Quick Soba Noodles (Fast & Easy!)

Need a quick pasta fix? These easy soba noodles are quick and packed with flavor: perfect as an Asian-style side dish or as a light dinner.

Need a quick pasta fix? Just try these out Soba noodles! Soba is Japanese buckwheat noodles and is a perfect ingredient for a quick and easy dinner. Cooked in about 15 minutes, they’re coated in a flavorful soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar and honey, and sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds. Toss them in a bowl and top with an egg or sautéed shrimp and you have dinner!

Because they’re so fast, Alex and I rely on them as a crutch for quick weeknight meals. They’re also a great accompaniment to Asian dishes like teriyaki salmon or shrimp and broccoli. This is what you need to know about soba!

Types of soba noodles

Soba are traditional Japanese buckwheat noodles. They’re easy to find at your local grocery store, either in the noodle section or near the Japanese ingredients. Because they’re made from buckwheat flour, most soba are naturally gluten-free. However, some brands also contain wheat flour, so be sure to check the packaging if you’re following a gluten-free diet.

There are many different brands of soba noodles! Alex and I have tested dozens and we find that every brand of soba is different. Some are very thin and prone to breaking, so we’re looking for soba that are thicker and will hold up better. Experiment a little to find your favorite brand of soba.

What’s in This Soba Noodles Recipe?

This soba noodle recipe is quick and easy to make, and most of the ingredients are pantry staples! Aside from the scallion, it’s basically a pantry meal. So feel free to omit the scallions if you don’t have any on hand! Here’s what’s included in this soba noodle recipe:

• Soba noodles
• soy pasture or liquid amines
• Toasted Sesame Oil: Make sure it is Goal, not regular! Toasted sesame oil is used for flavoring, while regular sesame oil has a neutral flavor
• rice vinegar
• honey or maple syrup
• miso: optional but adds a lot of flavor (see below)
• Garlic
• Green Onions (Optional)
• Sesame seeds (optional; toast if using!)

Rinse your soba to remove the starch!

Here’s an important note about cooking soba noodles: rinse them after cooking! Rinsing the pasta isn’t necessary for something like Italian spaghetti or penne. But rinsing is necessary for soba to remove the starch that builds up during cooking.

Here’s what happens if you don’t rinse: The soba becomes very rubbery and mushy. It also absorbs gravy and becomes dry instead of gravy. So please: rinse the soba after cooking! You will notice a big difference.

One secret ingredient: miso

This soba noodle recipe has a little secret ingredient: miso! If you’ve never cooked with it, we highly recommend getting a container for your fridge (and it will last for months). Miso is a Japanese fermented soybean paste rich in nutrients and a savory flavor (or umami). Umami is the so-called “fifth taste” after sour, salty, sweet and bitter. It adds amazing flavor to any dish!

You can find miso in most major grocery stores near other Japanese ingredients. There are many types of miso, all with different flavors: red, yellow, and brown. Alex and I used brown miso here, which contributed to the dark color of these noodles.

Since we cook mostly plant-based, Alex and I tend to use it to add a meaty or cheesy flavor to recipes. It’s great in Easy Miso Ramen and even replaces the parmesan flavor in our vegan pesto!

Why roast sesame seeds

For the best flavor, top these soba noodles with toasted sesame seeds! Of course you can also use sesame directly. But toasting your sesame seeds in a pan increases the nutty flavor dramatically. It’s almost like using salt on food: it brings out the flavor that’s already there and takes it to new heights! It only takes 3 minutes to toast sesame seeds and you can store leftovers in an airtight container for months. Go to How to Roast Sesame Seeds.

Make it a meal!

Now for the fun part: how to turn these soba noodles into a meal! You can serve them as part of a simple main course or as an accompaniment to an Asian dish. Here’s what we recommend:

• Top with an egg. The easiest way to make a dinner out of it! Garnish with a fried or boiled egg. Dinner, solved!
• Top with tofu. This Breaded Tofu is our go-to method for weeknights. Or try marinated tofu, which requires little effort and can be stored in the fridge.
• Garnish with shrimp. Try these quick and healthy sautéed shrimp! To stick with the Asian flavors, use regular sesame oil for cooking, replacing the lemon with a squeeze of rice vinegar and soy sauce at the end.
• Add edamame. This quick Asian-style page is so easy! Try Easy Edamame or Spicy Edamame.
• Serve with a pan! Try it with our Easy Sauteed Vegetables!
• Serve as an accompaniment to shrimp or salmon. Try it with teriyaki salmon or shrimp and broccoli.

This soba noodle recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.