Dinner Tonight: Cold Soba Salad with Peppers and Ponzu Dressing Recipe

Name: Dinner Tonight: Cold Soba Salad with Peppers and Ponzu Dressing Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 12 ounces soba; 4 tablespoons ponzu; 4 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce; Juice of 2 limes; ½ teaspoon honey; ½ red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, diced; ½ orange bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, diced; 4 scallions, green parts only, thinly sliced; 1 teaspoon sesame seeds; togarashi (optional)

I was in need of something light and spicy to deal with the heat. Though I haven't always had the best luck with cold soba dishes, this recipe from The Perfect Pantry looked like exactly what I needed.

The sauce, which is made with ponzu, is lively and slightly tart, and the bell peppers add crunch and color. I, of course, added a sprinkling of togarashi for some heat, but it's optional.

I don't always have the best luck with cold soba. At its worst, the soba comes out gummy and water-logged. The key is to start with a very simple dish like this one. The soba is boiled, drained in a colander, then rinsed under cold water. Just make sure to let it drain again after the rinse—this solved most of my issues. Some sauteed shrimp or tofu would help bulk this out if you were really hungry, but it's absolutely perfect for those in need of a light summer meal.

Dinner Tonight: Cold Soba Salad with Peppers and Ponzu Dressing Recipe

Prep 5 mins

Cook 15 mins

Active 20 mins

Total 20 mins

Serves 4 servings

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12 ounces soba
4 tablespoons ponzu
4 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
Juice of 2 whole limes
1/2 teaspoon honey
½ red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, diced
½ orange bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, diced
4 medium scallions, green parts only, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
togarashi (optional)

Bring two quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. Add the noodles, stir well, and cook until al dente, about five minutes. Drain in a colander, and then rinse under cold water. Drain again.
Whisk together the ponzu, soy sauce, lime juice, and honey in a medium-sized bowl.
Combine the noodles, sauce, diced bell peppers, and scallions in a large bowl. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and some togarashi (optional).

Noodles

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
147	Calories
1g	Fat
31g	Carbs
7g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	147
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g	1%
Saturated Fat 0g	1%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 861mg	37%
Total Carbohydrate 31g	11%
Dietary Fiber 2g	7%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 113mg	563%
Calcium 52mg	4%
Iron 2mg	9%
Potassium 335mg	7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.