Japanese noodle soup known for its rich broth, chewy noodles, and diverse toppings.

Ramen

A complex noodle soup consisting of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat or fish-based broth, often flavored with soy sauce or miso, and topped with ingredients like sliced pork, nori, menma, and scallions.

Yields: 2 servings Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 1-2 hours (mostly for broth, faster options exist)

Ingredients:

• For Simple Shoyu Broth:
  • 4 cups chicken or pork broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce (shoyu)
  • 1 tbsp mirin (sweet rice wine)
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 clove garlic, smashed
  • 1 slice ginger
• Noodles & Toppings:
  • 2 servings fresh or dried ramen noodles
  • Cooked protein (e.g., sliced chashu pork, cooked chicken, tofu)
  • 1 soft-boiled egg (Ajitsuke Tamago preferred), halved
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced
  • 1 sheet nori, cut into smaller squares
  • Optional: Menma (bamboo shoots), bean sprouts, corn, chili oil

Instructions:

1. Make the Broth: In a saucepan, combine broth, soy sauce, mirin, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Bring to a simmer and cook gently for 15-20 minutes for flavors to meld. Remove garlic and ginger before serving.
2. Prepare Toppings: While broth simmers, prepare all your toppings: slice scallions, halve eggs, prepare protein, cut nori.
3. Cook Noodles: Bring a separate pot of unsalted water to a rolling boil. Cook ramen noodles according to package directions (usually 2-5 minutes for fresh, longer for dried). Drain well.
4. Assemble: Divide the drained noodles between two deep bowls. Ladle the hot broth over the noodles.
5. Add Toppings: Arrange the prepared toppings neatly over the noodles and broth.
6. Serve: Serve immediately while hot.

### What makes it special?:*

Ramen is more than just soup; it's a culinary art form with infinite regional variations. The soul of ramen lies in its broth, which can take hours or days to develop deep umami flavor. The combination of springy noodles, rich broth, and diverse toppings creates a deeply satisfying and customizable eating experience.