Spicy Soba Noodle Soup

I believe the following fact to be absolutely and irrevocably true: noodles are good for your soul.

Fight me all you want on this, but it’s true–it’s true–it’s true. If you are having a bad day, eat noodles. Shoot. If you’re having a GOOD day, eat noodles. Then you’re having a noodle-good day. Hard to beat my friends, hard. to. beat.
While we’re on the subject of things that are good for your soul, let me roll out a few more little nuggets of wisdom:

Chocolate is good for your soul, as is salted caramel.
Cooking in instead of going out to eat for a date night, good for your soul.
This song is good for your soul, trust me.
The sound of crickets chirping is good for your soul.
Caffeine is good for your soul.
A glass of wine after work. Good. For. Your. Soul.
Good leftovers are good for your soul.

I had some good leftovers. I took some lovely smoked tri-tip home from a summertime sunshine bbq. Free good food? Add that to the good-for-your-soul list (also jot down cookie butter while you’re at it).

What does one do with leftover tri-tip? Tri-tip sanwich? Maybe. Doused in BBQ sauce? I suppose so. But tonight, I feel like feeding my soul– so.
There’s only one course of action, of course. Noodles. Tri-tip. Happiness.

Some of you might already be familiar with soba noodles. Maybe you’ve had them chilled with dipping sauce. Maybe (not likely… but just maybe) you were around back in February 2011 when I had a noodle night. Ancient history, delicious ancient history. Soba noodles are a Japanese variety of noodles made from buckwheat. They are crazy delicious. They have a hearty bite, they’re quick to make, and they’re dang delicious. So there.I love this recipe because it’s sort of a fake-out recipe. You can whip it together really quickly if you have all the right ingredients, and whoever you share it with will be severely impressed.
Real talk: It’s full of shortcuts. You used your leftovers to make it. It literally took you no time.
Last minute date night recipe, anyone?

Spicy Soba Noodle Soup
For two happy bowls

You’ll Need:

2 bundles of soba noodles
1 (14.5 oz) can of chicken broth
3 tbs store-bought teriyaki marinade (BOOOM. shortcut)
1/2 tsp Sriracha sauce (adjust to taste)
1 dash of fish sauce
1 small shallot, sliced thin (optional)
2 green onions, sliced thin
several slices of leftover tritip/leftover chicken/leftover pork/leftover whatever

1. Drop soba noodles into a pot of boiling water, stir, and allow to boil for 5-7 minutes.
2. In another medium saucepan/pot, combine chicken broth, teriyaki, Sriracha, fish sauce, and shallot. Stir and put over medium heat until it’s hot.
3. When the soba noodles are tender, drain them into a colander and divide between two bowls.
4. Split the broth between to two bowls, and then add the leftover tri-tip/leftover chicken/leftover whatever, and finally, the green onions.
5. Give one bowl to your awe-struck guest and the other to yourself. Mow down.

There. Not so hard. And now your soul is extra happy, you can thank me later.

Please note! If you’d like to make this recipe vegetarian, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, omit the fish sauce, and use tofu! Hooray!

Foodie foodie!