This vibrant, flavorful Citrus Soba Salad is an easy and delicious recipe you’ll reach for again and again! Gluten-free and vegan, this salad is bursting with ripe citrus and an umami soy-lime dressing. It’s also the perfect work lunch, as it can be eaten warm or cold!
I get inspiration for recipes from tons of different places, but the most common way I get inspired is visually. When I was suprêming citrus for my Citrus Fennel Salad, I thought of how beautiful they would look with soba noodles. I envisioned the shot before I fully thought of the dish – sunlight shining on fat, juicy citrus arils, nestled between soba noodles, and garnished with colorful watermelon radish. And that’s exactly what I created! We eat with our eyes first, of course, so I always try to make my recipes visually beautiful. But this Citrus Soba Salad isn’t lacking in the taste department. Soy sauce and citrus are a delicious pairing, and the tangy and zippy flavors really go well with the nutty buckwheat noodles.
Contrary to their name, buckwheat noodles are actually gluten-free. (However, it’s always important to check the package of noodles, because some brands include wheat in their formulations.) Combined with all of the other plant-based ingredients, this vegan Citrus Soba Salad is light and refreshing! Perfect for an easy lunch work or a meal on the go, since it can be served hot or cold. I know you’ll love it, enjoy!
For more citrus-y deliciousness, try my Citrus Fennel Salad or this Cara Cara Chop Salad!
Citrus Soba Salad
Ingredients
The Salad
- 1 Cara Cara Orange
- 1 Blood Orange
- 1 Pomelo
- 1 Small Watermelon Radish
- 6 oz Soba Noodles usually 2 bundles
- 1/3 Cup Fresh Microgreens for garnish, optional
- 2 Scallions
The Dressing
- 2 Tbsp Shoyu or regular soy sauce
- Juice from 1 Lime
- 1 Tbsp Freshly-Squeezed Orange Juice
- 2 Tbsp Avocado Oil
- 1/2 Tsp Freshly-grated ginger
- Salt to taste
- Black Pepper to taste
Instructions
- To begin, supreme your citrus. Cut off about 1/4" of the top and bottom (the top being where the stem used to connect). Then, carefully with a sharp knife, cut along the rind of the citrus, following its curve around the fruit. Cut off as much of the rind as you can without cutting off too much of the fruit. Repeat until you've completely cut the rind off. Then, cut out the segments of fruit by carefully cutting near the dividing pith on both sides, freeing the fruit.
- Prep the watermelon radish by thinly peeling off the outer layer, then carefully slicing the radish into thin rounds. You can use a mandolin or a knife for this. Then, cut the thin rounds into fourths.
- Prep the scallions by finely slicing the green and light-green parts. Save the white parts for another recipe!
- Cook your soba according to the package's instructions, until al dente. When done, rinse well with cold water and set aside.
- Make the dressing by combining all ingredients into a bowl and whisking vigorously until combined. Taste, and adjust seasoning if necessary. You may not want to add extra salt because shoyu is very salty on its own. Totally up to you!
- Assemble your bowls – add in your soba noodles, then drizzle with the freshly mixed dressing. Top with your citrus segments, watermelon radish slices, scallions, and microgreens to garnish.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- You don’t need to use the exact citruses I used here – you can use any variety you like. I set the quantity at 3 because you probably won’t be able to get every single segment out from each citrus, and that’s okay! Save any leftovers for a smoothie. In the end, you’ll probably want 1 cup of citrus.
- If you can’t find a watermelon radish, a regular radish will do just fine!
- Martha Stewart has a great guide to supreming citrus here!
Nutrition
Citrus Soba Salad FAQs
What is soba?
Soba are thin, straight noodles made from buckwheat flour, originating in Japan. Traditional soba is made only from buckwheat flour, making them gluten-free, though some modern brands include wheat flour.
What does soba taste like?
Soba is made from buckwheat flour, giving it a rich, nutty taste. The texture of the noodles are similar to Italian spaghetti, but I think soba is just a bit chewier. While I don’t find soba to be overwhelmingly nutty, I love that little extra depth of flavor when I taste it.
Is soba just ramen?
Soba and ramen are two completely different types of noodles! Firstly, “ramen” technically refers to the dish ramen – a Japanese soup made with noodles and other accoutrements. Ramen noodles are made with regular wheat flour, not buckwheat like soba.
What are the health benefits of soba noodles?
Soba noodles offer some health benefits. Naturally gluten-free, they contain manganese, thiamine, and plant-based protein (6g protein per cup of cooked noodles). Their fiber content (about 5g per cup) aids digestion and promotes satiety. Also, soba noodles have a lower glycemic index than traditional wheat-based pasta, which can help prevent blood sugar spikes.
Can you eat this soba noodle salad cold?
Yes! This salad can be served chilled, but is most delicious when served at room temperature. You can also heat it up a little, but I wouldn’t recommend serving this piping hot!
How long will this Citrus Soba Salad last in the refrigerator?
You can save this recipe in the refrigerator for 2-3 days for best quality and freshness.
P.S.
For more plant-forward recipes and New England lifestyle inspiration, be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok! If you make a recipe, please tag me in the photo and use the hashtag #wellandfull so I can see! I love seeing your creations!
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