Soba noodles are long, thin japanese noodles made from buckwheat. Here, they're tossed in a gingery vinaigrette that does double duty as a marinade for the salmon. Since you can prepare the salad while the fish is cooking, the whole recipe comes together in under 30 minutesgreat for busy nights when you still want a special meal. P. S. If you don't eat fish, the soba salad is great on its ownThere are several types of soba noodlessome are made of 100% buckwheat, others contain a blend of buckwheat and wheat. There are also specialty varieties that contain yam flour, mugwort, or green tea. I prefer soba made with 100% buckwheat for its distinctive flavor. If you purchase noodles made from a blend of flours, look for those that are predominantly buckwheat for the best flavor and texture.