Emily Weeks, RDN, LD
Perfect for a take-to-work lunch, these sweet chili soba noodles are protein and fiber packed. Prep all the ingredients ahead of time and keep the noodles, veggies, and sauce separate in your fridge. Toss together in a small tupperware and pack for lunch!
I’m always looking for new lunch ideas for me and Nick. Every week when I’m making our grocery list, we choose something both of us want to eat for lunch and I make a giant batch– enough for ten lunches! It needs to be tasty enough to last us through the week without getting sick of it. Our usual go-to is a minestrone soup, tomato soup, crockpot BBQ chicken, or a big salad.
These sweet chili soba noodles are a HUGE hit with us– I first made this dish probably a month or so ago. Nick loves it. He actually uses ramen noodles instead of soba (he discards the seasoning packet). I love ramen noodles, but wanted something for myself with a little more fiber and protein (I’ll get him to try soba noodles eventually…). Soba is the Japanese name for buckwheat. The word “soba” refers to a thin noodle made from buckwheat flour. Per cup, it contains 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber. Buckwheat is rich in the amino acid lysine, and has an amino acid score of 100, which is a very high score for a plant food, according to the Whole Grain Council. These noodles, used in both hot and cold dishes, look like spaghetti but have a nuttier flavor. I think they taste much better than regular whole wheat pasta.
I made a huge batch of the sauce, and keep it in a glass jar in the fridge all week. I also chop up the broccoli and store it in a plastic bag. Trader Joe’s sells a whole pound of shelled edamame for $1.79, so I always load up! Edamame has 4 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein in just half a cup.
This dish is very easy to prepare ahead of time– just keep all of the ingredients separate in your fridge so you can assemble it quickly before you leave for work in the morning. Make your coworkers jealous by making the break room smell amazing. It would make an awesome quick weeknight dinner as well!
Here’s the recipe for Sweet Chili Soba Noodles:
Sweet Chili Soba Noodles
Perfect for a take-to-work lunch, these sweet chili soba noodles are protein and fiber packed. Prep all the ingredients ahead of time and keep the noodles, veggies, and sauce separate in your fridge. Toss together in a small tupperware and pack for lunch!
Ingredients
- 1.5 tso minced garlic
- 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1/2 tsp Sriracha
- 1 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- juice from 1/2 small lemon
- 1 pkg (12oz) soba noodles
- 2 heads broccoli, steamed and chopped into florets
- 1 1/2 cups shelled edamame
Instructions
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Whisk together the garlic, sweet chili sauce, vinegar, sriracha, soy sauce and lemon juice in a small bowl.
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Cook the soba noodles according to package instructions.
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Toss the noodles with the sauce, broccoli and edamame.
Recipe Notes
To store for lunches, keep the veggies, sauce and noodles separate and combine at lunchtime.
This sounds really good! I like make big dinners so that we can use leftovers for lunches. It works out well so that we don’t have it too often. Thanks for sharing!
Leftovers are the best!
I am always looking for quick lunches to pack for work! This looks yummy :)
Let me know if you try it!
I think I’ll make this for me and my 23-year-old daughter – it’s right up her alley. :)
let me know what you think if you try it!
Mmmm yum yum yum!! Fantastic quick asian dish!
Looks delish! How do you make your sweet chili sauce?
I use the pre-made Mae Ploy sweet chili sauce! It’s so good!
Love soba noodles and usually use them to make my peanut soba noodle dish, but can’t wait to try something new. Your sauce sounds fantastic!
Oo I’m going to try them with peanut sauce next!
Yum! I love a big batch lunch idea – and I love that sweet chili sauce :)
Big batch is definitely the way to go!
Hi Emily! I’m a fellow RD, and I just found your blog and have bookmarked a few recipes, including this one. Love your food philosophy and positive attitude. Keep it up!
Kate
Thank you Kate, let me know if you try any of them out! :)