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In Japanese cuisine, soba noodles, with their nutty buckwheat flavor, are often enjoyed chilled in the summer. Here, we’re tossing them with crunchy cucumber, tender specialty eggplant and—just before serving—delicate baby greens, which wilt just a bit in the salad. (Depending on what’s freshest near you, you’ll receive either kale or mizuna.) It all comes together in a unique dressing of sweet miso and red chile, simmered together with fresh aromatics for well-balanced complexity.

Ethan Mick

with Fairy Tale Eggplant & Baby Greens

Seared Salmon & Miso Soba Noodle Salad

Skin-On Salmon Fillets

Soba Noodles

Scallions

Fairy Tale Eggplant

Cucumber

Baby Greens

Rice Vinegar

Sweet White Miso Paste

1-Inch Piece Ginger

Gochujang

Sesame Oil

Ingredients

Wash and dry the fresh produce. [Heat a medium pot of salted water to boiling on high.](#) [Peel and mince the ginger.](#) Cut off and discard the root ends of the scallions; [thinly slice](#) on an angle, separating the white bottoms and green tops. Medium dice the eggplant. Halve the cucumber lengthwise; cut crosswise into ¼-inch-thick pieces. Transfer the cucumber to a bowl and season with salt and pepper.

Prepare the ingredients:

In a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat **half the sesame oil** on medium-high until hot. Add the **ginger** and **white bottoms of the scallions**; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until softened and fragrant. Add the **miso paste**, **½ cup of water** and **as much of the gochujang as you’d like**, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Cook, stirring occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes, or until thoroughly combined and slightly thickened. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in the **vinegar**; [season with salt and pepper to taste.](#) Rinse and wipe out the pan.

Make the dressing:

In the same pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the **eggplant** and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 5 minutes, or until browned and slightly softened; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the bowl of **dressing** and toss to coat. Wipe out the pan.

Cook the eggplant:

Pat the **salmon** dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper on both sides. In the same pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned salmon, skin sides down, and cook 3 to 4 minutes on the first side, or until browned and crispy. Flip and cook 1 to 2 minutes, or until cooked to your desired degree of doneness. Remove from heat.

Cook the salmon:

While the salmon cooks, add the **noodles** to the pot of boiling water and cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until tender. Drain thoroughly and rinse under warm water to prevent sticking. Transfer the cooked noodles, **seasoned cucumber** and **remaining sesame oil** to the bowl of **dressed eggplant**. Toss to thoroughly coat; season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the **baby greens** and toss to thoroughly combine. Divide between 2 dishes. Top with the **cooked salmon**. Garnish with the **green tops of the scallions**. Enjoy!