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 andbuckwheat-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 andshe was so, so nice to give me its little brother!I made a comment on thebig 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! Andshe’s retired!” The waitress took my money. Win!
Broccoli Soba Bowl Recipe
serves 2
- 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 and 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.
In this post: glass pot // cast iron pan // bowl
35 Comments
March 24, 2015 at 9:54 am
lol. you and your mom are so cute.
ps, i take plates and kitchenware from my mom all the time. oops.
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March 24, 2015 at 10:12 am
Amazing photos! Those first two are incredible!
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Ala says:
March 24, 2015 at 10:19 am
Oh wow, I never have thar kind of a grocery store problem. Even when I’m not hungry at all I end up buying 14 zillion items. But I’m all for using those languishing broccoli bunches with this bowl :) yum.
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March 24, 2015 at 10:24 am
I need this to become my super simple meal…mine ends up being oatmeal!! lol
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Trish @ Well Worn Fork says:
March 24, 2015 at 10:30 am
You’re not a brat! That’s just how it goes. Mamas want their babies to be happy, even long after they’ve grow :-)
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Diane says:
January 29, 2023 at 9:50 am
I totally agree!!
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Tram says:
March 24, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Classic mom. :) I’m sure she loved giving you that pot. Whenever I fly home to Cali, my mom sends me back with fresh lime leaves, kumquats, and baggies of MSG, even though I can buy all of those things in Chicago (and I don’t even cook with MSG).
That is a gorgeous cooking vessel! Can you tell us the name of the maker?
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steph says:
March 24, 2015 at 1:06 pm
heehee i imagine the little baggies of msg are confusing for the airport scanners hahahahha
it’s visions! i just put a link at the bottom of the post :)
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Sara @ Cake Over Steak says:
March 24, 2015 at 12:40 pm
Hahaha you crack me up! I think my grandma had a bunch of pots like that one. I’m sure you made your mother very happy by taking it.
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Marissa says:
March 24, 2015 at 1:29 pm
I love this kind of simple meal for weeknights and happen to have every ingredient for it in my fridge right now – whee!
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Savita @ ChefDeHome says:
March 24, 2015 at 7:49 pm
I think we are never too old to take stuff from our moms. :) All pictures look amazing. Specially the one with boiling pasta.
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Christine says:
March 24, 2015 at 9:30 pm
delighted to see you used the broccoli stems. Why does everybody always throw those out?
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Michelle says:
March 25, 2015 at 7:08 am
Love these photos! Oh and btw I’m 43 and my Mum is still making me take kitchenware from her :)
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Abby says:
March 26, 2015 at 8:47 am
Aww, I love that story about you and your mom. And that pot is totally adorable… how could anyone resist it?!
This recipe looks delicious. Carbs + Broccoli = Amazingness.Reply
Honoka says:
March 26, 2015 at 9:11 am
This recipe looks delicious! I usually tend to not do anything much with soba noodles except for the traditional zaru soba recipe, so I must try this! And that little story about your mother not letting you pay at first was too cute. :)
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Janelle | fchem101 says:
March 26, 2015 at 9:04 pm
I love those pots! I just scored three of them in various sizes from the gig moving out of my new apartment. Amazing!
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Ana @ Ana's Rocket Ship says:
March 29, 2015 at 3:27 am
I don’t care if this is a ‘last resort’ meal- I love soba and I love broccoli- so yum!
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Cindy says:
April 5, 2015 at 6:54 pm
Love this! Question: Which brand of soba noodles do you enjoy? I’m having a hard time finding a brand that I like.
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Stephanie Le says:
April 6, 2015 at 12:00 am
ooh, i brought a bunch of soba back from japan – i don’t have a favorite brand
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Dina says:
April 13, 2015 at 7:30 am
Funny. I have the opposite problem. Both my fridges are full and I am not hungry and without a list and still come home with loads of groceries, and we are only two in the house now…. Love your blog, both images and stories are addicting. I think your Mom was happy to give you the pot and yes, it’s cool. And next time let her pay for lunch…
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Jamie says:
April 14, 2015 at 6:57 am
I made this last night for dinner and loved it! My boyfriend also gobbled it up. I absolutely loved the dressing, and the whole thing comes together so quickly! Major weeknight win! I could see serving soba + this dressing + any delicious veggies I have on hand.
The only modification I made was to steam the broccoli a bit because we don’t like it too crunchy, and I loved the charred outside with the tender inside. I didn’t add sesame seeds because I didn’t have any but I think they’d make a lovely addition and plan to buy some. Thanks for this!!
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Lizzy says:
October 6, 2015 at 4:00 pm
I love adding Shiitakes to this recipe. Yum. Thank you!
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lad says:
February 2, 2017 at 4:08 pm
Just made this, super easy and delicious.
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Georgi says:
November 8, 2017 at 3:56 am
Tried this last night at home. My cooking was out of perfection but yet was delicious. Thank you for that recipe.
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Katie says:
January 13, 2018 at 1:27 pm
This is going on my “Got to Try ASAP” List! Looks delcious!
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Mary Bode says:
March 27, 2019 at 6:30 pm
Amazing recipe! I just ate this for dinner. A real winner!
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Melanie says:
July 2, 2021 at 8:55 pm
This was simple and delicious! I can’t wait to make it again! Thank you for this gem of a recipe! :)Reply
Diane says:
January 29, 2023 at 9:53 am
This was JUST what I was looking for…a side to go with swordfish and quick because I’m watching the UCONN women’s basketball game this afternoon and don’t want to spend time in the kitchen.
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