Soba Noodles with Grilled Shrimp and Cilantro

• Contributed by Su-Mei Yu 

Garlicky, spicy and bright with lime, this noodle dish is both warming and energizing, according to Thai tradition. Just don't skimp on the lime wedges or cilantro: "The sour juice protects the respiratory system in the early spring," Su-Mei Yu says, "and cilantro helps when you're congested."

Our Pairing Suggestion

Tangy dishes like these lime-inflected noodles pair better with tangy wines; softer wines tend to lose their flavor. Try a dry Australian Riesling—they're crisp, vivid and great with Asian cuisines.

Soba Noodles with Grilled Shrimp and Cilantro

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1. 12 ounces soba noodles
2. 1/4 cup vegetable oil
3. 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
4. 3 tablespoons tamari
5. 1 teaspoon agave syrup
6. 2 large shallots, thinly sliced and separated into rings
7. 6 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
8. 1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest, plus 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
9. 1 pound large shrimp, shelled and deveined
10. Salt
11. 2 scallions, finely chopped
12. 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
13. 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
14. Lime wedges, for serving

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook, stirring, until tender, 4 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. In a medium bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of the oil with the soy sauce, tamari and agave syrup. Add the noodles and toss.
2. In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add the shallots and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until golden brown and crisp, 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the shallots to paper towels. Add the garlic to the skillet and cook over low heat until golden and crisp, 2 minutes. Transfer the garlic to the paper towels.
3. Light a grill or preheat a grill pan. In a bowl, combine the lime zest and juice with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Stir in the shrimp and season with salt. Grill the shrimp over high heat, turning once, until glazed and just white throughout, 3 minutes.
4. Arrange the noodles on a large platter. Sprinkle with the scallions, cilantro, crushed red pepper and the fried shallots and garlic. Arrange the shrimp on top and serve with lime wedges alongside.

Notes One serving 234 cal, 26 gm carb, 8 gm fat, 1.5 gm sat fat, 16 gm protein, less than 1 gm fiber.