Soba Noodles with Pickled Plums & Sprouting Broccoli

From The Chopsticks Diet by Kimiko Barber
15 minutes prep time | Serves 2

Ingredients:
7 oz dried soba noodles
2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/4 tsp salt
21/2 c sprouting broccoli, cut into bite-size pieces
2 umeboshi (pickled plums), pitted and chopped
1/2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds

What you do:
1. Bring large saucepan of water to boil. Add noodles and stir to separate them. At same time, heat oil, garlic, and salt in generous-sized frying pan over low heat to infuse oil with garlic flavor.
2. When saucepan of water comes back to boil, add broccoli to cook for 1 minute. Pour in glass of cold water when water starts to rise to top. Let water return to boil for third time and then turn off heat. Drain and rinse under cold, running water. Drain well again.
3. Take garlic out of frying pan and add noodle mixture to briefly saute.
4. Turn off heat, add umeboshi, and stir together. Divide noodle mixture onto two dishes, sprinkle with sesame seeds to garnish. Serve with chopsticks.