Cooking With Maddie Newsletter #69
Cold Sesame Soba Noodles
Hi friends!
I know it’s already the end of February, but happy new year! What a year it’s already been.
I don’t need to tell you things have been bananas. I can imagine you feel the same way. And because things have been cuckoo, almost every dish out of our kitchen has been easy, fast, pantry-heavy recipes, and that’s exactly what I have for you today.
This week’s recipe is Cold Sesame Soba Noodles. This is probably the easiest, quickest recipe ever posted to the newsletter, and it’s become my go-to lunch for those exact reasons. You can make this dish in about 10 minutes, and there’s less than 10 ingredients. Plus, soba noodles are made from buckwheat, which is gluten-free, high in protein and fiber, so you don’t have to feel guilty if you’re still trying to keep to your new year's resolutions.
Here’s what you’ll need —
9 ounces dry soba noodles — this is usually 3 noodle bundles
¼ cup toasted sesame oil
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons sesame seeds — I like to use a mix of white and black sesame seeds
3 green onions, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, grated
Black pepper
Start by bringing a big pot of water to a boil. Unlike pasta noodles, you do not need to salt your water here.
When your water is boiling, add the soba noodles, being sure to remove the paper wrappers holding the bundles together, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.
While your noodles boil, in a large bowl, combine the sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, sesame seeds, two-thirds of your chopped green onions, and several cracks of black pepper. Whisk to combine.
When your 5 minute timer goes off, drain the noodles into a colander in the sink and rinse with cold water. Shake the colander to drain as much water as possible.
Add your cold soba noodles to the large bowl with your sauce. Use tongs to combine the noodles and sauce, so all the noodles are evenly coated.
Serve in a bowl, and top with your remaining green onions and more sesame seeds.
The Cold Sesame Soba Noodles really have been my go-to favorite for a while now, but I’d be remiss to not acknowledge that on freezing winter days, this may not be what you’re craving. I could imagine you’d be looking for something to warm your soul and belly. If that’s the case, here’s a few of my previous recipes that might do the trick —
For what’s been giving me life, it’s been starting the new year off right by being in the mountains, spending time with friends, and making the most of the Colorado snow. It was making 2025 bingo cards with my girlfriends, working on a Piecework puzzle, drinking lots of Molly Baz’s Drink This Wine, and getting a lot of use out of our favorite Christmas gift — the Whirley Pop. One of my new year’s resolutions is to watch more movies, and who can watch a movie without popcorn?! If you’re thinking to yourself that watching more movies is a silly resolution, to that I say — at least this is a resolution I will complete! So far, I’ve managed to watch Fly Me to the Moon (bad), Woman of the Hour (creepy), My Old Ass (love), and The Whale (depressing).
For what else has bringing me life, it’s been going on bestie dates like brunch at Two Hands with Care and dinner at Izakaya Den with Cait, as well as real dates with Frank at La Forêt. It’s checking out the new Leven Supply Co, the re-opening of Cart Driver LoHi, and Blackbelly Market.
It was having a very romantic Valentine’s Day with Frank, and then being surprised with a night at Sipping N Painting. Yes, we brought our paintings home, but no, they will not be hung up in our house. That was followed by a fucking hilarious, girly Galentine’s Day, where we giggled and crafted and cheers-ed to being surrounded by amazing women and friends.
Lastly, it was the entire team at BluePearl Pet Hospital, who so thoughtfully took care of our precious Charlie boy this week. I’m so happy to share that Charlie is on the mend and back home with us, where he’s getting plenty of love and care.
