Soba with Brussels Sprouts & Smoked Tofu

For me, cooking vegetables is way more exciting than cooking meat. I mean, come on—getting meat to taste good is easy. Just sear it in some oil, and boom, you’re done. But veggies, they require creativity. You have to play around, balance flavors, textures, and techniques. And that’s where the real magic happens.

Today’s dish is an absolute stunner: soba (buckwheat noodles) with Brussels sprouts marinated in tahini, Worcestershire sauce, oyster sauce, chili, garlic, ginger, and sesame. And to top it all off? Smoked tofu, adding that perfect depth of flavor. A mind-blowing umami-packed bite that’s rich, nutty, a little spicy, and completely addictive.

This is how you make vegetables the star of the show.

Ingredients

For the marinade:

• 2 tbsp tahini
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tsp chili flakes (adjust to taste)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
• 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp water (if needed, to loosen the sauce)

For the dish:

• 150g soba noodles
• 200g Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
• 150g smoked tofu, cubed
• 1 tbsp sesame oil (for cooking)
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds (for garnish)
• Chopped green onions (for garnish)

Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix all the marinade ingredients until smooth. Adjust consistency with a little water if necessary.
   
2. Toss the halved Brussels sprouts in the marinade and let them sit for at least 15 minutes (or up to an hour for deeper flavor).
   
3. Heat a pan over medium heat with 1 tbsp sesame oil. Add the marinated Brussels sprouts and sauté for about 6-8 minutes until golden and slightly caramelized. Remove from the pan.
   
4. In the same pan, add the cubed smoked tofu with 1 tsp soy sauce and 1 tsp honey/maple syrup. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until slightly crispy.
   
5. Cook the soba noodles according to package instructions, then rinse under cold water to remove excess starch.
   
6. Toss the soba noodles with the cooked Brussels sprouts and any remaining marinade. Plate it up, then top with smoked tofu.
   
7. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Enjoy!