Soba Noodle Salad from washingtonpost.com

soba

The chef prefers using regular soy sauce instead of low-sodium (for better flavor).

The dressing can be refrigerated a few days in advance.

For the dressing
2 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon plain rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon chili oil
3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
One 2-inch piece fresh ginger root, peeled and grated (1 tablespoon)
2 tablespoons water

For the salad
6 to 8 ounces buckwheat soba noodles
1 or 2 heads romaine lettuce hearts, torn into bite-size pieces
1 cup shelled, frozen/defrosted edamame
6 to 8 scallions (trimmed), white and light-green parts cut thin on the diagonal
20 grape tomatoes, each cut in half
White sesame seeds, for garnish
Nori (roasted seaweed), cut into very thin matchsticks, for garnish

For the dressing: Whisk together the sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, chili oil, peanut butter, ginger and water in a medium bowl, to form a shiny, emulsified blend.

For the salad: Bring a pot of unsalted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the soba noodles (to taste) and stir; cook according to the package directions, then drain, rinse until cool and drain again.

Divide the lettuce (to taste) among individual plates. Top each portion with an equal amount of the cooled noodles, then scatter each one with some of the edamame, scallions and grape tomatoes.

Just before serving, spoon a generous amount of the dressing over each salad, then top each with a good pinch of the sesame seeds and the nori. Serve right away.  4 servings

salmon bibimbap from http://thewoksoflife.com/

salmon-bibimbap-10

2 cups raw white rice
light olive oil or canola oil
2 carrots, julienned
Salt and pepper
2 cups bean sprouts
2 bunches watercress
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
½ teaspoon sesame oil
1 salmon steak or filet
4 eggs, cooked sunny side up (over easy is fine too)
1 cup kimchi
Roasted seaweed flakes or sheets, cut into slivers (optional)
Gochujang paste, to taste (about 1-2 tablespoons per serving)

First, cook 2 cups of dry rice using your preferred method.

Next, heat a pan with 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Stir-fry the carrots for about 1 minute, sprinkling with a pinch of salt. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Next, stir fry the bean sprouts using the same method as with the carrots.

Next prep your watercress. Cut each bunch in half and wash thoroughly.

In the same pan you used for the carrots, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium high heat. Add the garlic and let fry gently for about 15-20 seconds. Add the watercress, followed by a ½ teaspoon of salt, and stir-fry until completely wilted. Remove from the heat and toss with the soy sauce, sesame seeds, and sesame oil. Set aside.

Now for the salmon. Sprinkle with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat a pan over medium high heat with 3 tablespoons of oil. Add the salmon. Let brown for about 5 minutes. Flip, and let the other side cook for another 5 minutes. Our salmon steak was pretty thick, so cooking time may need to be adjusted depending on how big your piece of salmon is. When in doubt, just use a knife to gently cut into the center to check for doneness. Looks don’t matter with this dish, as we’ll be flaking the salmon anyway.

While the salmon is cooking, set aside the kimchi and seaweed flakes, cutting up the seaweed with kitchen shears if you’re using roasted sheets. Also, cook one egg for each person you’re serving.

When the salmon is finished cooking, you’re ready to assemble your bibimbap.

Spoon a nice bed of rice into a bowl and top with a small handful of flaked salmon and your egg. Add as much watercress, carrot, bean sprouts, kimchi, and seaweed as your heart desires. Finish off with gochujang to taste. Stir thoroughly and enjoy with a big spoon!