The Single Salmon

Cooking for one tends to be a thrown-together affair, particularly during the week. But sometimes I like to make a little more effort when it’s just me.

This bowl of soba noodles tossed with sliced asparagus and miso dressing, topped with a steamed salmon filet, is a good payoff for the work.

While you shop, look for edamame, the salted, cooked soybeans in their pods found in the refrigerated sections of stores that carry Japanese foods. Edamame is great for nibbling while you cook. And stop by the freezer section for some mochi ice cream, bite-sized balls of ice cream in flavors like green tea and chocolate, wrapped in a chewy covering made of pounded rice.

Menu

Edamame

Steamed Salmon with Asparagus and Soba Noodles

Mochi Ice Cream

Steamed Salmon with Asparagus and Soba Noodles

Active Work Time: 20 minutes * Total Preparation Time: 30 minutes

1 1/2 tablespoons sesame oil

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 (1/2-inch) piece ginger root, minced

1/2 teaspoon red or yellow miso

1 (4- to 6-ounce) salmon filet, skin removed

Salt

6 ounces (about 1/3 bunch) asparagus, cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces

1/4 pound (1/2 package) dried Japanese buckwheat noodles (soba)

2 green onions, white parts chopped, greens reserved

* Whisk together oil, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger and miso. Coat salmon lightly with about 1 teaspoon of mixture. Set aside.

* Blanch asparagus pieces in boiling salted water until crisp-tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from pot using slotted spoon and set aside. Return water to boil and cook soba noodles according to package directions, about 6 minutes.

* In another pot fitted with steaming rack, bring several inches of water to boil. Line rack with reserved green onion tops. Place salmon on rack and cover pot tightly. Steam over medium heat until salmon flakes with fork, 8 to 10 minutes.

* Drain soba noodles and toss with asparagus pieces and remaining dressing. Top with steamed salmon and sprinkle with chopped green onions.

1 serving: 755 calories; 2,410 mg sodium; 82 mg cholesterol; 26 grams fat; 94 grams carbohydrates; 46 grams protein; 3.02 grams fiber.

Game Plan

30 minutes before: Bring large pot of salted water to boil and smaller pot of water to boil for steaming salmon. Chop green onions, mince ginger, cut asparagus.

20 minutes before: Combine dressing ingredients, blanch asparagus.

10 minutes before: Cook soba noodles, steam salmon.

Ingredients

Shopping List

1 small bunch asparagus

1 package edamame

Red or yellow miso

Mochi ice cream

1 (4- to 6-ounce) salmon filet, skin removed

1 (8-ounce) package dried soba noodles

Staples

Ginger root

Green onions

Rice vinegar

Sesame oil

Soy sauce