Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon low-sodium black bean sauce
  • 1 tablespoon gluten-free tamari
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 lb firm tofu, rinsed and well drained, cut into 21/2-inch x 41/2-inch strips
  • 6 quarts water
  • 8 ounces dry soba noodles (buckwheat)
  • 2 cups arugula, rinsed and well drained
  • 1 cup green onion, trimmed
  • 1 cup red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
  • 2 tablespoons black bean sauce, low sodium
  • 3 tablespoons white sesame seeds (mixed) or 3 tablespoons black sesame seeds (mixed)
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 14 cup rice wine
  • 2 tablespoons tamari

Method

  • For the Marinade, mix all ingredients together in a shallow glass baking dish.
  • Place tofu strips in marinade ensuring they are well covered.
  • Refrigerate.
  • For the tofu, in a large saucepan bring 6 quarts water to a rolling boil.
  • Cook soba noodles al dente, and rinse and drain.
  • Remove tofu from marinade and reserve the marinade to add to the soba noodles.
  • Add argula, green onions, red pepper and black bean sauce to soba noodles.
  • Spread sesame seeds on a flat platter or cutting board.
  • Rol tofu slices in the sesame seeds.
  • In a nonstick pan, add 1 teaspoon roasted sesame oil and fry or grill tofu slices until sesame seeds turn golden brown.
  • Remove from pan.
  • In a small bowl combine rice win, 1 teaspoon roasted sesame oil and tamari.
  • Whisk until well blended and turn into pan.
  • Warm gently.
  • When heated through add soba noodles.
  • Toss wel.
  • Divide noodles among four dinner plates.
  • Divide tofu amount the four plates, arranging neatly beside soba noodles.