I havent visited you for ages 🙂 , love the new changes to your site!!!. Got a fussy eater now so looking for inspiration 🙂 . have a nice week end
Reply
- food-4tots says:
  23 September 2013 at 5:02 pm
  Nammi: Thanks for your revisiting and wonderful compliment! Hope you can find some inspiration from my new collection of recipes. 🙂
  Reply
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Christine's Recipes says:
28 September 2013 at 9:39 pm
The second photo is an art. Lovely !
Reply
- food-4tots says:
  3 October 2013 at 8:50 am
  Christine: Thanks for your compliment! 😉
  Reply
ChristineT says:
5 October 2013 at 4:45 pm
I can imagine how good the soba tastes by looking at your recipe Well…it’s time to do some shopping at my favourite Japanese store. Just out of curiosity, what type of frying pan do you have in your photos? How many adult servings can you make with a packet of soba?
Reply
- food-4tots says:
  10 October 2013 at 9:11 pm
  ChristineT: It is Green pan. 🙂
  Reply
ChristineT says:
5 October 2013 at 4:49 pm
Opps…I just realised that you do have the number of servings stated in your recipe. Sorry.
Reply
- food-4tots says:
  10 October 2013 at 9:13 pm
  ChristineT: No problem. 😉
  Reply
mummy tan says:
28 June 2014 at 1:50 pm
school is starting and dropping by to get some ideas for new lunch menu 🙂
This is a keeper for my new lunch menu.
Reply
- food-4tots says:
  4 July 2014 at 10:38 pm
  Mummy Tan: So glad that you like this recipe! 🙂
  Reply
mummy Tan says:
9 July 2014 at 11:23 am
The kids enjoyed it too. The weather was so hot during the first wk of school, this dish was a nice cooling lunch.
I’m going to try the cauliflower recipe tomorrow. The kids prefer broccoli too, so hopping the recipe will change their minds heehee.
Reply
- food-4tots says:
  14 July 2014 at 5:19 pm
  Mummy Tan: Thank you for your kind feedback! I hope the cauliflower recipe will make your kids love cauliflower even more. 🙂
  Reply

Cold Soba Noodle Salad | Food-4Tots | Recipes for Toddlers - Part 2 (2024)

FAQs

Can toddlers eat soba noodles? ›

12 months old +: Continue serving buckwheat groats and flour in porridge, breads, and pancakes, as well as soups and stews. At this age, you can offer unmodified soba noodles, either as finger food or with an age-appropriate utensil for practice.

Read On ›

Are cold soba noodles healthy? ›

Served cold or hot, soba noodles are a delicious and nutritious alternative to traditional pastas and other noodles. They're a good source of: manganese. fiber.

Learn More ›

What is cold soba called in Japan? ›

Zaru Soba (ざる蕎麦) is a traditional chilled noodle dish made from buckwheat flour and served with soy sauce-based dipping sauce called Tsuyu (つゆ). The word zaru means “a strainer” in Japanese and the name of the dish was derived from the way the noodles are served over a bamboo strainer during the Edo Period.

View Details ›

How long does it take to cook cold soba? ›

Prepare soba noodles by adding them to boiling water. Let it cook for around 3-4minuets and drain and rinse with cold water. Let it rest in ice water for 30 seconds, drain and set aside. Add chopped green onion to the sauce and add freshly grated daikon and seaweed on top of the noodles.

Learn More ›

Can 2 year olds have noodles? ›

Noodles may be introduced as soon as a baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Note that some noodles may contain common food allergens such as egg and wheat, so make sure that these allergens have been introduced safely and read labels carefully.

Get More Info Here ›

Which noodles is best for toddlers? ›

12 months old +: At this age, toddlers may be more adept at working with long, thin noodles like spaghetti, ramen, and rice noodles. Explore a wide variety of noodle shapes and textures, cutting into smaller strands as needed (again, scissors work beautifully here).

Is soba healthier than ramen? ›

There are many regional varieties of soba with their own toppings as well. For example, "Kitsune Soba" features deep-fried tofu. Note: Lower in calories, Soba Noodles are healthier than Udon or Ramen Noodles!

Read The Full Story ›

Which is healthier soba or rice noodles? ›

In one Japanese study, a 50-gram serving of soba noodles had a GI of 56, compared to a GI of 100 for white rice, the high-GI comparison food ( 14 ). Eating buckwheat has been shown to have benefits for blood sugar, heart health, inflammation and cancer prevention.

Learn More ›

Do soba noodles spike blood sugar? ›

Soba noodles are good for your health because they are gluten-free, high in flavonoids, and help balance your blood sugar. Soba noodles are a Japanese alternative to regular pasta. They're mostly made with buckwheat flour, which is both gluten-free and full of healthy proteins, vitamins, and minerals.

What to pair with soba noodles? ›

Serve toppings warm or cold, cooked or raw. Steamed baby bok choy, radishes, bean sprouts, hard boiled egg half, cilantro. Edamame, shredded red cabbage, tofu, green onion. Steamed broccoli, sautéed mushrooms, red bell pepper, sesame seeds.

Discover More ›

Is soba Korean or Japanese? ›

Soba (そば or 蕎麦, "buckwheat") are Japanese noodles made primarily from buckwheat flour, with a small amount of wheat flour mixed in. It has an ashen brown color, and a slightly grainy texture.

Is soba just ramen? ›

The differences between ramen and soba noodles

The main difference between the two types of noodles is their flavor. Soba noodles are typically made with buckwheat flour, but ramen noodles are made from a more traditional wheat flour.

Read The Full Story ›

What is the difference between hot soba and cold soba? ›

Hot soba noodles are served soaked in a bowl of hot broth, whereas cold soba noodles are mostly dipped into a sauce called tsuyu. However, soba noodles are actually served in a countless number of variations, and it all depends on preference and eating style.

Learn More Now ›

Should you rinse soba noodles? ›

If you're making a dish that will be served chilled or at room temp—think cold soba, rice noodles, pasta salad—you do want to rinse so that you get toothsome (sorry) individual strands rather than one big gummy clump.

What is cha soba vs soba? ›

What are Cha Soba Noodles? These soba noodles, infused with Japanese matcha green tea, have a slightly sweeter taste than regular soba and are a great choice for specieal occasions or a refreshing, light tea soba taste.

Get More Info ›

Can toddlers eat buckwheat? ›

Yes, toddlers can continue to eat buckwheat as part of a balanced diet. Buckwheat is a good source of fiber, protein, and essential minerals, making it a healthy choice for growing children.

View Details ›

Can I give my 2 year old ramen noodles? ›

It is best to avoid giving instant noodles to children. If in an urgent case you need to feed your baby, you can refer to some of the following recipes: Bare noodles before cooking to remove the fat and oil coating Do not use accompanying spices to limit chemicals not good.

Explore More ›

Are soba noodles clean eating? ›

Yes, Soba noodles are considered healthy pasta. They are generally made from buckwheat flour, which makes them suitable for a gluten-free diet. Compared to other noodles, they have a lower calorie count and provide a decent amount of protein.

Learn More Now ›

Are soba noodles safe to eat? ›

Soba noodles are a Japanese alternative to regular pasta. They're mostly made with buckwheat flour, which is both gluten-free and full of healthy proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Because of their buckwheat base, Soba noodles can be a healthier option than other types of pasta.

Cold Soba Noodle Salad | Food-4Tots | Recipes for Toddlers - Part 2 (2024)

18 Comments

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FAQs

Can toddlers eat soba noodles? ›

Is soba Korean or Japanese? ›