More Food Love.
Soba noodles with crispy tofu, avocado and microgreens
I took a little trip to the new Whole Foods on Kensington High Street the other day with Clotilde and came home with 2 bags full of happiness. We spent 2 hours wandering around that store and if it wasn't for our overflowing baskets and our need for a caffeine fix, we probably could have kept on going. Seriously people, it was 3 floors of magic. You have never seen two gals reading peanut butter labels so closely while discussing the merits of smooth (my preference) versus crunchy (her preference).
By the time I got home I was exhausted but my weary bones did not keep me from digging into my new stash and whipping up a soba noodle salad with some crispy tofu and the cutest little microgreens a girl ever did see. They are a micro combination of Red Mustard, Broccoli, Mizuna, Rocket and Coriander called Ed's Wild Mix from Secrett's Farm in West Sussex.
The next morning I couldn't resist using those little microgreens again for my first ever homemade breakfast burrito. It was a momentous occasion. The burrito idea was inspired by another Whole Foods find: super thin wholewheat flatbreads (almost as thin as filo) called Mountain bread. I scrambled some eggs, and wrapped them up with greens inside the flatbread and oy!
Who knew I could be so thrilled by a breakfast burrito?
There are still some other exciting ingredients that I bought that I have yet to dig into, but just knowing they are there waiting to be discovered has me all giddy. I haven't felt this thrilled by a grocery store since my days in Paris, exploring the Grande Epicerie. There were no unicorns to be found, but it was pretty magical nonetheless.
Whole Foods
The Barkers Building
63–97 Kensington High Street
London W8 5SE
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The Soba Salad
I tossed the noodles, some shredded carrots, and sliced green onions with a dressing of sesame oil, rice vinegar and soy sauce. Then I tossed in the microgreens. I pan fried some tofu strips in peanut oil and added this to the noodles. (I fry the tofu strips so that they are crunchy on the outside with still a bit of softness in the middle--you can fry them more or less to your taste.)
Finally, I added some chopped avocado and sprinkled some sesame seeds on top for good measure.
Labels: london, London food shops, main dish, noodles, tofu
posted by Michèle at 6:39 AM
12 Comments:
those burritos looks good! I wish we had something like Whole Foods here in Japan.
I have yet to check out the Whole Foods here in Toronto. I'm now more motivated to go!
Nice photos. The dishes look fantastic.
K&S, the burritos were pretty good! I even inspired G to make his own on the weekend, although he lathered his with HP sauce. ;)
Ma-m, you should definitely check it out. I went to the one in T.O on my last trip back home and it was lovely. But I'm a sucker for that kind of thing.
Kevin, thanks, they did taste pretty good!
we have an iwagamias asian "emporium" here in seattle's china town. i take the ferry from bainbridge island at least once a month and spend hours there exploring. i bought a huge amt of sweetpea tips. they will be perfect in your dish ideas. i also found some spring onion parathas(indian flat bread) when briefly heated on a skillet they puff up and are delicate and would be a great wrap as well. i am anxious to find the bread you used. thankyou michele for all you share! rene'
Rene, the emporium sounds like fun--and you're right I bet those sweet pea tips would be lovely in these dishes. There were many other mixes of microgreens by the same company as the ones I bought, I should look to see if any of them have the sweetpea tips. And I think the parathas would be a great idea too! I hope you can find the mountain bread--the company did start in the US so Im sure you should be able to find it.
Oh gosh, I must make these noodles, immediately.
And I have the lovliest avocado needing to be used up (can you tell I am in CA, the avocados here are heavenly).
How do you do the tofu? Is it just normal block of tofu cut thin and then fried, or is there a special, only at Whole Foods product called "tofu strips?"
Lovely photos, my dear.
Tea, I'm glad the noodles have tempted you! They do seem right up your alley. I thought maybe the tofu was a bit of an out-there addition, but then again, I can never say no to avocado. As for the tofu, yes, I just had a block of firm tofu that I cut into thin strips (thinner than that big boy at the top in the picture, Im not sure how he escaped my notice) and then I just fry them in a bit of peanut oil until Im happy with them. Then I take them out and put them on paper towel until I'm ready for them. I really love doing tofu this way, and if you get them crispy enough they kind of feel like a sinful little treat, and I end up eating them out of hand. (once they've cooled of course!)
just to thank you...
I was in London last weekend, with my best friend coming from Brussels... and.. well, we followed some of your suggestions..
In bookforcooks they gave me the list of autumn-winter workshops... and I wondered... chocolate&zucchini was here just... 3 days ago!
now...I discover you were shopping together while we were having breakfast at Borough Market!!!
Once back home (we slept at our friend's place) I knew that our guest has got a friend working at booksforcooks
eheheh and he told me... if you're interested in any workshop... just feel free to come! no problem!
I came back in Italy with 2 nice books and my hand luggage issued intense monmouth coffee (and spices)fragrance ;-)
So... thank you so much!!!!!
Tommi
I think the "mountain bread" is identified as Armenian, and it really is super-thin. Good, isn't it? I get it at Damascus Bakery in Brooklyn.
Tommi, I'm happy to hear you made it to Books for Cooks and the Borough Market--two of my favourite places. Clotilde and I actually went to the market for our lunch before we headed to Whole Foods, so who knows, we might have been there at the same time as you. As for the Books for Cooks workshops--I would love to! I keep meaning to sign up for one.
And isn't the smell of Monmouth coffee intoxicating? I always love taking a sniff from the bag on my way home.
NBM, good to know that about the mountain bread! I really do like it, its so light but it has a lovely flavour and texture. I will definitely buy it again.
funny skimming...
'cause actually we had breakfast in Borough Market (pics are on line ;-) but it was.. lunch time ehehhe
Coffee. You won't believe, but it's true. Saturday morn we woke up smelling an intense and rich fragrance of coffee.
I was tempted to ask... maybe is it Monmouth coffee? ButI didn't.
Some minutes later, drinking my cup i asked ... whre did you buy this wonderful coffee?
Monmouth Coffee, at Borough market.
Couldn't believe that.
Smell is simply hypnotic (and an italian is speaking) ;-)
tommi
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