Thursday, May 21, 2009

hot day, cold dinner


We're eating dinner outside again! We've had two days in a row of nearly 90 degrees! Phew! Because it's still May, the evening air cools down quickly. It's wonderful to have a breezy meal at the picnic table, rather than in a hot kitchen. Sometimes I'll prepare dinner in the morning, so that I'm not stuck at the stove at 5pm. This is the same salad I served to my printing class for lunch on the barn deck. A one bowl meal my entire family is excited about! I've been making variations of it since I managed a vegan restaurant in Marin County (California) 17 years ago. Did I just say 17? Is that possible!? Well, I guess I can honestly tell you that it's tried and true!

Cold Miso Noodles with Asparagus
Ingredients
  • soba (buckwheat) or udon noodles
  • favorite vegetable in season (tonight we had asparagus from a farm down the road)
  • cubes of baked tofu
  • carrot matchsticks
  • mung bean sprouts
  • chopped green onions (or chives)
  • miso cream sauce- recipe follows
Make
  • Prepare noodles according to package directions. Add fave vegetable in the last minute of boiling to blanch it. Drain and run under cold water to prevent overcooking.
  • Add all other ingredients and pour on miso cream to taste.
Miso Cream Sauce
Blend on high speed:
  • 4 heaping tablespoons white miso
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons rice vingar
  • zest of fresh ginger and a clove of garlic
  • 1 1/2 cups water
any leftover sauce can be diluted with a little more vinegar and used to dress salad greens.

I'll be back on Tuesday (Monday is Memorial day in the states)... hope your weekend is all that you want and need it to be!

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24 comments:

  1. This looks and sounds delicious. I will definitely give it a go. A manager of a vegan restaurant , very cool and just goes to show there is so much we still don't know about each other.
    Have a super long weekend. It looks like you guys lucked out with the weather. Our long weekend was the last one when it was almost snowing .

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  2. That looks wonderful! Thanks for sharing the recipe. And the red tablecloth looks beautiful - perfect for an outdoor dinner.

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  3. What a beautiful picture. I've never had miso, but should give it a try. Your meal looks delicious.

    I also adore your sewing machine. What a dream find.

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  4. mmm, that dish looks divine, and eating outdoors is the best! Just curious..where in Marin (I'm from there), from vegan restaurant, I'm guessing Fairfax? happy weekend!

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  5. Amber, the restaurant was called Garden of Eatin' (affiliated with the organic chip company) and was located in Larkspur. It was open in the early 90's. I loved Fairfax when I lived in Marin... vague but happy memories of seeing Zero play in some little park there.

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  6. The farmers' market is this afternoon--we are definitely having this for tomorrow's lunch!

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  7. yum! i always mean to make more cold noodle-y salads for dinner, and making it in the morning is a great idea! i'll have to try this; the sauce sounds divine...

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  8. yummm, this is SO on my list for dinner next week. Thanks for sharing it!

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  9. Lovely - I am sooo adding this to the summer din-din rotation...especially as most of the ingredients are floating around the kitchen anyhow. Amazing - that never happens. Thank you!

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  10. This looks delicious!! Thank you for sharing a recipe that stands the test of time :)

    Happy Memorial Day weekend Maya!!

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  11. Thanks for sharing the recipe! I can attest that it is one of those meals that is light but also satisfying, and very easy on the tummy.

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  12. Mmmmmmmmm, lovely twist on the Japanesey! XXxx

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  13. Oooh YUM.

    Have a gorgeous weekend Maya. It's cold & dark here.

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  14. YUM...these have always been my favorite....I remember you making these when I was little!!

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  15. It's so pretty with the chive flowers in it.

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  16. Ana- you remember them! You were 13! love you!
    xox

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  17. I found you in the Artful Bloggers Mag. this weekend. Way to go!!!
    Marin huh? Not far from me now.

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  18. yummy! cooking is the last thing i want to do when it's 90+ outside; soba noodles are very tasty cold though. i'll have to give this recipe a go. your lavender sachet is very easy on the eyes, the blue with the natural linen looks striking and goes along beautifully with the bee print.

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  21. Thanks again for posting this recipe! I made it last night. Delicious and perfect for a warm summer day, ahhh. So, I've never commented on your crafty posts but I love reading your blog and look forward to your updates.

    Thanks for sharing!

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  22. This sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing it and I'm super jealous of your warm weather!

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  23. Just made a variation of this sauce last night. The only difference is a little toasted sesame oil and a little less water. Yummm!

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