Cold Sesame Noodle Salad

This recipe was in my inbox one morning, and it's become one of my favorite dishes. It's supposed to be a side dish, but it's very good for indulging late at night on your own when you feel like a midnight nosh.

Steps

Toast the sesame seeds in a small skillet over medium-high heat until lightly browned , about 2 1 / 2 minutes.

Set 1 tablespoon seeds aside.

Place the remaining seeds in the jar of a blender.

Add the oil and process on low speed for 10 seconds.

Scrape down the sides of the blender and process for another 10 seconds.

Add the soy sauce , mirin , and vinegar and process to combine , about 5 seconds.

Set the dressing aside.

Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in a medium pot.

Add the salt and soba noodles and boil until al dente , about 4 minutes.

Drain the noodles in a colander and return them to the cooking pot.

Add cold water to the pot , swishing the noodles around to wash away the starch.

Drain well.

Transfer the noodles to a large mixing bowl and toss with the dressing.

Let stand 5 minutes.

Add the radishes , scallions , sprouts , and reserved tablespoon sesame seeds and toss to combine.

Serve immediately.

Ingredients

sesame seeds, vegetable oil, soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, salt, soba noodles, radishes, scallions, bean sprouts