A quick and very easy sesame soba recipe featuring fresh mint, raw almonds, and protein-packed edamame with a hint of smokiness, crisp lemon, and pepper. Adapted from the cookbook Near & Far.
Hey there. It's Katie. I know it's been a long time since I've made an appearance over here but things have been straight-up crazy busy 'round these parts. When people exasperatedly drone on about how busy they are and how stressful their lives are, my heart secretly smiles inside knowing that I don't have or want a life like that. Who truly does?! It's seems as if being busy is an honor badge that showcases how demonstrably important you are and that infact, yes, your life is very important indeed.
If it was not so important as it obviously is, then I'd have any time to read, or relax, or cook, or go for walks. Did you hear? I'm so busy I don't even have time to read. Reading is such a luxury. You're so lucky, I can't even pick up a book what with everything that I have to be doing. My life is very important, indeed. People depend on me, the world depends on me. The bags under my eyes are my proof. Pity me.
That's not me. I freaking enjoy leisure and revel in its nothingness. I would rather be doing nothing than something. I'd rather be home, on a slow walk, curled up reading, or baking, or cooking. I actively seek out ways to reduce my stress level and try not to feel bad about doing what most people consider "nothing". Society encourages always doing something. The more somethings you can fit into one day, the better. You are American and if you aren't stressed to the gills with a full daybook, your life is worthless.
Unfortunately, my life has been stressful lately. And very busy. It's exciting stuff and Todd and I are exceptionally grateful for our good fortune...but between you and me? I hate it. If one more bastardly little "agenda" or "event" sneaks it's way onto my calendar (yes I have one of those now) and imprints itself to it, unremovable as much as I try to scrub it away...I'll lose it. So, for now, I'm trying to keep everything corralled and under control. I think I'm doing a pretty good job as a Stress Cowgirl. Besides the occasional rant. Thank you, for allowing my rant. I am now done.
Okay, now that you have heard my excellent excuse for abandoning you (I also left the state for awhile) it's time for a cookbook review. Huzzah! I've also included a super quick and easy recipe (because, you know) that I've adapted from said cookbook, Near & Far by Heidi Swanson.
Because I received a black and white, paperback, advance uncorrected proof to review I cannot qualify the appearance or feel of the book. I can tell you that this vegetarian cookbook is filled with recipes inspired by Heidi's travels all across the world. Inspired by various cultures and cuisine, her recipes transport the home chef and invite you to join her in her worldly adventures. If only we could be so lucky to actually accompany her! This is the next best thing.
I found her recipes to be surprisingly simple (which was appreciated) and inspired by whole-foods. This got me excited. However, after flipping through the book I found many recipes to be a little too fluffy for my more utilitarian flair regarding recipes. I am, if nothing else, all things practical when it comes down to it.
Take the recipe Lucques in Grapefruit Juice. Olives soaked in grapefruit juice is just something I would never consider bothering to make. I'll just take those olives straight from the jar! Wine-Washed Arugula begs to be a "recipe", with no actual measurements to be found at all! Arugula, wine, and olive oil. I confess this is not a recipe I would be super pleased to discover in cookbook worth $30. The recipe for Miso Oat Porridge is a recipe for plain oats with 1-3 tbsp of miso paste mixed in...no joke. I wish some of the recipes were a bit a bit more fleshed out, more well-rounded.
Am I being nit-picky? Perhaps I was so excited for this book and so eagerly anticipated its recipes that I decidedly set myself up for disappointment...but I suspect not. Many of the recipes included ingredients I'd never heard of or are unavailable to me in Alaska. Yet, this was to be expected. Bottom-line: this book didn't thrill me as I dreamed it would.
Use this mixed review as you will, but for me, I foresee that this cookbook won't make an appearance too often in my kitchen. However, the recipe below is quite good. It was actually for a spread, which I turned into a noodle dish per Heidi's recommendation to pair it with soba noodles (I realize this doesn't make a lot of sense). I doubled the garlic and added my own amount of lemon juice. I also included liquid smoke. Who just has smoked almonds lying around anyway? I thought sesame seeds would make a lovely garnish as well. It was the perfect meal to use up all of my fresh mint on the porch before the frost claimed it.
Learn more about Heidi and pre-order Near & Far, available September 15th.
Edamame & Mint Sesame Soba Noodles
A quick and very easy sesame soba recipe featuring fresh mint, raw almonds, and protein-packed edamame with a hint of smokiness, crisp lemon, and pepper. Adapted from the cookbook Near & Far.
Yield: 4
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups shelled edamame
- ½ cup raw almonds
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves, lightly packed
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 large garlic cloves
- juice from ½ lemon
- splash of liquid smoke, to taste
- dash of kosher salt
- dash of fresh ground black pepper
- 9 oz soba noodles, dry
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- sprinkling of sesame seeds, for garnish
Cooking Directions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil for the soba noodles.
- In a food processor, combine the edamame through the black pepper. Pulse until the pieces are no bigger than a pencil eraser. Transfer half of the mixture into a large serving bowl. Pulse the remaining mixture about 6 more times. Add to this mixture to serving bowl as well.
- Boil the noodles for 3 minutes. Reserve ¼ cup of the cooking liquid and add to the serving bowl along with the drained noodles and the sesame oil.
- Toss well to combine and garnish with sesame seeds.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
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