The Umami Secret to Sesame Soba
Raquel Ravivo (aka @freshofftheraq) fires up fusion dishes inspired by her Peruvian and Moroccan Jewish heritage for her 11,000+ Substack subscribers each week.
Want to give your noodles an umami lift? This sesame soba soup layers nutty sesame, delicate noodles and vibrant toppings for a dynamic flavor profile that’s taken to the next level thanks to the naturally savory depth of yeast extract. Made from the same fresh yeast used in baking and brewing, yeast extract is 100% vegan yet delivers a rich, mouth-watering umami kick, giving simple broths a boost.
Recipe developer and content creator Raquel shares how she uses yeast extract to give her sesame soba soup a deeply savory, meat-free flavor. When broth needs body and noodles long for something more, a spoonful of yeast extract is essential to elevating everyday dishes.
Watch the video and try the recipe for yourself to discover how yeast extract can beef up your broth and make your homemade soups all the more satisfying.
Ingredients (serves 1 person)
- 1 tsp oil
- 2 green onions, whites and green separated, finely sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 50 g mushrooms
- small pinch of salt
- 1/2 tbsp chili crisp
- 1.5 cups water
- 1.5 tbsps sesame paste*
- 1.5 tsps yeast extract
- 2 tbsps hot water
- 1 serving of soba noodles
- 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
Tofu:
- 1/4 350g block tofu, sliced into triangles
- 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1-2 tbsps neutral oil for frying
To Serve:
- Chili crisp
- Toasted or black sesame seeds
*I used a Chinese sesame paste but a good, runny Arabic tahini will also work well
Preparation
- Fry aromatics: Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add whites of green onion and garlic and sauté for about a minute or so. Then add mushrooms and pinch of salt and sauté until the mushrooms are lightly golden brown. Add chili crisp and sauté until fragrant, another minute or so. Pour in the water and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat and simmer for 7 minutes.
- Add sesame mixture: Stir together sesame paste, yeast extract and hot water in a small bowl. Take the broth off the heat and stir in sesame-marmite mixture.
- Make tofu: Place tofu in a shallow bowl and pour over soy sauce, flipping to make sure each side gets coated. Heat oil in a pan and fry tofu on each side until golden brown.
- Cook soba noodles: Bring a pot of water to a boil and add your noodles. Cook according to package instructions, drain and toss in the sesame oil.
- Assemble: Add the noodles to your serving bowl. Pour over the broth and top with the fried tofu, green onion greens, chili crisp and sesame seeds.
