Soba Seaweed Salad
Buckwheat is a highly nutritious seed (not a grain) and particularly rich in vitamin B. Soba is Japanese for Buckwheat. It is a staple of the Japanese diet, but it actually appears to have originated in China. I
t was brought to Japan toward the end of the Jomon period, which was around 10,000 BC. Apparently, soba came to Japan as a porridge.
The Buddhist monks who studied in China ate the buckwheat porridge during their long meditative journeys. When they brought it back to Japan, the Japanese discovered that the buckwheat made a delicious noodle.
Soba is made from buckwheat flour, and records indicate that buckwheat was grown to overcome the famine of the Nara period in 710-794BC.
Soba noodles are a type of Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour. They are gluten-free, high in protein, and low in carbohydrates.
Soba noodles are about as thick as spaghetti, and used in various hot and cold dishes. It’s easy to find soba noodles available in dried form in supermarkets, but they taste best when made fresh by hand from flour and water.
When you buy soba noodles, look for a buckwheat-only brand that does not contain wheat. A good example is Eden Selected.
Combining soba with seaweed is the ultimate health treat! Seaweed has been eaten by coastal people since prehistoric times. Today, there are around 145 species of red, brown or green seaweed eaten around the world.
In Japanese meals, more than 20 species of seaweed may be used - including a seaweed-based soup stock called "dashi", which is thought to contain chemicals that create the "fifth flavour" known as "umami".
In Iceland, a dried form of seaweed known as dulse is eaten as a snack or added to salads, breads, and curds. In Ireland, dillisk is also a popular snack food, and carrageen (Irish moss) is added to jellies and puddings.
This dish contains two powerhouse foods - buckwheat and seaweed - that are full of energy-giving nutrients. You can eat it as a salad or enjoy it as a side dish.
Soba Noodles are perfect for anyone with food sensitivities, and they will help to give you sustained energy rather than spiking your blood sugar like regular noodles. Wakame seaweed is an excellent source of several different vitamins and minerals.
