Miso Soba Noodle Bowls with Spicy Tofu

These Miso Soba Noodle Bowls with Spicy Tofu are filled with umami flavour and are the perfect vegetarian comfort food!

Ingredients and substitutions

Soba noodles – Korean buckwheat noodles and whole wheat vermicelli are the best substitutes for soba noodles. You can also use udon noodles or ramen noodles as a replacement, but it will alter the overall flavour.

Miso broth

Vegetable broth – if you want to have a more authentic Japanese-cuisine experience, use dashi instead!
Miso paste – this recipe calls for miso, so you will want to make sure you have this ingredient. There are a few variations of miso paste like white, red, yellow, etc. I recommend the white soybean miso paste for the best results.
Soy sauce – tamari or coconut aminos will work well in place of soy sauce.
Chili garlic sauce – chili garlic sauce adds a spice element to the broth. If spicy food isn't up your alley, then feel free to leave this out.
Enoki mushrooms – enoki mushrooms add rich vitamins and healthy amino acids to your broth. You can choose to use a different mushroom instead or leave it out completely.
Green onions – if you don't like green onions, you can leave this step out or replace them with chives for a similar effect.

Spicy tofu

Extra firm tofu – using extra firm tofu keeps its shape through the cooking process, but medium to medium firm tofu also pairs nicely in miso soup. Just a heads up, it is more delicate than firm tofu.
Sunflower oil – olive oil and vegetable oil will also work in place of sunflower oil.
Sriracha – you can use chili paste, crushed chili flakes or cayenne to replace the Sriracha. If you're looking to minimize the spice level of this recipe, feel free to leave this out.
Soy sauce – see substitution notes above.
Rice wine vinegar – use 1 tbsp. white wine vinegar plus 1/4 tsp. sugar for every tablespoon of rice wine vinegar.

Toppings

Sunflower sprouts – swap out any of the toppings for another ingredient of your choice.
Red cabbage – see substitution notes above.
Jalapeños – see substitution notes above.
Spicy Tofu – see substitution notes above.

How to make this recipe

Prep and cook the spicy tofu.
Make the miso broth.
Add in the soba noodles.
Serve with your favourite toppings and enjoy!

More topping ideas

The topping options are endless when it comes to a hearty noodle soup! Here are some recommendations:

Mushrooms (king oyster, shiitake, cremini, enoki, etc.)
Shredded carrots
Baby bok choy
Snow peas
Bean sprouts
Edamame
Cilantro
And anything else you’re in the mood for!

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is miso?

Miso is a fermented soybean paste that originates from Japan. It’s used to create flavour in a lot of Asian cuisine but is mostly recognized for being the main ingredient in miso soup. The overall taste of miso is also the reference point for “umami” – a flavour sensation in Japanese dishes.

Are soba noodles good for you?

Soba noodles are relatively healthy compared to regular pasta. They’re made of buckwheat, which is naturally gluten-free, and are lower in fat.

How many calories are in this recipe?

These soba noodle broth bowls have 391 calories per serving.

Storing and reheating

You can store any extra miso soup in an airtight container for up to 3 days. I like storing my soup in mason jars – it makes it so easy when you need to take your leftovers with you on the go!

When you’re ready to enjoy your miso noodle soup, microwave it for 1 to 2 minutes or reheat it in a pot on the stovetop until warmed through.

Freezing this recipe

Unfortunately, this recipe isn’t freezer-friendly. The soba noodles and tofu won’t freeze and defrost well.

More noodle soup recipes

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Meal prep tools for this recipe

These are the mason jars I use to store an leftover soup.
I love this low-sodium soy sauce.
This is the brand of tamari I like (if you're looking for a soy sauce alternative!).

5 from 7 votes (6 ratings without comment)