This soba noodle dish is fresh and light, but packed with toasty, nutty flavours and a nice kick from the chilli flakes and spring onion. You may gain new appreciation for the simple cucumber after this one!
3 spring onions, finely sliced, whites cut into 2 or 3-inch pieces
½ teaspoon toasted white sesame seeds
½ teaspoon toasted black sesame seeds
Salt
Cucumber herb salad
½ cucumber
1 tablespoon sesame oil
½ teaspoon toasted white sesame seeds
½ teaspoon toasted black sesame seeds
Pinch of salt
½ teaspoon chilli flakes
1 tablespoon golden syrup
½ lemon, juiced
½ bunch mint
½ bunch coriander
Dressing
4 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon golden syrup
3 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon water
½ teaspoon chilli flakes
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Recipe: Simon Toohey
Directions:
1Fill a pot with water and bring to the boil.
2Pick and wash the mint and coriander. Roughly chop the cucumber into small but odd shapes, place in a mortar and pestle and lightly smash to break them down a bit and remove some water. Then cover with 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and half the toasted sesame seeds along with salt, chilli flakes, and golden syrup. Add the juice of half a lemon, mint and coriander.
3Turn a burner on a low flame and cover with a heatproof wire wrack. Season the whites of the spring onion with a pinch of salt and a drizzle of sesame oil. Place them on the wire rack and cook for a few minutes, turning occasionally, until they begin to colour.
4For the dressing, mix the soy, golden syrup, 3 tablespoons sesame oil, 1 tablespoon water and chilli flakes in a bowl and add most of the chopped spring onions, reserving some for garnish.
5When the water starts boiling, pour in 1 tablespoon salt and place the soba noodles in, giving a gentle stir so they are all immersed in the water and not sticking together. After 3 minutes or when they are cooked through, remove from the water and rinse with cold water to cool them down.
6Transfer your noodles to a serving bowl. Top with the cucumber and herb salad, finish with the rest of the sesame seeds and spring onions, and drizzle over the dressing.
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