This Comes From a Reliable Sauce

The key to this speedy shrimp dish is the cilantro sauce--a puree of fresh mint, cilantro and lime juice. Half the sauce becomes a marinade for the shrimp, half is tossed with the cooked soba. Serve this dish hot, or prepare it ahead and chill it, then tote it along on a picnic with some crusty rolls and a bottle of Chardonnay.

You can also use the sauce as a dip for seared scallops. Soba noodles are found in the Asian aisle of well-stocked markets.

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Plate, napkin from Bristol Kitchens.

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Mint and Cilantro Shrimp With Soba Noodles

Active Work Time: 20 minutes * Total Preparation Time: 30 minutes

You can save time by buying shrimp that have been peeled and deveined.

1 cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed

1 large bunch cilantro, leaves and soft stems only

1/3 cup lime juice

1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped

1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/3 cup olive oil

1 pound large (21-25 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 pound soba noodles

1/2 tablespoon canola oil

4 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced

Place the mint leaves, cilantro, lime juice, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and the pepper in a blender. Start blending, then slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Puree until smooth, about 1 minute.

Pour half into a large bowl, add the shrimp and marinate for 10 minutes. Reserve the remaining half of the marinade for the noodles.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of salt. Break the noodles in half and cook until al dente, about 4 minutes. Drain and keep warm.

Heat a large skillet on high and add the canola oil. Drain the shrimp and discard the marinade. Cook the shrimp until pink and slightly firm, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the diced tomatoes and cook for 1 minute. Add the hot noodles and reserved marinade and stir until incorporated and steaming hot. Serve immediately or let cool, then refrigerate.

4 to 6 servings. Each of 6 servings: 277 calories; 610 mg sodium; 120 mg cholesterol; 14 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 22 grams carbohydrates; 18 grams protein; 2.12 grams fiber.

MENU

Mint and Cilantro Shrimp With Soba Noodles

Crusty Sourdough Rolls

Chardonnay

STAPLES

Garlic

Limes

Canola oil

Olive oil

SHOPPING LIST

Chardonnay

Cilantro

Mint

Shrimp

Plum tomatoes

Soba noodles

Sourdough rolls

GAME PLAN

30 minutes ahead: Prepare marinade and combine with shrimp. Start water for noodles.

15 minutes ahead: Cook noodles. Seed and dice tomatoes.

10 minutes ahead: Cook shrimp; add to noodles with reserved sauce.