Soba Noodles w/ Parsley Pesto
Enjoy pesto? Try this parsley pesto recipe instead of traditional basil. It’s wonderful and fragrant on noodles or pasta. 
Parsley Pesto Recipe with Soba Noodles
Margaret Roach walked away, and not for her morning hit of caffeine, but from a highly success career as Editorial Director in bustling New York City and traded it all for peace and solitude in the rural town of 300. She took the chance, and found the courage to take care of herself first and left it all for more time digging in the dirt, working in the garden and finding the tranquility that she craved so long for.

A Way to Garden Book
Margaret is a renaissance woman, an artist, a crafter, and gardener who has found her peace by doing everything that she loves and shares it on her New York Times award winning garden blog, A Way To Garden.
This book is the perfect feast for anyone looking to find inspiration and focus back in life. This parsley pesto recipe is inspired by Margaret, from one of her many valuable posts on cooking from the garden. Parsley is often overlooked when it comes to pesto. And reading her post was a such a refreshing change from basil pesto.
If you love pesto, you will love this parsley pesto recipe. It’s so simple, fresh and full of flavor, you won’t miss the basil at all. You can use any type of noodle or pasta that you prefer, but our choice was buckwheat soba noodles. With Spring approaching, it felt so appropriate to prepare the parsley pesto with something delicate and healthy to bring in the new, revitalizing weather.



Soba with Parsley Pesto Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 oz. dried Soba Noodles
- 3/4 cup roughly chopped Italian Parsley (flat leaf parsley)
- 2 Tablespoons Pine Nuts , toasted *see head note
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 1 Tablespoon fresh Lemon Juice
- 1/2 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
- 3 Tablespoons Grape Seed Oil , or other neutral tasting oil
Instructions
- Cook soba: Heat a large pot of water to a boil. Add soba noodles, stir as they soften, and bring water back up to a simmer (not a boil). Simmer for 6-7 minutes or according to package directions. Noodles should still have a slight firmness, and not be mushy.
- Strain soba and rinse well using the correct water temperature. *If serving warm, rinse under hot water, if serving soba at room temperature, rinse under cold water.
- While soba cooks, make parsley sauce. Combine parsley, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, sesame oil, soy sauce, and grape seed oil in a food processor (preferably in smaller bowl if possible) and blend ingredients together until smooth.
- Toss noodles with sauce and serve.
Nutrition Information per Serving
We have a traditional and easy basil pesto recipe here if you have an abundance of garden basil. It’s a great staple to have in the fridge. Try this pesto on our heirloom tomato tart recipe.



The book sounds beautiful. I can’t tell you how many times I have been ‘there’ over the past 10 years. So very many times. I love the dark aesthetic in this parsley photo series!
I love the simplicity of the recipe and the amazing pictures that went with it.
The taste of summer hits you right where it counts in this pesto guys.
The pictures, gorgeous as always, those plates! I’m in love!!!
I love Margaret’s blog and I’d love the book I’m sure!
the book sounds wonderful. your food pictures always inspire me!
would love to read any posts you have on what lenses you generally use for your food, or any photography posts you share any of your secrets in….I was salivating at your So Cal photography the other week…I am in San Diego and jones’ing for something like that!
Averie- yes, we have some online tutorials! https://whiteonricecouple.com/category/photography-tips/
What you said of Margaret Roach reminds me of a woman I revered as a child and adolescent, Tasha Tudor – both left busy, successful lives to find peace in the country and make their lives there. Her book sounds lovely and I’ll be sure to pick it up, giveaway or not! I love soba and this sounds like such a great recipe as we edge into springtime and fresh herbs again. Thanks!
I too have left work to focus on gardening; to create something beautiful and productive on a 2 acre blank canvas. I did not have career success like Margaret and for too long have worked in jobs that I I had no passion for and which were not personally fulfilling. I have made the break and am focusing on going with the flow, living in the moment and appreciating the simple joys of life. I believe that by doing so my creative spirit will reemerge and my authentic self will lead me intuitively to what will be the right path for me to follow when the time is right. I look forward to delving into Margaret’s blog and book. Thank you for the introduction.
Hi
Thank you for sharing this book & recipe.
Love to win this inspirational book = )
I would enjoy winning it a great deal! This sounds marvelous (my mouth is watering)!
Great post…I love the sound of Margaret’s book…very inspirational!
This is my first visit to your blog…and, I love it. I just heard about this book today! I hope I win! 🙂
I’m not sure why I’ve never made pesto before but this looks really good with the soba. I look forward to reading Margaret’s blog.
Thanks for reminding me about Margaret’s site. I used to visit, but then kind of forgot about it. Although I am sure I would have remembered once spring planting came around again.
All of this has come at the perfect time. Thank you for sharing once again !
Thanks for introducing this book to me. I can’t wait to go to Margaret’s blog and read her tips on gardening.
Have a great week!
I love pesto and your pictures!! Soba and pesto what an interesting combination, but it looks good!