One thing I love about Asian-style soups is that they require little advance planning, and are ready to go from counter to soup pot to table in 30 minutes or less. I do find, though, that unlike other soups that benefit from long simmering and that taste even better after a day or so, Asian soups taste best just done. This is especially true in the case of noodle soups-the noodles absorb much of the broth when refrigerated overnight, leaving you with more of a noodle dish than a soup.
Serve this soup Asian-style. Slurp the noodles from the broth with chopsticks, then use an Asian soup spoon to scoop up what's left. This simple soup comes together in less than 30 minutes. Bonus - soba noodles are naturally gluten-free, if that's a concern for you. Adapted from Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for All Seasons. Photos by Hannah Kaminsky.
Recipe
Japanese Soba Noodle Soup with Tofu and Greens
Ingredients
- 8- ounce package soba buckwheat noodles
- 32- ounce container vegetable broth
- 6 to 8 medium-sized shiitake mushroom caps sliced
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons natural granulated sugar
- 2 to 3 teaspoons minced fresh ginger to taste
- 3 scallions thinly sliced
- 8 ounces soft or firm tofu
- 8 to 10 ounces fresh spinach well washed, stemmed, and chopped
- 1 cup chopped baby bok choy tatsoi, or mizuna, optional
- Freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Break the noodles in half and cook them in a large saucepan according to package directions until al dente, then drain. Rinse briefly with cool water.
- Meanwhile, combine the stock, mushrooms, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and ginger in a soup pot. Bring to a rapid simmer, then lower the heat. Cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the scallions, tofu, spinach, and optional bok choy. Cover and cook until the spinach is wilted but still bright green, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in the noodles. Add two cups additional water, or enough to give the soup a dense but not overly crowded consistency. Season with pepper and some additional soy sauce if needed. Heat through and serve at once.
Nutrition (Estimate per Serving)
Nutrition information:
Per serving: Calories: 196; Total fat: 3g; Protein: 10g; Fiber: 3g; Carbs: 33g; Sodium: 511mg
- Here are more easy Asian-style noodle soup recipes.
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