Creamy Tahini Soba Noodles

I use raw vegetables for this soba noodle salad with tahini sauce.  If you're looking for more cold noodle salads, I have a recipe for vegan peanut noodles that you might want to try. The noodles work great for lunch or an easy weeknight meal.

For more vegan lunch recipes, check out my post for plant-based lunch ideas. For more weeknight meals, try creamy vegan tomato pasta and tahini pasta with sundried tomatoes.

Ingredients

Soba noodles - I use soba noodles, but I have tried the recipe with rice noodles too and they both work well.  After testing with different brands some hold on to water more than others after draining. 

So while they're draining give them a stir or just get your hands in there move the noodles around and you'll probably see more liquid drain out.  Too much liquid with the noodles can cause the sauce to be too thin and pool at the bottom of the bowl.

Edamame - I prefer frozen shelled edamame for ease because there's no need to shell them, but if you can't find them frozen edamame in the pods can be used.  But you'll have to shell them.  My oil-free marinated tofu recipe also goes well with the tahini soba noodles.

Veggies - The cucumber, red bell pepper, and carrots can be substituted with any other vegetable that you prefer raw.

Tahini - Tahini is ground sesame seeds; brands will vary in consistency and usually need to be stirred before measuring.  The consistency should be smooth, creamy, and pourable. For more tahini-based sauces try oil-free hummus, smoky tahini dressing, lemon herb tahini sauce, or dijon tahini sauce.

Tamari - Low-sodium soy sauce can be used instead of tamari.  I normally opt for low sodium because regular soy sauce can be a bit too salty for me.

Maple syrup - Agave syrup can be used instead, the sweetness helps with the bitterness of the tahini.

Garlic powder - For more flavor for these sesame soba noodles!  If you don't mind raw garlic, you can always use a crushed garlic clove.

Crushed red pepper - Optional for just a smidge of heat.

Tips

• If you need water for the dressing it will depend on your desired consistency and how thick the tahini is.  The sauce for the tahini soba noodles needs to not be too thick or too thin, it should pour out of a bowl or glass measuring cup with a little help from a silicone or rubber spatula.
• If the tahini sauce is too thick, whisk in warm water to create a creamy tahini sauce.  Use a tablespoon at a time.
• Drain the noodles and edamame well to not introduce excess water into the tahini sauce.  Too much liquid from the noodles can cause the sauce to be too thin and pool at the bottom of the bowl.

Substitutions

• Substitute the veggies for any veggie you prefer.
• Instead of edamame try oil-free marinated tofu.
• Use low-sodium soy sauce instead of tamari.
• The maple syrup can be substituted with agave syrup in this tahini soba noodle recipe.

How to peel a carrot into ribbons

1. Rinse and dry the carrots.  
2. Peel the outer skin and trim off the root end.  
3. Lay the carrot flat on a cutting board.  
4. Then use a vegetable peeler to peel thin strips lengthways, just like you're peeling the outer skin off. 
5. Then rotate the carrot (if needed) and repeat until the carrot is too thin to peel.
6. Use the leftover bits as a snack, to make vegetable broth, compost, or give them to your dog (my pups love carrots).

Instructions

Cook the soba noodles according to the package's directions and stir occasionally.  Once done, rinse the noodles under cold water and drain well. Cook the edamame according to the package instructions.  When the edamame is done cooking, drain well and shell if needed.

Stir the tahini before measuring. Then in a bowl, whisk together the tahini, tamari, lime juice, maple syrup, garlic powder, and a pinch of crushed red pepper.  The sauce should not be too thick or thin, it should pour out of the bowl easily and with a little assistance from a spoon or spatula. 

If it's too thick add a tablespoon of warm water at a time to thin your sauce out. If you need water, how much will depend on the consistency of your tahini. Some brands are thicker than others. In a very large bowl, toss the cooked noodles, cooked edamame, veggies, and sauce together.

More recipes with tahini

• Smokey Tahini Dressing
• Dijon Tahini Dressing
• Oil-Free Hummus
• Oil-Free Fried Rice
• Vegan Chickpea Tuna Salad (No Mayo)

More vegan noodle recipes

• Vegan Peanut Noodles
• Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta
• Tahini Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes