I love staying in and making dinner – it’s even more enjoyable if you make dinner together with a friend or a date. This recipe begins with a melt-in-your-mouth pork belly and soupy noodles.
Ramen is definitely one of my favorite dishes – it’s tasty, satisfying, and comforting. The version I make here is not one that involves hours of broth making. It’s quite simple and the soup is incredibly easy to make. It uses instant dashi granules, which taste like smoky fish and it is a common ingredient used in Japanese cooking to add flavor. It’s similar to bouillon powder.
I’m also going to mention a few other ingredients that might be new to some. I used a white miso paste for this soup because it is milder – I recommend using a light hand when adding this because the flavor is quite strong. Arame is a type of sea kelp that is also very popular in Japanese cuisines. Enoki mushrooms are needlelike and white, commonly used for soups. Use noodles you like – vermicelli, udon, or soba are great with this soup. All the ingredients are flexible, of course, but I want the main focus to be the pork belly and soup. 
Pork Belly and Miso Noodles
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Description
Miso noodles are perfect anytime of the year, especially on a rainy spring day. Stay in for dinner and enjoy a comforting bowl with bold Japanese flavors.
Ingredients
- Half a lb (225 g) of pork belly
- 2 stalks of scallion, cut into 2" pieces
- 4-5 shiitake, sliced
- 1 cup (240 ml) of enoki mushrooms, 2" pieces
- Large handful of arame
- 1 tsp instant dashi
- 2 1/2 tbsp (38 ml) white miso paste (Begin with less to adjust flavor accordingly)
- 1 stalk of bok choy
- 5 cups (1.2 L) cold water
- 2 servings noodles of your choice (I used laksa noodles)
- 1 egg (optional)
Instructions
- This is optional, but I marinated my pork belly in a mixture of 1 tbsp soy sauce and 1 tsp sugar. This just adds some extra flavor and helps the pork to caramelize nicely when braising.
- Cut the pork belly into two even pieces. Heat up a medium saucepan on high and when hot, sear the pork belly. Once a side is brown, turn over until all sides are brown and caramelized. Add the scallions and once they start to brown and soften, add water. Here’s a tip: if you clean the shiitake thoroughly, add the stems to enhance the broth’s flavor profile.
- Once the broth comes to a boil, add the dashi and miso. Stir until everything is incorporated. Turn heat down to low. Check for taste – once it’s to your satisfaction, cover and let cook for at least one hour.
- When the soup is close to finish, start preparing your other ingredients. Soak the arame in cold water for 5 minutes and then drain. Set aside.
- Once the belly is done braising, immediately remove and set in fridge to let cool. By cooling it, it will be easier to cut the meat. Let cool for at least 15 minutes. Now, back to finishing the soup.
- If you used the mushroom stems, take them out now. Taste for flavor again and adjust if necessary. Follow instructions for the noodles you are using. Drain and portion noodles into two large bowls.
- At this point, once the pork belly feels cool to the touch, slice into 1” pieces. Fry them in a pan over medium heat to crisp them up.
- Bring the soup back to medium high heat – toss remaining vegetables for cooking. Once the vegetables are done cooking, ladle the steamy soup into the noodle bowls. Add arame and crispy pork belly on top. Top off with fresh scallions and radish for a splash of color.
- This last step is totally optional but definitely worth it – add a soft-boiled egg onto the yummy goodness and sprinkle some sesame seeds on top.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Category: Main
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 580
Frequently Asked Questions
What is instant dashi and can I skip it?
Instant dashi granules are a Japanese seasoning that tastes like smoky fish — similar to bouillon powder. They are a common pantry ingredient in Japanese cooking and they are what gives the broth its depth without a long simmer. I would not skip it; it is easy to find at Asian grocery stores.
Why chill the pork belly before slicing it?
After braising for at least an hour, the belly needs at least 15 minutes in the fridge. Cold fat firms up and the meat tightens slightly, which makes it much easier to cut cleanly into 1-inch pieces. Slice it hot and it just falls apart.
How do I use the shiitake mushroom stems and arame in this broth?
If you clean the shiitake thoroughly, add the stems directly to the broth — they deepen the flavor profile noticeably. Remove them before serving. For the arame, soak it in cold water for 5 minutes and drain before adding it to the bowl at the end, on top of the soup.
How much white miso should I add?
Start with less than the 2 1/2 tablespoons listed and taste as you go — miso is salty and its flavor is quite strong. The recipe specifically says to begin with less and adjust. Add gradually, stir, and check again before you add more.
