Soba Noodles Recipe With Seared Scallops

Ingredients

• Ice
• 4 ounces buckwheat soba noodles
• 4 ounces mugwort soba noodles (or an extra 4 ounces of buckwheat soba noodles)
• 1 tablespoon plus ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 12 large scallops
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons canola oil
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup fresh lime juice (from 4 to 5 limes)
• 1 scallion, light green and white parts only, thinly sliced on a bias
• 2 small carrots, peeled and thinly sliced into matchsticks
• ¼ cup store-bought pickled ginger

Optional Ingredients

• ¼ cup pickled red onions (optional)
• 2 teaspoons hot mustard (optional)
• 2 teaspoons wasabi paste (optional)

Directions

1. Fill a large bowl with ice and cold water and set aside. In a large pot of boiling water set over high heat, add the buckwheat noodles, mugwort noodles and 1 tablespoon of the salt and cook according to the package instructions until tender. Drain the noodles in a colander, then turn the noodles out into the ice water to chill. Once chilled, drain the noodles in a colander, dry the bowl and return them to the dried bowl.
2. Set the scallops on a layer of paper towels and use another paper towel to blot the scallops' tops dry. With a sharp paring knife, score the scallops with 2 crosshatch marks, making a ¼-inch-deep cut with each scoring. Season the tops of the scallops with the remaining ½ teaspoon of salt and the pepper. Heat a large skillet over high heat for 2 minutes. Add the oil and the scallops, crosshatch side down. Cook the scallops without moving until browned, about 2 minutes. Use a fish spatula to turn the scallops over, and brown on the other side until the scallops slightly resist semi-firm pressure, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce and lime juice. Pour the dressing over the noodles and use tongs to toss to combine. Divide the noodles among 4 bowls. Top each bowl with 3 scallops, then place the condiments around the edge of the bowl in small mounds in this order: scallions, carrots, pickled onions (if using), pickled ginger, hot mustard (if using) and wasabi (if using). Serve. Calories per Serving: 280; Sodium: 2,100mg; Total Carbohydrate: 45g; Fiber: 4g; Fat: 3.5g