Description
Rich, comforting ramen, made from scratch. Learn the secrets to the perfect broth and delicious toppings.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Broth:
- 5 oz (142 g) pork fat
- 4 lbs (1814 g) pig hocks and/or trotters, cut into small pieces
- 2 lbs (907 g) chicken backs, cut into small pieces
- 1 lb (454 g) chicken feet
- 1 large onion, peeled and slit around the middle
- 1 whole head garlic
- 2 inches fresh ginger, sliced
- 1 leek, sliced
- 15 green onions, white parts only, cut in half
- 5-8 slices white oyster mushrooms
Pork belly (chashu):
- 1 1/2 lbs (680 g) slab boneless pork belly, rolled and secured with string
- 1 cup (237 ml) water
- 1/2 cup (118 ml) soy sauce
- 1 cup (237 ml) white grape juice
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 5 green onions, halved
- 1 whole head garlic, bruised
- 2 inches fresh ginger, sliced
- 2 whole shallots, halved
- 1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns
Marinated eggs:
- 3 eggs
Noodles:
- 2 lbs (907 g) fresh ramen noodles, cooked according to package directions
Seasoning and toppings (to taste):
- Mayu (black garlic oil), to taste (see notes)
- Salt, to taste
- Soy sauce, to taste
- Tahini, to taste
- Miso paste, to taste
- Garlic and shallot oil, to taste
- Sesame oil, to taste
- Enoki mushrooms, blanched in hot broth
- Black fungus mushrooms, blanched in hot broth for a couple of minutes
- Green parts of the broth green onions, thinly sliced
- Nori (sushi seaweed), cut into 4-inch squares
- Garlic, sliced and fried until crispy
Instructions
Broth:
- Place the chicken, pork bones, and pork fat in a large stock pot. Add enough water to fully cover. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Drain the bones and wash off any dark marrow or coagulated blood under cold water.
- Rinse the pot, return the bones, and add the remaining broth ingredients. Add water to barely cover. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Simmer covered on low for 6–12 hours on the stove, or 12–18 hours in a slow cooker. Check the first 10–15 minutes to ensure it is barely simmering.
- During the last 30 minutes to 1 hour, place the 5 oz of pork fat in a sieve set in the broth; cover and cook. Drain the fat and finely mince it.
- Skim some or all of the fat from the finished broth (easiest after refrigeration).
Pork belly (chashu):
- Preheat the oven to 250°F (121°C). Place the pork belly in a saucepan, add water to cover, and bring to a boil.
- Drain and remove any scum.
- Return the pork belly to the saucepan with the remaining chashu ingredients. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Transfer to the preheated oven and cook for 5 hours, shaking the pan every hour to ensure even coating.
- Insert a skewer — if there is no resistance, it is ready. Cook longer if desired.
- Cool completely, then chill in the refrigerator (with the eggs) so the pork absorbs more flavor and is easier to slice.
- When ready to serve, cut the strings, slice the pork, and briefly reheat in hot ramen broth.
Marinated eggs:
- Bring enough water to cover the eggs to a boil in a saucepan.
- Reduce heat to medium, gently add the eggs, and simmer for exactly 6 minutes.
- Drain and peel the eggs under cold water.
- Place the peeled eggs in the cooled chashu braising liquid. Soak a paper towel in the liquid and drape it over the eggs to keep them submerged. Marinate for 4–12 hours in the refrigerator alongside the pork belly.
- When ready to serve, carefully slice the eggs in half and briefly warm in hot ramen broth — do not overheat.
Assembling:
- Bring the broth to a boil and add seasoning gradually to taste.
- Arrange noodles in a bowl and add sliced chashu, a halved marinated egg, minced pork fat, and your choice of toppings and garnishes. Serve immediately.
Notes
For mayu (black garlic oil), slowly cook a whole head of garlic in oil until the cloves are deeply charred, then blend smooth. The broth can be made 2–3 days ahead and refrigerates well; the fat cap that forms on top is easy to skim.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 720 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 large bowl
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 1500
- Fat: 40
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Unsaturated Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 40
- Cholesterol: 200