26/02/2003 Entry: "TV & Recipe > Nigella's Forever Summer, Soba Noodles with Sesame Seeds"

Nigella's Forever Summer [link]
ABC TV, 8.30pm, Wednesday nights

I personally prefer Jamie, but EvilHayama is a pretty big fan of Nigella. XD I do enjoy watching her over dinner and all, but she just plain distracts me with the whole sexiness angle! She gets all enthusiastic about how wonderful cream, raspberries or vinegar are and I end up dwelling on that instead of remembering the recipe or seeing what she thinks goes together (which is what I really get out of cooking shows and magazines). It's actually quite miraculous that I took notes on a recipe tonight!

Says the honourable TV guide this week: Nigella shares her passion for Japanese cooking at home when preparing delicious soba noodles with sesame seeds and peppered seared tuna.

Now the following recipe is on the site I linked back there, but I think that summarising recipes quickly and in the manner I'd cook them is a bit of an art. I've used some amounts from their ingredients list, though.

Soba Noodles with Sesame Seeds

* 75g sesame seeds
* salt
* 250g soba noodles
* 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
* 5 teaspoons soy sauce
* 2 teaspoons honey
* 2 teaspoons sesame oil
* spring onions

Place the soba in a pot of salted water and bring to the boil.

Toast the sesame seeds in a frypan.

Put some rice vinegar in a large bowl, add some honey, the same amount of toasted sesame oil and a splash of soy sauce. Gently stir the mixture together.

Chop a small amount of spring onions and put them aside.

Shake the sesame seeds around - they should be lightly scorched/toasted all over by now. Put them aside as well.

Drain the soba and drench it in cold water. (Personally, I turn on the cold tap and hold the colander under it, using my hand to make sure the noodles are cooled down all the way through.)

Put the soba in the bowl of dressing, then scatter the shallots and sesame seeds over the noodles. Mix it all together by hand, then leave for half an hour if possible to let the flavours mingle.

Serves 2-4 and goes great with sashimi, tataki or vegetables!