Veg*n Cooking and Other Random Musings: Sesame Ginger Soba Noodles and Thanksgiving in May?

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Sesame Ginger Soba Noodles and Thanksgiving in May?

For dinner a few nights ago, I made a Sesame Ginger sauce, since I haven't been able to eat completely solid foods, we served it over soba noodles, instead of rice and veggies which we usually prefer. I also added some adzuki beans to it. I wouldn't normally pair beans and noodles, as the beans sink to the bottom, but I've been needing protein.
The sauce turned out really well, Brett raved about it, probably because it was sweet. :-)















Sesame Ginger Soba Noodles (with optional adzuki beans)

Sesame Ginger Sauce:
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp ginger, minced
4 Chiles Japones, minced
1/3 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons mirin
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tbsp agave
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon tahini
2 tbsp seasoned brown rice vinegar
2-4 tbsp hot water
cayenne (optional)

1/2 package of soba noodles (buckwheat noodles)
1 cup adzuki beans, cooked (optional)
sesame seeds (optional)

Heat a few tablespoons of water in a small sauce pan. Add the garlic, ginger and Chiles Japones and cook for about 10 minutes. Add all the other ingredients (except the cayenne), and simmer on low while the noodles are cooking.

Cook noodles according to package directions.

When noodles are finished, drain and rinse. Top with aduzki beans, sauce, sesame seeds and cayenne.

(If you want a thicker sauce, you can dissolve 1 tsp of arrowroot in a couple of tbsp of water, mix it in the sauce, bring it to a boil and remove it from the heat as soon as it is at the desired thickness.)

So, I have been running out of ideas for soft-ish things to eat, and to be completely honest, I am sick of soba noodles with sauce, mashed beans, and especially applesauce. Which is a shame, because I used to love applesauce, I've just been living off of it for a week.

Brett came up with the idea of cooking up a bunch of 'Thanksgiving-ish' sides, since they are all soft and savory, something I haven't had much of this week. So he went to the store and even cooked half of the dinner.

Brett steamed some carrots, cooked up a few cranberry beans, and made his world famous (ok, well I think they should be considered world famous) Garlicky Mashed Potatoes, when he makes them, they always turn out better than when I do it. Part of his bag of tricks includes using Silk Soy Creamer instead of regular soy, rice or hemp milk and using red potatoes instead of russet. It gives the potatoes a richer flavor.

Anyways, I made Veganomicon's Mushroom Gravy (so good!), steamed some spinach and prepared some vegan stuffing (from an organic mix bought from the store made with veggie broth). It was really good and hit the spot.















I think my stomach has shrunk, well, and my eyes were far bigger than my belly, I couldn't eat nearly all of this. I was stoked that there were leftovers so I can enjoy this again at lunch today.

I'm making Lentil and Potato soft tacos tonight! I think I can do the tortillas, just maybe not fried yet, the healing process is moving along quite quickly and I am starting to feel brave enough to 'test the waters'.

'Til next time!

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

You poor thing!! I wish I could magically make your mouth feel better so you can eat solids. =(

Mmm... I think I'd drink that mushroom sauce if I were you. Now I need to try it!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Oooh, that Sesame-Ginger sauce looks AMAZING with the soba noodles - yum!! Ahh, I hope that you can eat more solid foods again soon!!

That Thanksgiving-type meal looks so hearty - yum! And no doubt those leftovers will taste just as good :0)

Can't wait to see the upcoming taco recipe!!

Alicia said...

the sesame-ginger sauce sounds more elaborate than just sesame oil... thanks for the great idea! my bento lunches will be tastier thanks to you!
And I'm sure you will be eating normal next week, hang on there! (and if you want to eat soups... you know where to look...)

Anonymous said...

I hope you feel better soon! And I love, love, love Thanksgiving sides. That is all I ever ate anyway, so veganizing my meal last November was pretty simple. Yours looked yummy.

ChickPea said...

Although eating soft foods can be a bit annoying, I found that when I had jaw surgery, I kind of enjoyed the challenge!
I love making holiday foods throughout the year. Last year, I made a Thanksgiving lunchbox feast for myself--in July!
Everything looks tasty, as usual!

Anonymous said...

Brett to the rescue! Everything looks balanced and nutritious! It's always nice to have someone to take care of you. I hope you start to feel better soon!

Erin said...

It's true! I never realized that Thanksgiving foods are soft. That looks like a nice, satisfying meal for a food-neglected you. Hope you feel better soon.

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

I'm with Romina-- if I had three wishes and a magic lamp, I'd help you out for sure.

Great minds think alike, because I had sesame ginger sauce last night! (But I was lazy and bought mine.)

Bianca said...

I love that you put gravy on everything...I tend to do that to. If I don't, I end up dipping everything in the leftover gravy from the potatoes in the end. In fact, I could just eat a whole bowl of gravy by itself...

Anonymous said...

Your Thanksgiving sides feast sounds and looks spectacular! I am sorry you are still healing, but that meal looks like it was worth only eating soft foods for!

I hope you can enjoy your soft tacos without too much pain!

Courtney

Lisa (Show Me Vegan) said...

Your Thanksgiving in May looks delicious! Kudos to Brett for being supportive and creative.

Unknown said...

Hope you feel better soon. Garlic mashed potatoes sound very nice. Lentils and potatoes with lots of paprika always make a good and tasty soup and they have a good protein/carb balance.

Anonymous said...

Thanksgiving-esque foods were a great idea : comfort foods & literally for you, "comfortable" to eat foods! And I checked out your lentil taco recipe, it looks like we might be having tacos tonight!
Hope your able to have some solids soon!

Ruby Red said...

I can't believe I've never thought to add tahini to a sesame sauce - it seems so obvious after reading your recipe! Like Brett, I like sweet, so the sesame ginger sauce sounds really appealing!

I hope your mouth feels better soon! The soft-foods challenge definitely forces you to be creative, but it looks like you and Brett are doing a great job with that - I know how amazing that mushroom gravy is!!!!

J said...

Romina - You are too sweet! Good news though, I CAN EAT SOLID FOODS AGAIN! It's truly amazing how quickly your mouth heals. I still can't have things like super crunch raw veggies (carrots, apples) or tortilla chips, but anything else is game. I'm making veggie sushi to celebrate.

That mushroom sauce is amazing, I really have been disappointed for the most part with Veganomicon's entrees and sides, but this is seriously good.

Veggie Girls - I can and I am so thankful!

The Thanksgiving-ish food WAS a hearty meal, it was nice to be full. I had been hungry pretty much constantly since last Friday.

Oh, the tacos we had last night were ones I've already made, if you look at the post, there is a link you can follow to see the recipe.

Alice - I LOVE bento lunches. Hahaha, you got to be the Queen of Blended Foods during your tooth ordeal!

I am officially back on most solid foods and couldn't be happier.

Ve*gan Chick - I have always been like that too. Turkey is something I've actually never liked - ick. But mashed potoes, corn, stuffing, rolls, etc., count me in!

Chickpea - You are right, it IS a challenge. I am happy to be back on regular food!

Hahaha, Thanksgiving in July!

Leng - I can't tell you how thankful I was that he came up with such a yummy idea!

I am, thanks so much!

Erin - Hahaha! Well, the ones we chose are at least.

It was really nice to be full, I just put WAY too much food on my plate.

Thanks, I do!

Chocolate Covered - You are too sweet!

Wowsa! We were thinking alike! I've never seen a premade sesame ginger sauce at the store or I might have 'cheated' myself. ;-)

Bianca - I'm not shy with the gravy. I know what you mean, in the end, I get really gross about it and just mix the gravy in really well with the potatoes. Mmmmm.....

I feel the same way about gravy!

Courtney - It was wonderful, and with Brett's help it came together in less than 45 minutes!

I WAS able to eat the soft tacos, no problem. I even tried eating crispy cookies last night without any pain. I'm BACK TO NORMAL!! Well, if I was ever normal to begin with.

Lisa - Thanks! I am VERY thankful for Brett, he rocks in so many ways!

Cookiemouse - I do, I have been getting better all week and each day seems to bring exponential improvement.

That soup idea is really good!

Shellyfish - Hehehehe! You are right, it was comfortable to eat.

Aw, I hope you like them. They are quickly becoming a favorite in our house. We've had them about half a dozen times since I first created the recipe.

Ruby Red - I actually thought I was going out on a limb by using it, but when I was creating a recipe it seemed like I needed to find a way to get more sesame flavor in, what better way than tahini? It worked VERY well too.

I swear he's a hummingbird. I left his alone, but made sure to add a healthy dose of cayenne to my plate. :-) Any surprise?

It does feel so much better, thanks. It has been a challenge, I think Brett and I have done well to keep me fed, but am happy to be able to eat what I want again.

That mushroom gravy is one of my favorite things!

Anonymous said...

Yum! I love Thansgiving-y meals, especially when it's not actually Thanksgiving. I know everyone's been saying to feel better soon...but I want you to feel better NOW haha :) Have a good weekend!

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy to hear you can eat solids again!!! Have a fab time making sushi!! (Come over and make me some too, hehe.)

You have been tagged on my blog! =)

Danielle said...

Get well soon! but until then, I hope enjoy your soups :)

Lindsay (Happy Herbivore) said...

feel better!