Soba With Grilled Asparagus And Sea Scallops With Sweet Miso Sauce Recipes

MISO-GLAZED SCALLOPS WITH SOBA NOODLES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook noodles, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 6 to 8 minutes or according to package directions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, whisk miso, mirin, vinegar, canola oil, ginger and garlic in a meadium bowl. Add scallops and stir gently to coat. Let marinate for 5 minutes (scallops will begin to break down if marinated longer). Using a slotted spoon, remove scallops, reserving the marinade for the sauce.
• Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the scallops and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate an cover with foil to keep warm. Add the marinade to the pan and cook over medium-high heat until brown, about 1 minute. Pour the sauce over the noodles, add scallions and toss to coat. Top with scallops and serve immediately.
• INGREDIENT NOTES:.
• MISO: Fermented bean paste made from barley, rice or soybeans used in Japanese cooking to add flavor to dishes such as soups, sauces and salad dressings. A little goes a long way because of its concentrated, salty taste. Miso is available in different colors, depending on the type of grain or bean and how long it's been fermented. In general, the lighter the color, the more mild the flavor. It will keep, in the refrigerator, for more than a year.
• MIRIN: A low-alcohol rice wine essential to Japanese cooking. Look for it in the Asian or gourmet-ingredients section of your supermarket. An equal portion of sherry or white wine with a pinch of sugar may be substituted for mirin.
• I prefer cooking with "dry" sea scallops (scallops that have not been treated with sodium triplyphosphate, or STP). Scallops that have been treated with STP ("wet" scallops) have been subjected to a chemical bath and are not only mushy and less flavorful, but will not brown properly.

SOBA-NOODLE BOWL WITH TOFU

Steps:

• Cook noodles in a pot of boiling water until al dente, about 4 minutes. Drain; run under cold water. Stir together soy sauce, lime juice, chili sauce, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon oil. Season with salt.
• Heat a large straight-sided skillet over medium-high. Add remaining 1 teaspoon oil, ginger, and asparagus; season with salt. Cook 1 minute. Add 1 cup water and bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to low, and cook, shaking pan occasionally, until crisp-tender, 3 minutes. Transfer asparagus to a cutting board; let cool, then slice on the bias. Toss with noodles and 1/4 cup dressing. Return skillet to medium-high heat; add tofu. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook 6 to 8 minutes. Divide noodles among bowls. Top with tofu, cilantro, sesame seeds, and more dressing; serve.

SOBA WITH GRILLED ASPARAGUS AND SEA SCALLOPS WITH SWEET MISO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together the sugar, sake, mirin, and rice vinegar until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the white miso, ginger, and 1 tablespoon of the oil and whisk until well combined. Set the miso glaze aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat and cook the noodles until tender yet firm, about 3 minutes. Drain, shock under cold running water, and drain again.
• Heat a well-oiled grill pan over medium heat. Brush the asparagus and scallops with all or most of the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Grill the asparagus first until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes total, rolling them about to heat them evenly all around. Divide and top each noodle serving with asparagus. Grill the scallops in the same pan until cooked through and crisp on each side, about 2 minutes per side. Divide the scallops among the servings of noodles, and spoon some miso glaze over each. Serve garnished with toasted walnuts.

MISO-GLAZED GRILLED SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Heat a charcoal or gas grill until very hot. Brush the grill with a little oil and position the grill grate 3 to 4 inches from the heat.
• Whisk together the miso and mirin or sake; season to taste with pepper.
• Thread the scallops through their equators onto metal or soaked wooden skewers and brush them all over with vegetable oil. Grill scallops until they're browned and release easily from the grill, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• When they're almost done, brush on both sides with the miso mixture, and continue to cook, turning once or twice, until the glaze caramelizes a bit and the scallops are done. Take the scallops off the grill before the interior becomes totally opaque.
• Sprinkle with sesame seeds and scallions and serve immediately.