Summer

Soba Noodles with Cedar-Planked Salmon

by:
July 12, 2017
4
9 Ratings
Soba Noodles with Cedar-Planked Salmon
Photo by Alexandra Stafford
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

A simple summer meal: grilled fish, chilled noodles, cool cucumbers. Here the salmon marinade doubles as the dressing for the noodles.

Notes:

Recipe halves well. You will likely have leftover dressing. Store it in the fridge.

Ginger: I like to mince my ginger in the food processor—mincing ginger with a knife isn't my favorite. I quickly rinse out the food processor afterwards, and it feels like no big deal.

I buy farmed raised salmon from a local seafood shop called Hooked (Latham, NY). It's from the Faroe Islands, and from what I can tell online, it seems to be a pretty pristine operation. I know farmed salmon can be atrocious in terms of feed and environmental damage, but I don't believe this to be the case with this farmed salmon. Wild is probably best if you can get it.

Soba: I buy soba noodles that are a mix of wheat and buckwheat. If you are looking for gluten-free soba noodles, be sure the package says so. Also, my mother has been making these with fresh udon noodles, which are completely delicious if you can find them — they're so chewy, and they hold up really well in the fridge.

I like to break the salmon into pieces to stretch the servings, but you could certainly serve the salmon aside the noodles. You also could break some salmon atop each plated bowl of noodles. —Alexandra Stafford

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 cedar plank, soaked in cold water for 1 hour or longer
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup mirin
  • 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
  • 3 tablespoons finely minced ginger
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • pinch crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 5-oz filets wild salmon, see notes above
  • 6 ounces soba or udon noodles
  • 1 English cucumber, thinly sliced, a mandoline or spiralizer is nice here
  • 6 scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
Directions
  1. Fill a medium pot with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Preheat a grill to high. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl or liquid measure, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, mirin, sesame oil, ginger, sugar, and crushed red pepper flakes. Place the salmon in a small dish or ziplock bag. Pour a quarter cup (or more) of the marinade/dressing over the salmon so it is coated — it doesn’t have to be submerged. Chill for 20 minutes.
  2. Cook the noodles according to package instruction (see notes above). Drain, rinse under cold water, then plunge into a bowl of cold water and swish the noodles around with your fingers. Drain. See this post: https://food52.com/blog/10282-how-to-cook-soba-noodles
  3. Place salmon on cedar plank, leaving excess marinade behind. Place plank on grill grates. Grill 5 minutes. Remove plank, transfer salmon to a plate, and let rest for 5 minutes.
  4. Place drained noodles in a large bowl. Add cucumber, scallions, and sesame seeds. Pour over some of the dressing. Toss gently to coat. Taste. Add more dressing as needed. Adjust taste with a pinch of salt, more crushed red pepper flakes, or more vinegar (or a squeeze of lime, if you have it) to taste.
  5. When salmon has cooled, break it into pieces over the noodles, leaving the skin behind if you wish. Toss gently. Serve immediately. (Alternatively, serve the salmon aside the noodles.)
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See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Liz Conran
    Liz Conran
  • deanna1001
    deanna1001
  • Alexandra Stafford
    Alexandra Stafford
  • Michele
    Michele
Alexandra Stafford
I write the blog alexandra's kitchen, a place for mostly simple, sometimes fussy, and always seasonal recipes. My cookbook, Bread Toast Crumbs is available everywhere books are sold.

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6 Reviews

Michele
Michele July 20, 2017
I made this last night and it was beyond delicious!!! Not only is this a keeper but will part of my regular summer menu. On a 90 degree evening it was the perfect meal with so little effort and great results. The addition of the cucumber was such a refreshing taste and the dressing is perfect. I didn't marinate the salmon properly (time issues!) but used a splash of mirin, soy and rice vinegar instead and it worked well. Thank you for this great recipe!!
 
Alexandra S.
Alexandra S. July 20, 2017
So happy to hear this, Michele!
 
Liz C.
Liz C. July 18, 2017
This is definitely a keeper! Delicious on a hot summer's evening and can be prepared well in advance.
 
Alexandra S.
Alexandra S. July 18, 2017
So happy to hear this, Liz!
 
deanna1001
deanna1001 July 17, 2017
This looks fantastic! I'm thinking I might also use zucchini noodles along with the soba and cucumber because why not? I have a lot from my CSA. And I have successfully cooked salmon on a cedar plank in my broiler - just have to watch it. And it's critical to presoak the plank. Water is fine but I like to use either beer, wine or (in the fall) apple cider for soaking. I generally soak them for at least an hour. Thanks for the great idea.
 
Alexandra S.
Alexandra S. July 18, 2017
Oooh, such a great tip! (re broiler!) AND I've never thought to soak the planks in anything but water — I'm definitely going to have to try other liquids. Hope you are well!