No, not the string beans. I WISH these string beans had come from our garden. They were the freshest, crispest beans I think I’ve ever had (thank you, New Seasons. I love you.) We’ve been eating spinach from the garden about twice a week, but nothing else is quite ready to be harvested yet. Nothing except for what I picked yesterday evening just before dinner: Mint. I only planted the mint starts about a week and a half ago, but mint grows like a weed (I’ve heard rumors that it IS a weed) and last night there was plenty available for the taking.
It made for a delicious dinner. Recipe as follows (such as it is. I made it up sort of on the spot and I always hated cookbook editing when I was still an editor so forgive the imprecision and the spotty formatting. Just go with it. It tastes really good. I promise.):
Mint String Beans and Tofu, with Soba Noodles (or somesuch title. Recipe names can be AWKWARD, hunh? What should we call it instead? Minty Soba Tofu? Mintbean n Soy? Hell…I don’t know.)
Prepare the soba noodles per the package instructions. Drain, rinse, toss with oil and set aside. (I didn’t have any sesame oil on hand yesterday, or I would have used that for the noodles. That would have been perfect. Instead I used the canola oil I had at hand and that worked just fine.)
Blanch the string beans, then set aside.
Heat canola oil at medium heat in a wok or skillet. Add chopped garlic, cook until fragrant. Add in tofu and string beans, cook 3 or 4 minutes. Add chopped scallions, a splash of mirin (I use a rather hefty splash because we love mirin), and a splash of tamari. Cook 3 or 4 minutes. Add mint leaves, cook 1 minute. Remove from heat and serve over soba noodles.
It was delicious served hot last night, but just as good served cold for lunch today. That’s it. Super simple and so damn good. Even Thumper, who has become increasingly picky about food in the past few weeks, tucked in and ate most of his serving, and had a bit more for lunch today.
Oh, that looks so very yummy.
Oh, that looks so very yummy.
Bean SoFu Mintastic…and you?
Bean SoFu Mintastic…and you?
I just harvested some snowpeas yesterday. Am really hoping summer will finally get here and stay for a while. Am still loving the tabouleh, but am ready for basil and berries.
I just harvested some snowpeas yesterday. Am really hoping summer will finally get here and stay for a while. Am still loving the tabouleh, but am ready for basil and berries.
Pretty!
Pretty!
Huh. That’s the first child who’s at home (as opposed to day care or school), and an only child to boot, who’s developed picky eating habits. (I’m sure he’s not the first, but just the first I’ve heard of…) That was one thing I always thought I had escaped nicely by having an only child, too. With an only child, I always thought because they were only around adults, they ate like adults, without that, “I don’t liiiiike ittttt” thing. My single-child nephew is that way, too.
Huh. That’s the first child who’s at home (as opposed to day care or school), and an only child to boot, who’s developed picky eating habits. (I’m sure he’s not the first, but just the first I’ve heard of…) That was one thing I always thought I had escaped nicely by having an only child, too. With an only child, I always thought because they were only around adults, they ate like adults, without that, “I don’t liiiiike ittttt” thing. My single-child nephew is that way, too.
Chocolate mint sounds decadent and delicious.
Chocolate mint sounds decadent and delicious.
Dinner sounds very yummy – sounds like something I would throw together. I gotta ask though if you have any specific plans as to how you’ll use the chocolate mint in the future. My daughter palnted herb pots for me for Mother’s Day and put in chocolate mint and I’ve been trying to think of something to put it in that will use it for good effect. Brownies keep coming to mind but there’s gotta be something better than that.
Dinner sounds very yummy – sounds like something I would throw together. I gotta ask though if you have any specific plans as to how you’ll use the chocolate mint in the future. My daughter palnted herb pots for me for Mother’s Day and put in chocolate mint and I’ve been trying to think of something to put it in that will use it for good effect. Brownies keep coming to mind but there’s gotta be something better than that.
The mint grows like a weed because, if you think of it, you’re right, it kind of is one. But if you pick up any of my herbology books, you’re also going to find dandilions and mulline, which most people would consider a weed, so why is it in an herbology book? As far as I’m concerned, weed=herb. Just look out for oregano. It’s taking over our yard! 🙂
The mint grows like a weed because, if you think of it, you’re right, it kind of is one. But if you pick up any of my herbology books, you’re also going to find dandilions and mulline, which most people would consider a weed, so why is it in an herbology book? As far as I’m concerned, weed=herb. Just look out for oregano. It’s taking over our yard! 🙂
When I was a kid, mint was a weed. At my cousins’ house, we would go out to the yard, find the mint, and munch. Considering they lived in the country, on a gravel road, and had a dog, it probably wasn’t the most sanitary way to enjoy mint but we never worried about that.
When I was a kid, mint was a weed. At my cousins’ house, we would go out to the yard, find the mint, and munch. Considering they lived in the country, on a gravel road, and had a dog, it probably wasn’t the most sanitary way to enjoy mint but we never worried about that.
lovely, although not a huge fan of mint…it really is a weed in my garden. 🙂
we have artichokes growing! seriously!! it’s crazy.
i can’t wait for all the goodness to be ready to harvest.
lovely, although not a huge fan of mint…it really is a weed in my garden. 🙂
we have artichokes growing! seriously!! it’s crazy.
i can’t wait for all the goodness to be ready to harvest.
We’re growing chocolate mint too! My son insisted – he uses it to garnish his desserts. I have it in a planter by the front door – just so it doesn’t take over the garden. I like the sound of your recipe, and it looks good too – I’ll have to try it.
We’re growing chocolate mint too! My son insisted – he uses it to garnish his desserts. I have it in a planter by the front door – just so it doesn’t take over the garden. I like the sound of your recipe, and it looks good too – I’ll have to try it.
That sounds super good. I’ve been looking for recipes that I can eat cold the next day for lunch at work.
I’ve heard that about mint as well…
That sounds super good. I’ve been looking for recipes that I can eat cold the next day for lunch at work.
I’ve heard that about mint as well…
My first child was at home, and hit a point where he got very picky about food. My second son, who is 12 years younger than the first, so kind of another only child, loves most stuff. The only thing you can say for sure about kids is that you never can predict anything. 🙂
My first child was at home, and hit a point where he got very picky about food. My second son, who is 12 years younger than the first, so kind of another only child, loves most stuff. The only thing you can say for sure about kids is that you never can predict anything. 🙂
yum! and yay garden!
i need to do another serious bok choy harvest this weekend. and i think it’s time for some strawberry jam. mmmmm, tasty.
yum! and yay garden!
i need to do another serious bok choy harvest this weekend. and i think it’s time for some strawberry jam. mmmmm, tasty.
Wait, the mint grows with the chocolate already in it? Really?
Clearly I need to get out into the world of plants more to find out what else I’m missing out on.
Wait, the mint grows with the chocolate already in it? Really?
Clearly I need to get out into the world of plants more to find out what else I’m missing out on.