Nishin Soba with Sweet Soy Glazed Herring

Ingredients

• 4 herring fillets 4 herring fillets
• 1/4 cup (60ml) soy sauce 1/4 cup (60ml) soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons mirin 2 tablespoons mirin
• 2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 200g soba noodles 200g soba noodles
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 320 kcal / 1340 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 6g, 1g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 45g, 10g
• Protein: 20g
• Fiber: 4g
• Salt: 2g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, mirin, honey, rice vinegar, and grated ginger to make the sweet soy glaze.
2. 2.
   Place the herring fillets in a shallow dish and pour the sweet soy glaze over them. Let them marinate for 30 minutes.
3. 3.
   Meanwhile, cook the soba noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
4. 4.
   Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Remove the herring fillets from the marinade, reserving the marinade for later use.
5. 5.
   Cook the herring fillets in the skillet for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until they are cooked through and caramelized.
6. 6.
   In a separate small saucepan, bring the reserved marinade to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
7. 7.
   Divide the soba noodles among serving bowls. Place a herring fillet on top of each bowl.
8. 8.
   Drizzle the sweet soy glaze over the herring and noodles. Garnish with sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Herring — Make sure to remove any bones from the herring fillets before marinating and cooking.
• Soba noodles — Cook the soba noodles according to the package instructions, but be careful not to overcook them as they can become mushy.

Tips & Tricks

• For an extra kick of flavor, add a splash of sesame oil to the sweet soy glaze.
• If you can't find herring, you can substitute it with mackerel or sardines.
• To save time, you can prepare the sweet soy glaze in advance and store it in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Garnish the Nishin Soba with a sprinkle of nori flakes for an added touch of umami.
• Serve the dish with a side of pickled ginger to cleanse the palate between bites.

Serving advice

Serve the Nishin Soba hot, allowing the sweet soy glaze to coat the soba noodles and herring fillets. Garnish with scallions and toasted sesame seeds for an appealing presentation.

Presentation advice

Arrange the soba noodles neatly in the center of the bowl and place the herring fillet on top. Drizzle the sweet soy glaze over the fish and noodles, allowing it to cascade down the sides. Sprinkle with sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds for an attractive finishing touch.