Macha & Soba noodle salad with Chargrilled Chicken

After a full of protein from the bbq lunch, i really could have gone without supper. But instead of skipping a meal, i quickly made a noodle salad... with Japanese Maccha and soba noodles. Something simple, light and give the body a good boost from all the heavy carbs from lunch.

Macha is green tea in japanese, so macha noodles is buckwheat noodles mixed with green tea.  Green tea as everyone knows is very good to promote good health, full of anti-oxident, boost your metabolism as well as reduces cholesterol.  You will find lots of different of green tea treats and food very popular in south-east asia, which i am a very big fan off. Soba (buckwheat) noodles itself also have great nutrients and anti-oxident for the body. So combining the 2 different noodles, not that it looks colourful and interesting to my eyes, but its actually good for your health.

You can have this on its own, but if you really couldnt go with out meat,  a piece of chargrilled chicken would be very tasty, or throw in some prawns to make it abit special. 

Ingredients:

1Tbspn Sesame Seeds
60g Macha Soba Noodles
60g Soba Noodles
1/4 of a Cucumber, skin peeled and finely chopped like matchsticks
1/4 of a Carrot, skin peeled and finely chopped like matchsticks
2tspn rice vinegar
2tspn runny honey
2tspn sesame oil
1Tbspn light soy sauce
1tspn dark soy sauce

drizzle of olive oil


optional if served with chicken
250g/2 skinless chicken breast
drizzle of olive oil
1Tbspn light soy sauce
1tspn rice vinegar
1tspn mirin



Method

1)In a large pan of boiling water cook the soba noodle for around 6 minutes or see pack instructions. When the noodles are cooked but still have some bite, drain and refresh with cold water under the tap.
2) Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan until golden brown. Set aside.
3)In a large serving bowl mix the vinegar, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, honey, sesame oil. Then add the cucumber, carrots, noodles, sesame seeds, spring onions and toss it together.
4)Leave to infuse for half an hour in the fridge in order for the flavours to develop and ready to serve.

Chicken option
5) Before preparing the noodles, first marinade the chicken with light soy sauce, rice vinegar and mirn, use cling-film to cover and set aside or put it in fridge for 5-10minutes
6)Heat a non-stick griddle or frying pan over a high heat until smoking hot, then reduce the heat to medium. Cook the chicken for 6-8 minutes each side, until cooked through. Slice and place on the salad.

Tip:
Think this is perfect for going on picnics or energy boosting food for going walking, and great for house parties when you want to create something quick.

Happy Cooking!