Take Two Tuesday: Soba Noodle Salad + Seared Ahi Tuna

My original Soba Noodle Salad post was a hit and I thought it'd be perfect to remake it as a Take Two Tuesday treat. If you haven't tried soba noodles before, I encourage you to give it a taste because it is absolutely delicious (+ buckwheat is pretty good for you). You get a sense of eating pasta, but with some Asian flavors and you (or at least I) don't feel as guilty eating it. I added in some fresh seared Ahi Tuna because...well because you can't go wrong with adding seared Ahi Tuna to any savory dish (just think that statement is true, okay?). Make this at your next dinner party to impress your guests or meal prep it for your lunch during the week...it's a perfect dish to make ahead and preferred to be served cold!

Soba Noodle Salad with Seared Ahi Tuna

Time: 30 Minutes / Serving Size: 4-6

Ingredients:

• 1/4 Cup Sesame Oil
• 1 Tbsp Ponzu Sauce
• 1 1/2 Tbsp Garlic Chili Sauce
• 2 1/2 Tbsp Low Sodium Soy Sauce
• 1 Garlic Clove
• 1 Lime, Juice and Zest
• 1 Package of Soba Noodles
• 1/2 English Cucumber
• 1 Medium Carrot, Peeled
• 3 Green Onion Stalks
• 2 Tbsp Cilantro
• 1 Cup Peanuts, Shelled
• 1 Tbsp White Sesame Seeds
• 1 Tbsp Black Sesame Seeds
• 4-6 3 Oz. Pieces of Fresh Ahi Tuna
• Peanut Oil (or Olive Oil)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic Powder

Directions:

Fill a large pot with water and place on stove over high heat. Cover and let come to a boil.

While the water comes to a boil, start on the dressing. In a measuring cup, add the sesame oil, ponzu sauce, garlic chili sauce and soy sauce.

Mince the garlic and add to measuring cup.

Zest and juice the lime into the measuring cup.

Place the dressing in the fridge until needed later.

Once the water has come to a boil, place soba noodles into pot. Cook for the duration stated on the package (usually about 5 minutes).

Once done cooking, immediately drain and rinse with cold water. Transfer to large bowl.

Grate the cucumber and place in strainer (or paper towel) over a bowl to get all the liquid out.

Grate the carrot and add to bowl with noodles. Squeeze out any extra liquid from the cucumber and add to bowl.

Thinly slice the green onions and add to bowl.

Roughly chop the cilantro and add to bowl.

In a dry pan over medium heat, place the peanuts and lightly toast. Once done, add to bowl.

Add the white and black sesame seeds to bowl.

Take dressing out of fridge and pour on to noodle mixture. Mix until well incorporated.

Season the Ahi Tuna with salt, pepper and garlic powder on all sides. 

Heat peanut oil (or olive oil or sesame oil) in a pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, place Ahi Tuna and cook on each side for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes, just until rare.

Once done, cut the tuna on a diagonal and serve on top of soba noodle salad. Sprinkle with white and black sesame seeds. Serve!