Japanese buckwheat noodles: 59 Photos & Videos
Soba Noodles - Japanese buckwheat noodles images
FAQ
Soba noodles are good for your health because they are gluten-free, high in flavonoids, and help balance your blood sugar. Soba noodles are a Japanese alternative to regular pasta. They're mostly made with buckwheat flour, which is both gluten-free and full of healthy proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
Soba is Japanese for buckwheat, which is a nutritious, grain-like seed that's gluten-free and — despite its name — unrelated to wheat. Soba noodles can be made solely of buckwheat flour and water, but more commonly also contain wheat flour and sometimes added salt.
The long, thin shape of the noodles symbolizes a wish for longevity, while the inherent resilience of buckwheat against inclement weather represents good health. And since soba is easier to cut compared to other noodles, it serves as a symbol for severing the difficulties and misfortunes of the past year.
Soba is made by slicing dough into thin noodles. Historically, soba was made only from buckwheat flour, and was steamed in baskets, because they were too brittle to boil. Modern soba is usually made from a mix of 80% buckwheat flour, and 20% wheat flour.
Nutrition notes: Another healthy pasta choice, soba noodles look like spaghetti, but they're made with buckwheat, a protein-rich, gluten-free grain that can help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Soba also contains roughly half as many calories as plain pasta, with 113 calories in 1 cup cooked.