Gourmet Picnic
Spicy Cold Soba Noodles with Peanut, Scallion, and Cilantro
Radish, Tofu, Shiitake, Carrot, Cucumber, Edamame, Shrimp
Natasha, the 5 Star Foodie & Lazaro of Lazaro Cooks! host the 5 Star Makeover Cooking Group, a fabulous monthly event for “sharing ideas and creating gourmet makeovers of selected classic dishes or flavor combinations.”
The 5 Star Makeover assignment for May is Gourmet Picnic Food, perfect for the Memorial Day holiday. “Take your favorite picnic food for a ride and make something special. Lots of leeway and freedom, you choose the ingredients. Just make sure it is 5 Star.”
My contribution to May’s Picnic is a makeover of the ubiquitous pasta salad. This one is portable, delightfully colorful, bursting with flavor, healthy, and since guests compile the salad themselves can be made vegan (just skip the shrimp).
The buckwheat noodles are made with buckwheat flour and organically grown yams. The noodles are smooth, tender, and firm to the bite. Cook noodles in plenty of water according to package instructions.
Rinse twice and drain well. Toss with some sesame oil and chill in refrigerator.
the ultimate cold pasta sauce
Start with:
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 t. szechwan peppercorns, crushed
- 2 t. minced ginger
- 2 T. seasoned rice wine vinegar
- 1 T. hot chile oil
Then add:
- 4 T. low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 T. toasted sesame oil
- 2 T. tahini
This recipe makes enough sauce for an 8 oz. portion of dried noodles.
Whisk all the ingredients together, set aside. Be sure to use szechwan peppercorns as they give the sauce a zippy, tingly nuance which alongside the hot chile oil makes this is an uber-flavorful cold pasta dressing. Remember to crush the peppercorns but don’t grind them as that will result in a gritty texture. This sauce goes great with linguini and spaghetti as well.
Toss the chilled noodles with the sauce then add chopped peanuts, sliced scallions, and cilantro leaves.
This neat big stainless steel bowl is called a “super chill insulated server.” It keeps the noodles perfectly chilled for eight hours without ice or condensation. The gel-based inner layer freezes like ice and holds its temperature without leaving water rings. It is chilled in the freezer prior to use.
spicy cold soba noodles, peanut, scallion, cilantro
accompaniments
- diced radish
- cubed tofu cutlet
- roasted shiitake with shredded carrot
- sliced cucumber
- chopped peanuts
- boiled shelled edamame
- jumbo shrimp, scallion, black sesame seed, sesame oil
Prep the accompaniments and place in separate containers. To take this meal on the road you need one large plastic container for the noodles and seven small plastic containers. Pack a cooler with some ice packs, serving plates & utensils, soy sauce, chile & sesame oil for drizzling. Once at the picnic site, just pop off the lids and let everyone help themselves to create their own spicy cold soba noodle dish. For a heart-healthy, vegan, vegetarian meal – guests can simply pass on the shrimp.
Thank you to Natasha and Lazaro for including
Taste With The Eyes
in the
5 Star Makeover Cooking Group
Please visit Lazaro Cooks! here for a round-up of fabulous gourmet ideas for your Memorial Day picnic.
Lastly, I would like to take a moment to commemorate the U.S. Men and Women who have died in Military Service defending our Freedom and Liberty and to wish everyone a very Happy Memorial Day weekend.
how lavish and your soba looks and sounds delicious – I like how the top photo makes me wonder whats beyond in that little hint of the distance….
Hi Christo – Ha! Either (1) a wing of our villa, or (2) the neighbors garage?
LL
Absolutely beautiful!
May I please get an invite to this picnic?! Wow. Just lovely, creative, smart, and executed perfectly. Everything your cuisine is.
Two thumbs way up!
Of course Lazaro! Let me know next time you’re on the West Coast! It would be our pelasure!
LL
Looks like you had a beautiful picnic! Such a pretty table setting. And of course, great salad! I like how guests can assemble the salad themselves–that is always fun. 🙂
Hi Marisa – and the concept doesn’t have to be fancy either. It would work just as well in plastci containers at the park!
LL
Looks like a fantastic noodle salad and a beautiful picnic setting! Love the tahini in that pasta sauce for a creamy texture and nutty flavor.
HI Faith – originally I thought of using peanut butter, but the tahini is perfect…
LL
What a beautiful picnic! Your bougainvillea is really blooming.
The soba noodle salad looks tasty. Especially the accoutrements.
Thanks for sharing!
HI Brandon – this is the best year year for my bougainvillas. It is one huge wall!
Thanks for your comment!
LL
Love rice or noodle salads in the summer. Seems you can’t escape mayo-laden potato salad or cole slaw, so something like your soba noodle salad is always a welcomed change. Cheers!
Hi Steve – exactly! I was determined to come up with a mayo-less pasta in case it had to be at room temperature for several hours.
LL
Gorgeous! I absolutely love soba noodles and your sauce and all the accompaniments are just perfect!
Hi Natasha – thank you, I look forward to our cooking group every month! Terrific concept!
LL
Perfect and beautiful picnic food! Those shrimp are just gorgeous, just adore all of the textures and flavors played here 🙂
Thanks MofS – thank you, it does look really pretty, but it is also a practical picnic food! The shirmp were a hit…
LL
I just knew you’d drum up something over the top fabulous! I love it all. The setting, the noodles, the flowers. Great minds think alike. I’d picnic with you anytime! 😉
HI Bren – thank you! We are both definitely fond of flowers! Your dish with edible flowers was truly gorgeous…
LL
Pasta salad in your hands is a marvel. But as usual the table you create elevates this picnic to new heights. GREG
You’re too kind Greg!
LL
The rosese are beautiful! I wish I could be there to smell them.
Hi Emily – all the roses are from my garden which included passionate kisses, queen elizabeth, and tournament of roses!
Thank you for your comment!
LL
Oh my goodness, talk about gourmet!! YUM! Everything looks exquisite. Wow… great job, as always!
Hi Kate – you are so nice. It really tasted great, and was easy too!
LL
now that is what I call one elegant picnic. the flowers, the food, the settings – just dreamy
Hi Linda – thank you, and it wasn’t too fussy, just pretty! And a simple menu too.
LL
Love that you are using a cold soba dish for the picnic! Soba is my favorite type of noodles. Healthy, tasty, and has the most gorgeous color. I would be so happy at your picnic table! And I really love that second photo you took of the soba. Great job!!
HI Jessica – thanks for commenting on that noodle shot 🙂 I liked it too!
This was really a fun theme, no?
LL
I love the picnic makeover items. This soba salad looks super delish. I love the topping bar idea too. Awesome job and beautiful set up!
HI Lindsey – the jumbo shrimp added another dimension to the otherwise vegan pasta, satisfying all my friends!
LL
What a beautiiful dish and a beautiful picnic setting. I would love to sit down to a bowl of cold spicy soba salad. Nice job!
HI Megan – I sure hope you give it a try! Thanks for your nice comment!
LL
Have a safe and tasty weekend!!!!It looks like you are off to a great start!
Hi Val – it’s been quite a weekend, with a last minute trip to Vegas! And oh yea, it’s been tasty. We love Vegas restaurants!
LL
I think I’d be happy if you were serving PB&J served on such a beautiful table. What a welcoming setting,LL! Love your “create your own” approach this salad. 🙂
HI Debi – we were lucky to get the blooming bougainvilla, the weather, the late afternoon sun for our picnic. It was lovely, and the pasta a big hit…
LL
I never would have thought of buckwheat noodles (such as mul nang myun) as 5 star gourmet food, but you pulled it off! 🙂
Hi Tammy – is gourmet a stretch? Maybe elegant? Definitely a winner! Thanks for all your comments 🙂
LL
Gorgeous and the perfect example of ‘taste with the eyes’. I appreciate the do-it-yourself aspect which is not only visually appealing but very considerate of guests’ varying tastes. And that chill bowl is so cool.
Hi Joan – thank you, I bet you’d get plenty use out of the chill bowl in Florida!
LL
OMG- I’m drooling over your blog. What an elegant picnic! Love the cold soba and the sauce you shared with us. Although I’m not a big fan of szchuan peppercorns (cause it’s kinda numb my mouth) but I will it a second chance! the accompaniments are gorgeous!
Thank you Tanantha! You can leave out the peppercorns if they are not to your liking – I bet you will enjoy it still, the chile oil and tahini make it so unique and flavorful, can’t miss!
LL
You have combined decorating and food (my two fave things). You make me want to come for dinner every night. Outstanding entry for our picnic. So gorgeous!
Hi Angela – it would be my pleasure to have you over, we have the same passions!
LL
What gorgeous photos! I’m going to try your recipe out for a pot luck party I’m going to next weekend!!!
YAY Anita – Please tell me how it goes over at your pot luck! Will you be posting on your blog?
LL
Your table looks absolutely stunning! Seriously like a magazine spread. And the pasta salad looks so refreshing for a hot summer day. Love it.
Hi Trix – thank you, this pasta salad is a summertime hit! Buckwheat noodles are great, but I’ve made it with linguini with equally satisfying results. I hope you try it!
LL
What a lush setting and, as always, your table top is stunning – creating a magical and elegant picnic! Fantastic makeover of pasta salad – love the flavors in the dressing and the beautiful colors and textures of the accompaniments!
Hi Priscilla – thank you so much, we are fortunate to have that beautiful bougainvilla blooming like crazy!
LL
This went to my heart… or my stomach… or my eyes. Writing the ingredients. It will get made – not as elegantly perhaps but as deliciously.
This picnic looks impressive and I would love to make your dish! What wines did you pair with it?
Hi Bella – Billecart-Salmon Rose for starters!
I think any nice dry rosé would be a great summery match.
LL
I love the idea of serving this salad with all of the topping options – genius!
That is a heavenly table for sure. What a great idea to have all the toppings in that amazing dish so that people can take what they like. All the flavors remain fresh and separate. A picnic fit for a king, if you ask me. Beautiful job!
Now that is one beautiful picnic spread! I love soba noodles and will definitely have to get some szechuan peppercorns so that I can try the dressing out – it sounds like the kind of food I could eat all day…
what a beautiful picnic table! that cold soba noodle dish is uniquely interesting!