Better Than Your Favorite Noodle Bar: Master This Cozy, Authentic Chicken Ramen at Home
Make yourself an authentic trip to Japan without actually leaving the house.
Despite the complexity of its main dishes, the Japanese cuisine remains one of the most tempting food experiences that many go for either to the best restaurants in town or, well, to Japan itself.
One of the most popular traditional meals of the island country, ramen gives a profound taste that stays with you for long after finishing the dish. If you aren’t afraid of experiments in your own kitchen, try this chicken ramen recipe — you likely won’t be disappointed.
Ingredients (2 portions):
For the broth: 500 g of chicken wings or thighs, 1 onion, 3 cloves of garlic, 1 small piece of ginger (3–4 cm), 1.5 L of water, 2 tbsp of soy sauce, 1 tbsp of mirin (or 1 tsp of sugar), 1 tsp of sesame oil, salt to taste.
For the noodles: 200 g of wheat noodles (udon or ramen), 1 tsp of vegetable oil.
For the toppings: 2 hard-boiled eggs, 100 g of button mushrooms, 1 carrot, 2 scallions, 1 tsp of sesame seeds (for serving), chili pepper or Sriracha sauce (optional).
Prepare the broth. Place the chicken wings or thighs in a pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Skim off any foam, reduce the heat, and add the peeled onion, garlic, and sliced ginger. Simmer the broth over low heat for 40–50 minutes. Then add soy sauce, mirin, and sesame oil. Try the broth and add salt if needed.
Boil the noodles according to the package instructions (this usually takes 5–7 minutes). Rinse the cooked noodles with cold water and drizzle with vegetable oil to prevent them from sticking together.
For the toppings, cook the eggs hard-boiled (7–8 minutes), peel them, and cut them in half. Slice the mushrooms thinly and fry them in a dry skillet until golden brown. Cut the carrots into thin strips or use a vegetable peeler to cut them into beautiful strips. Finely chop the green onions.
Assemble the ramen. Place the noodles in deep bowls. Pour hot broth over the noodles, then add the chicken pieces (you can remove the meat from the bones and cut it up). Add toppings: egg, mushrooms, carrots, and green onions. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and add chili flakes or Sriracha sauce for a spicy kick.
