I spent the last week at a science conference in Colorado – check out the gorgeous views! While most people ski during the afternoon breaks at Keystone meetings, I decided against pushing my luck with my poor knee that has been acting up again when I jog. I did get to the top of one of the mountains though and went showshoeing with my labmates Joo and Chris.
The peaks were beautiful and the trek was challenging – between the hills and high altitude, I was struggling to catch my breath so it was an exhilarating workout. We also had fun checking out the Keystone village and outlet mall, and the foodie highlight was a tasty buffalo burger at one of the local pubs.
After eating out for so many days, the first thing I wanted to do today was make a nice healthy meal, but of course our fridge was empty and we ended up going out instead. I know what I would have made if all the ingredients had been around though – these delightful soba noodles!
I whipped up this dish a few weeks ago after our trip to HMart, where I scored the frozen buckwheat noodles and black sesame seeds. The soba noodles are addicting with the flavorful dressing and chunks of cucumber and red pepper, and the crispy chicken on top makes it a filling meal. I’m glad to be home and can’t wait to get back in the kitchen tomorrow now that we’ve restocked on groceries!
Sesame Chicken with Soba Noodles
Printable Recipe
Ingredients:
Sesame Chicken:
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup panko
1/4 cup white sesame seeds
1/4 cup black sesame seeds
2 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
Soba Noodles:
1 pound soba noodles
1 English cucumber, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup rice vinegar
3 tablespoon canola oil
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon honey
1 shallot, minced (1/4 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
Directions:
To prepare the chicken, heat oven to 350˚F. Place flour and salt in a shallow dish and mix well. Place eggs in another shallow dish and mix well with a fork. Place panko and sesame seeds in a third shallow dish and mix well. Lightly dredge both sides of the chicken in the flour, then the egg, and then the sesame panko mixture until well covered. Place coated chicken strips in a 13×9-inch pan and bake at 350˚F for 10 minutes or until cooked through and no longer pink in the center.
Prepare soba noodles according to package directions, drain, and rinse with cold water. Place in a large bowl, along with the chopped cucumber and red pepper. Mix soy sauce, rice vinegar, canola oil, sesame oil, honey, shallot, garlic, and cilantro in a small bowl and mix well. Pour dressing over soba noodles and mix well. Even distribute noodles into bowls and top with chicken strips. Makes 6 servings. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Nutrition: 609 calories, 18.8g fat, 2.8g fiber, 36.3g protein per serving
Cost: $1.81 per serving