Broccoli Soba Bowl Recipe

Broccoli Soba Bowl Recipe

March 24, 2015 • 18 comments

This is the kind of super simple meal I throw together when I don’t have much in the fridge – maybe just a couple of languishing stalks of broccoli. This happens more often than I’d like because I’m really bad at making grocery lists. You know how they tell you to not go to the grocery store and shop when you’re hungry? Well, if I go to the grocery store when I’m not hungry I end up buying next to nothing. If I don’t have list, it’s even worse.

Thankfully I always have a bunch of pantry staples (my pantry staples consist of carbs, always carbs) that I can fall back on. Soba is always a good bet. I love their texture and buckwheat-y flavour. Even better when they’re tossed in a soy-vinegar dressing!
By the way, how awesome is the pot that I cooked the soba in?! I spied a bigger version at my mom’s house and she was so, so nice to give me its little brother! I made a comment on the big version she was using and I guess I sounded a little too enthusiastic because all of a sudden she pulled out a mini version and insisted that I take it home because she wasn’t using it. I think it’s absolutely perfect. Mike called me a brat for taking it because now that I’m grown up, I shouldn’t be taking things from my mom. But I’m sure I made her happy by taking her pot?!
Okay, maybe it was a little bratty of me to take the pot. To make it up to her I took her out for lunch the other day. But then, when I tried to pay, she pushed my hand aside and told the waitress “she doesn’t work, don’t take her money!” I retorted back, “Don’t listen to her, she’s lying – she thinks what I do isn’t work! And she’s retired!” The waitress took my money. Win!

Broccoli Soba Bowl Recipe
serves 2prep time: 10 minutes
cook time: 10 minutes
total time: 20 minutes

• 2 cups broccoli florets
  oil
  salt and pepper to taste
• 4 ounces soba
  2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  1 tablespoon soy sauce
  2 cloves garlic, minced
  pinch of red pepper flakes
  salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
  toasted sesame seeds, if desired

Heat up a heavy cast iron skillet over medium-high to high heat, add a touch of oil and swirl to coat. Add the broccoli in an let cook, stirring occasionally for 2-3 minutes. The broccoli should be bright green and deeply charred. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Bring a pot of water to boil and cook the soba according to the package. While the soba is cooking, make the dressing. Whisk together the rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, and garlic in a small bowl. Taste and adjust if needed. When the soba is cooked, rinse in cold water and drain well.
Toss the noodles with the dressing and top with the broccoli. Enjoy with red pepper flakes and toasted sesame seeds, if desired.