By: Irvin Ji

Ingredients

For the Broth:

• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced (or dried shiitake mushrooms)
• 1 medium onion, halved
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1-inch piece of ginger, sliced
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons mirin (sweet rice wine)
• 1 tablespoon sake (Japanese rice wine)
• 1 tablespoon miso paste (optional, for added depth)

For the Tare (Seasoning Sauce):

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons sake
• 2 tablespoons mirin
• 1 tablespoon sugar

For the Toppings:

• 4 oz fresh ramen noodles
• 1 cup sliced cooked chashu pork
• 2 soft-boiled eggs (marinated in soy sauce and mirin)
• 1 cup sliced green onions
• 1/2 cup bamboo shoots
• 1/2 cup corn kernels (optional)
• 1 sheet nori (seaweed), cut into strips
• 1/2 cup bean sprouts
• 1/2 cup spinach or bok choy (optional)
• Pickled ginger (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Broth:

• Combine Ingredients: In a large pot, combine chicken broth, water, shiitake mushrooms, onion, garlic, and ginger.
• Simmer: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes. If using dried shiitake mushrooms, simmer for 1 hour to extract more flavor.
• Strain: Remove the vegetables and mushrooms from the broth using a fine-mesh strainer or slotted spoon. Discard the solids. Stir in soy sauce, mirin, sake, and miso paste if using. Adjust seasoning to taste.

2.Make the Tare:

• Combine Ingredients: In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, sake, mirin, and sugar.
• Heat and Stir: Heat the mixture in a small saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. It should be a slightly thick dark brown liquid. Remove from heat and set aside.

3.Prepare the Noodles:

• Cook Noodles: Cook fresh ramen noodles according to package instructions. If using instant noodles, cook them in a separate pot according to the package directions, then drain and set aside.

4. Prepare Toppings:

• Soft-Boiled Eggs: If marinating, soak the soft-boiled eggs in a mixture of soy sauce and mirin for at least 30 minutes.
• Chashu Pork: Slice the cooked pork into thin rounds. If using pre-cooked pork, warm it slightly in a pan or microwave.
• Prepare Vegetables: Blanch spinach or bok choy if using. Slice green onions, cut nori into strips, and prepare any other desired toppings.

5. Assemble the Ramen:

• Season the Broth: Divide the tare evenly among serving bowls.
• Add Broth: Ladle hot broth into each bowl over the tare, mixing well.
• Add Noodles: Place a portion of cooked noodles in each bowl.
• Add Toppings: Arrange the sliced pork, soft-boiled eggs, green onions, bamboo shoots, corn, bean sprouts, and spinach on top of the noodles.
• Garnish: Garnish with nori strips and pickled ginger if desired.

6. Serve:

• Enjoy: Serve immediately while hot. Mix everything together before eating to enjoy the full flavor of your homemade shoyu ramen!