Gluten Free Buckwheat Noodle Soup

winter is just about here when a bowl of soup and a salad make a great meal, especially if it is a hearty soup (and i don't mean campbells). this is my hot version of a traditionally cold buckwheat noodle soup from korea called naeng myun. the traditional cold version features a rich broth* that was then poured into a bowl containing cooked buckwheat noodles, kimchee juice, some vegetables a soft boiled egg and some julienned pear or apple to offset the tartness from the kimchee juice. as this was a summer meal it was meant to be light.
     so here is my hot version -hope you will give it a try. it is meant as a starting point and soups in general are quite flexible as to their ingredients. the meat and egg can be left out and with vegetable broth you will have a vegan version.

ingredients:
1/2pkg buckwheat noodles (also called soba) cooked according to pkg. and drained. if you want    gluten free make sure you buy the korean variety made with buckwheat and sweet potato flour.
4 cups broth of your choice
2 cups fresh baby spinach or other greens of your choice such as arugula, cabbage, etc.
1 onion cut into thin slices
1 bunch scallions cut into 1" pieces inc. green ends
1-2 cups sliced mushrooms
3 large garlic cloves minced (or more!)
3" piece of fresh ginger grated
1-2 cups cooked meat of your choice, diced
1 tablespoon each of sesame seed oil, g-free soy sauce, vinegar of choice and  rice wine vinegar
     (or 2 tbl of whatever vinegar you have on hand or the same amount of kimchee juice if you want a more traditional and spicier soup.
salt and pepper to taste.
optional-cooked egg, julienned pear or apple, sesame seeds

method
cook noodles, set aside
saute onions in sesame seed oil until they soften
add in scallions, garlic, ginger and sauté over medium heat for several minutes
heat broth, add in above plus the mushrooms, fresh greens, meat, vinegars and soy sauce
bring to a slow boil, let simmer for several minutes
taste-adjust seasonings if needed
laddle soup into bowls containing a good portion of noodles
add the optional ingredients if desired-enjoy

*hot broth is the new thing in nyc this winter instead of coffee