Japanese...ish...

A while back, I bough this amazing tuna steak. Unfortunately at the time I was really busy and I knew I wouldn't have time to cook it before the tuna went bad, so I stuck it in the freezer for another night. Well Monday night was that night. So i defrosted the tuna completely, made a simple asian-style glaze, and coated the tuna with it before searing it. Pretty simple preparation because my boyfriend just loves the flavor of the tuna and I didn't want to overpower it. However, I was able to get creative with the side dish, and I have to say, I really didn't feel the need to eat the tuna after tasting this.

Soba Noodle Stir Fry

2 bundles of soba noodles

1 1/2 tbls light oil (any variety you have)

1 red bell pepper, very thinly sliced

1 medium onion, sliced to the same thickness as the pepper

2 cloves garlic, chopped or grated, depending upon your taste

1 tbls toasted sesame oil

1 tbls chili garlic

1 tbls hoisin sauce

1 tbls rice vinegar

1 tbls lite soy sauce

1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, grated (straight into the bowl to get the juices)

4 scallions, sliced on the bias (its prettier than just regular slices)

handful chopped cilantro

1 tbls toasted sesame seeds

Put a medium-sized pot of salted water on to boil, and when it comes to a boil, add the soba noodles and cook until just before done (pull out about a minute before the package directions). Meanwhile, in a large skillet, add the light oil and saute the onion and bell pepper over medium heat until soft. While allowing them to soften, stirring occasionally, in a small bowl whisk together the garlic through the ginger. Turn the heat down to low, add the noodles to the saute pan, add the marinade, and combine carefully so the noodles don't break. Stir carefully for about a minute, then add the remaining ingredients and saute another minute. Garnish with extra cilantro and scallions and serve. Happy eating!