Soba Noodle Stir Fry {Vegan + Gluten-Free Friendly}

This soba noodle stir fry is an easy-to-make + nourishing noodle dish that’s perfect for any weeknight dinner or quick lunch! Made with gluten free soba noodles, mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, edamame, and a delicious 4 ingredient stir fry sauce. Crave worthy and healthy! Vegan, gluten free, dairy free, nutrient dense.

The best soba noodle stir fry

We’ve been on a soba noodle kick lately and this easy little stir fry with soba noodles is a recipe that we’ve been making over and over again! 

There’s something about a soba stir fry that makes it the perfect fast weeknight dinner recipe. Because besides being easy to throw together, it’s also a great way to get in lots of flavorful VEGGIES! 

HELLO DREAM DINNER.

This is a hot soba noodle recipe, but if you already know that all soba noodle recipes are your thing I would also encourage you to try this cold soba noodle salad. Or if you want some more ideas for gluten free stir fry recipes in general you can check out all my stir fry recipes here!

Why this soba noodle stir fry recipe works

It is:

• On the table in less than 30 minutes
• Make with gluten free soba noodles
• Easy to throw together any night of the week
• A delicious option for the whole family
• Loaded up with a wide array of colorful vegetables
• Gluten free friendly, dairy free, and vegan
• Filling and nutrient dense
• Savory and full of crave-able flavor!

What are soba noodles?

Have you had soba noodles before? Soba actually translates to Japanese noodles made from buckwheat.

They are slightly earthy in taste with a tender, somewhat springy bite when cooked properly, and pair well with most asian flavors.

Buckwheat is actually not a grain, but a seed, and falls into the category of a ‘pseudocereal’, and they are absolutely delicious! A yummy alternative to other asian noodles like rice noodles.

They can be enjoyed in cold noodle salads, hot dishes (like this vegetable soba), or savory soups.

All about gluten free soba noodles

There’s a variety of soba noodles available on the market, and while traditionally they’re made with just buckwheat flour, they’re also sometimes made with both buckwheat flour and wheat flour.

So in case you’re wondering – are soba noodles gluten free? The answer is that it depends. There are some more traditional brands available that make them with only buckwheat – which would make them gluten free.

Gluten free buckwheat noodles can be a little tricky to find at the store, so make sure you check the label before buying to be sure.

They will usually be in the asian section of the grocery store, next to rice noodles, udon noodles, or lo mein noodles. Check your local natural foods store or Whole Foods for the best chance at finding a gluten free option!

And if you can’t find them in a store, they can always be bought online. This is my favorite brand.

Ingredients and substitutions

All you need to make this simple stir fried soba is a handful of veggies, soba noodles, and the gluten free stir fry sauce.

• Buckwheat soba noodles – Typically found in the asian section of your grocery store. Look for soba noodles that are made with 100% buckwheat flour for a naturally gluten free option.
• A variety of veggies – We love to use mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, and edamame, but feel free to choose whatever combination of vegetables works for you! Bell peppers, green beans, and carrots would all be delicious!
• Cilantro – Some chopped up cilantro goes in the stir fry towards the end of cooking for an added layer of yummy flavor, but feel free to omit if cilantro isn’t your thing.
• Sesame seeds – For a little crunch and toasty flavor.
• Stir fry sauce – Made with just coconut aminos (or gf tamari), rice vinegar, sesame oil, and optional hot sauce for a bit of heat.

Other recipe variations

Besides the option of switching out the veggies you could also make this vegetable noodle stir fry your own a few different ways.

Add some tofu, chicken, salmon, or shrimp for a delicious protein addition.

Swap the soba noodles for another noodle. Rice noodles or even gluten free spaghetti would both work well in place of stir fried soba noodles!

How to make gluten free stir-fry with soba noodles

• Prep veggies and stir fry sauce. Before you start cooking prep all ingredients and place everything near the stove top so you can grab quickly while cooking.
• Cook the noodles. Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook soba noodles according to package instructions. Rinse well and set aside.
• Cook mushrooms, broccoli, and carrots. Cook the mushrooms over medium heat until nicely browned. Add the broccoli and carrots and continue to cook until barely tender.
• Assemble the stir fry and serve. Add the stir fry sauce to the skillet and scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Follow with soba noodles, edamame, cilantro, and sesame seeds. Toss together until hot and serve!

Recipe pro tips

• Prep all of your ingredients before you get started. For easy assembly make sure you prep all of your ingredients before you start cooking, and keep everything within arms reach of your skillet or wok as you cook, since the recipe comes together really quickly once you start.
• Use the best kitchen tools for the job. A large skillet or wok ensures there’s enough surface area for everything to cook in, and that it’s easy to toss it all together. And kitchen tongs make it easy to toss the stir fry and make serving a breeze.
• Follow the tips listed below for cooking perfect soba noodles. They’re not difficult to make, but they do require a little different approach then you would use for traditional noodles.

How to cook soba noodles

Soba noodles made with 100% buckwheat flour can bit a little tricker to work with then a traditional noodle. One of the biggest issues that you might encounter is that they stick together.

How can you keep your soba noodles from sticking together?

1. Don’t salt the water – Unlike traditional noodles, salting the water when cooking soba is not recommended since it change the texture of the noodles.
2. Cook them in plenty of water – When soba noodles cook, they give off a ton of starch which means they need plenty of water to cook in. Not adding enough water can make them stick together in awkward clumps. I typically use about 4-5 quarts of water per 8 ounces of soba.
3. Only cook them for as long as the package says – Most dried noodles take about 8-11 minutes to cook, but most soba noodles cook faster. You want them to be just al dente. If they’re cooked for too long they can become mushy and break apart. Check the label of your noodles for exact cook time.
4. Rinse them in cold water – This is probably the most important step for perfect soba noodles. Once properly cooked, drain them and give them a really good rinse in cold water. This washes away excess starch on the noodles which will help to keep them from sticking together. They can always be re-rinsed if they start to stick together again before you’re ready to use them in your recipe.

Frequently asked questions

Serving suggestions

This soba noodle stir fry is hearty enough to be a meal all on it’s own, but if you want you could add additional protein.

Tofu, prawns, chicken, or tempeh would all be delicious!

To add any type of protein:

• Season your protein of choice with salt and pepper and cook in the skillet before the veggies.
• When it’s cooked through move it to a plate, and proceed with the recipe.
• Add it back in when you add the soba noodles and stir fry sauce.

If you want to serve it with another dish it would also be lovely paired with a light asian style salad!

Storage suggestions

Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator in a covered container for 3-5 days.

To re-heat, simply warm in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until hot, or on low heat in a small covered skillet, tossing every few minutes until warmed through.

Love this soba noodle stir fry? Try these other healthy stir fry recipes!

• Healthy Cashew Chicken Stir Fry
• Ground Beef and Cabbage Whole30 Stir Fry
• Loaded Rice Noodle Stir Fry
• Easy Stir Fry Veggies
• 30 Minute Crispy Pork Stir Fry

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