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This Cold Sesame Ginger Soba Noodle Salad with Shrimp is packed-full of veggies and protein to make a delicious and satisfying meal. It’s perfect for BBQs, picnics of even lunch on the run! It’s also gluten-free!
You know what drives me bonkers?! False advertising. I get the concept of needing to sell a product, but marketing your jelly beans as fat-free isn’t cool. You know what turns into fat? Sugar. You know what the main ingredient in jelly beans is? Sugar. I apologize in advance for this post becoming a full-on rant.
Let’s rewind for a minute here. It’s a beautiful day and I decide to get my grocery shop on. I put together my list, grab my bundle buggy and head to the store. Sometimes I get inspired when I’m there and as I was looking for tamari, my eyes glazed over a pack of soba noodles. Hmmmm cold soba noodle salad sounded good so I made an impulse buy and headed home.
When I got home from the store it was lunchtime so I decided to put together the salad. As I was pulling out all of the ingredients I think I want to use for the salad, I glanced across the soba noodle packaging only to notice that the first ingredient in them was enriched wheat flour <–SAY WHAT? I was livid. Not only was I a) hangry and b) experiencing an intense craving which needed to be fulfilled immediately, but I truly felt deceived. The front of the package says “Buckwheat Soba Noodles” so naturally you would expect them to be made from buckwheat? Okay fine buckwheat was the second and only other ingredient but still…
Instead I had to put aside my craving until I could make it to a health food store to pick up some legit buckwheat noodles. The people at Vibrant Lifestyle (I love it there!) were not only nice enough to listen to my rant but also taught me to always look for 100% buckwheat noodles. Nonetheless, I still have some pent up anger.
Other types of false advertising that drives me nuts: When multigrain is just a combo of white and whole-wheat, “made with corn!” aka high-fructose corn syrup, or when companies fool consumers into thinking their product is healthy because it is labeled as gluten-free. I could go on and on but in my attempts to keep this space a positive place, I’ll stop. For now, I urge you to read more into the products you buy. I’m not talking calories, but look at the ingredients! And try not to come home with enriched wheat flour soba noodles…
Cold Sesame Ginger Soba Noodle Salad with Shrimp
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 package of 100% buckwheat soba noodles (8 oz)
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 2 cups bean sprouts
- ½ pound cooked shrimp, deveined and peeled
For The Sesame Ginger Dressing:
- 1 T finely minced ginger root
- 1 T sesame oil
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 1/2 T honey
- 2 T rice wine vinegar
- 2 T tamari
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 T sesame seeds (for topping)
Instructions
- Cook buckwheat noodles according to package instructions.
- Run noodles under cold water until completely cool.
- In a large bowl add noodles, bell pepper, bean sprouts and shrimp.
- In a separate bowl combine all ingredients for the sesame ginger dressing.
- Pour onto noodle mixture and top with sesame seeds.
- Serve cold.
- Will keep for several days in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
Oh – what a huge bummer about the noodles the first time through!
I’m glad you were able to get buckwheat noodles and share your recipe still!!!
I don’t read labels much – I know it’s not normal but….
So, I haven’t ever had buckwheat noodles before – do they taste/feel like spaghetti> Only reason am asking is cos spaghetti has me ranting about worms…nasty right? But, I will tell you what’s not nasty – this flavor combo with shrimp, bean sprouts and peppers – married with that ginger dressing – gawsh – hold the fork, I think I will dive right in!!!
Amen, sister. False advertising drives me absolutely bananas. It’s so unfair to the less educated consumer who is **trying** to be healthy, picks something up that says “fat-free” or “healthy” or “whole grain” or whatever, and is actually eating crap. Your recipe, of course, looks delicious! I tried kelp noodles tonight in a seafood dish … eh, they were ok, but I think I’ll go for soba next time!
I feel like EVERYTHING in magazines is false advertising… I actually cancelled every single one of my 7 subscriptions b/c I just got so fed up with it finally.
that is so wrong of them to market enriched wheat for soba noodles. I have to try these though- I’ve seen them in several places but always forget to look for them at TJs.
BOOOO for false advertising. Like when chips are “made with real vegetables,” but it’s some over-processed powder crap. I still eat the stuff, but that ain’t my veg.
Rant received and reciprocated! I hate “false” advertising too! If you don’t educate yourself, you have no chance. Same goes with beauty ads that feature photoshopped, flawless models. No, your lotion will not make me look like Jessica or whoever the hot celeb is at the moment. I’m not Jessica, I’m Emily!
Ahhhh yes, I have learned the hard way to always read the label. Being dairy free I have to, it’s ridiculous what has milk in it that you wouldn’t think does. The last time I slacked on reading a label I bought a peanut sauce with ANCHOVIES IN IT! BLECH. Lesson learned, labels always get ripped apart. I would like a fat bowl of this amazing looking salad, dear Lord.
I’ve been craving Asian inspired dishes for the past week…need to make something with sesame seeds & sesame oil ASAP!
On a note related to annoying food advertising, I listened to an interview with Michael Pollan the other day and he was saying how sneaky smart the food industry is. Because awhile back after he publicly shamed high fructose corn syrup, food producers listened up and started making products loaded with sugar, with their labels proudly exclaiming “NO HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP!” as if it was healthy just because it’s lacking one crappy ingredient.
And that’s why I never buy soba noodles- the less expensive ones ALWAYS have wheat! UGH. I honestly think the best thing I got out of being vegan for so long is that I always read labels now and know exactly what’s in everything I eat. Saves me from nasty surprises most of the time. So sorry you got duped!!
But on the upside, the final dish you made look spectacular!!