SOBA NOODLES WITH SHIITAKES, BROCCOLI AND TOFU

Soba Noodles With Shiitakes, Broccoli and Tofu image

Soba noodles are Japanese, not Chinese, but I love using them in Chinese stir-fries. They have a wonderful nutty flavor, and buckwheat has a lot going for it nutritionally - it is a good source of manganese, copper and magnesium, and it is also high in phytonutrients. To make a quick vegetable stock, simmer the shiitake mushroom stalks in a small amount of water for about 20 minutes.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Time 20m

Yield Serves 4 to 6

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock
1 tablespoon rice wine or dry sherry
1 tablespoon soy sauce (more to taste)
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or 1 to 2 serrano or Thai chiles, minced
8 ounces soba noodles
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/2 pound baby broccoli
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil or canola oil
1/2 pound tofu, cut in dominoes or small dice
6 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed (discard stems or use for stock), caps sliced
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced, dark green parts separated
1/2 cup coarsely chopped cilantro

Steps:

Combine stock, soy sauce, rice wine or sherry, sugar and salt to taste in a small bowl. Stir until sugar and salt dissolve. Combine garlic, ginger, and pepper flakes or minced chile in another bowl.
Bring a large saucepan or pot of water to a boil, add salt to taste and baby broccoli. As soon as water comes back to a boil (about 1 minute), use a skimmer to remove broccoli and transfer it to a bowl of cold water. Drain in a colander, then on paper towels. Cut stems away from florets and slice about 1/2 inch thick. Bring water back to a boil and cook soba. Drain and toss with 2 teaspoons sesame oil.
Place all ingredients within reach of your wok. Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a second or two when added. Swirl in 1 tablespoon of the oil and add tofu. Stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes, until it begins to color, and remove to a plate. Add remaining oil and garlic, ginger and chile. Stir-fry for no more than 10 seconds and add mushrooms. Stir-fry for 1 minute and add broccoli and the light parts of the scallions. Stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes. Add the noodles, tofu and the stock mixture. Reduce heat to medium and stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes. Add cilantro and the dark green part of the scallions, stir-fry another 30 seconds to a minute, until well combined, and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 252, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 37 grams, Fat 8 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 11 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 498 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams