Buckwheat Soba Noodles with Coconut-Lime Tofu

This sesame garlic soba noodles and spinach stir fry with sweet and lemony coconut-lime tofu is perfect to start meatless Monday fit and healthy. In just 15 minutes from kitchen to dinner tables, this quick dinner can fit in any schedule! 

In my family, not just dinner, this vegan noodle bowl is also for lunch (often). Buckwheat soba noodles soak-in flavor of soy sauce, fresh garlic, ginger, chili, and nutty sesame oil... making them a perfect Asian style noddle-stir-fry. Really, you won't believe, how few simple pantry ingredients transform humble noodles to a take-out style meal....only healthier.

I love buckwheat noodles because cook in just 3-4 minutes (oh yes, you reading correct, only 3-4 minutes) and are not heavy like other wheat or egg-based Asian noodles. Where quick cooking promise make me reach for buckwheat soba instead of any other noodles.... their delicious texture make me look forward to devour this noodle bowl. 

To cook the soba noodles, I always use unsalted water. I start by heating water in a shallow pan (mostly). Why shallow? Well, just because water boils quickly in shallow pan and soba noodles only need 3-4 minutes cooking. By the time water is in state to boil over, noodles are already ready to drain.

For stir-fries, I drain the noodles and add'em directly to stir-fry before adding the sauce. Adding sauce on top of noodles help'em absorb a lots of flavor from the sauce. If I add sauce before adding noodles, often tangled parts of noodles remain unseasoned and do not taste flavorful. From sauce I mean, Asian noodle sauces, like mix of soy sauce, chili, lime juice, and sesame oil in this recipe.

There something in combination of simple soy, ginger and garlic with hint of chili and lime which is hard to resist. Sesame oil, is like cherry on the top, brings everything together. My idea is, if you ever in hurry and don't know what to cook for dinner. Trust on these 6 ingredients with soba noodles or any Asian noodle of your choice and your family will ask for 2 servings. :) (make a bigger batch!)

One day I will have so many variations of sesame chili soba noodles recipes on my blog that it will hard to pick a favorite.

Today's recipe is my favorite for one more reason:  Sweet and Lemony Coconut-Lime Tofu!

For the record, whenever, I saute coconut-lime tofu for these noodles stir-fry, half of it is gone before I serve it. I must mention, coconut-lime tofu can be a great snack on it's own.  If you never got chance to try coconut and lime together, I highly recommend trying this tofu.   

Now, imagine a bowl of warm and lite soba noodles and garlicky spinach stir-fry with nutty sesame oil aroma and sweet-n-sour coconut-lime tofu to dig-in?! Who will say "no" to this homemade dinner?!

Saving you from ordering take-out, spending money first day of the week, and yet enjoying healthy dinner are some of the pure bonuses!

Speaking of healthy, let's look at the diet-information for this meatless dinner:

1. Gluten Free - These noodles can be are gluten free. Just use gluten free tamari soy sauce instead of regular and make sure to buy buckwheat soba noodles without wheat content or use rice noodles.
2. Vegan - This meatless noodle bowl is vegan. Not even a touch of diary or no animal-product in this meal. Read ingredients on chili paste to look for no anchovies or no fish sauce. If in doubt, use minced thai chili instead.
Other than vegan, this delicious noodle bowl has good serving of calcium from spinach and protein from tofu.

Hoping these noodles will make to your dinner table tonight! :) Wish you a wonderful day ahead!

Cheers! -Savita