It’s starting to get warmer outside (not that it ever got cold…) which makes me want cold dishes a little bit more. I like to keep some fresh veggies chopped in the fridge to snack on, but there’s nothing like a good pasta salad. Full of pasta, fresh veggies and a good dressing or sauce. Just like my Soba Noodle Salad.
If you’ve never had soba noodles, you’re in for a treat. Soba noodles are an asian noodle made from buckwheat and wheat flour (yes there are gluten free versions as well), and their a little nutty and super delicious. For the best benefits from soba noodles look for the 100% buckwheat noodles (which are also the gluten free versions), as buckwheat not actually a grain but a seed, and is high in fiber, protein and other minerals. They stand up great to crispy, fresh veggies which is why I love them in this salad.
I love to put the crispiest veggies I can find in this one because the texture is amazing. Carrots, peppers, and broccoli were my top picks but you could also add asparagus, cauliflower, snap peas, or jicama. I got this set of super handy peelers at the rodeo (my reward for going to the rodeo ha!) so notice my handy work here with my carrots. They’re perfect ribbons!
But, the icing on the cake in this one is the sesame dressing that goes along with it. Here is what you need for the dressing:
- coconut aminos
- rice vinegar
- sesame oil
- ginger
- garlic
- black pepper
You might be wondering where the soy sauce is in this soba noodle salad. That’s what the coconut aminos are for. I LOVE coconut aminos. They’ve become quite popular lately with the rise of paleo, gluten free and Whole 30 diets. It’s soy free and made from aging coconut sap. The most impressive part about coconut aminos is that it is full of 17 amino acids, potassium, Vitamin B and C and is low on the glycemic index. It’s the perfect substitute for soy sauce in marinades, dressings and sauces. We use it everywhere at my house.
So while this pasta salad is lacking the greens of a regular salad it is still full of good stuff, and you can even toss in some tofu for some added protein.
Try it out with your own combination of veggies and let me know what you think!