Homemade Menma Ramen

Ingredients

• 200g (7 oz) fresh ramen noodles 200g (7 oz) fresh ramen noodles
• 4 cups (950ml) chicken or vegetable broth 4 cups (950ml) chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 cup (240ml) water 1 cup (240ml) water
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon mirin 1 tablespoon mirin
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• 1 garlic clove, minced 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 cup (150g) Menma (fermented bamboo shoots) 1 cup (150g) Menma (fermented bamboo shoots)
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 2 soft-boiled eggs, halved 2 soft-boiled eggs, halved
• Nori seaweed, for garnish Nori seaweed, for garnish
• Sesame seeds, for garnish Sesame seeds, for garnish

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 350 kcal / 1465 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 8g, 1.5g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 55g, 5g
• Protein: 15g
• Fiber: 4g
• Salt: 2g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a large pot, bring the chicken or vegetable broth and water to a boil.
2. 2.
   Add the soy sauce, mirin, sesame oil, grated ginger, and minced garlic to the pot. Stir well to combine.
3. 3.
   Reduce the heat to low and let the broth simmer for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
4. 4.
   While the broth is simmering, cook the fresh ramen noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
5. 5.
   In a separate pot, bring water to a boil and cook the soft-boiled eggs for 6-7 minutes. Remove from heat, cool in ice water, and peel.
6. 6.
   Divide the cooked ramen noodles among serving bowls.
7. 7.
   Ladle the hot broth over the noodles, ensuring each bowl has an equal amount of broth.
8. 8.
   Top each bowl with Menma, green onions, soft-boiled eggs, nori seaweed, and sesame seeds.
9. 9.
   Serve the Homemade Menma Ramen hot and enjoy!

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Menma — If you can't find Menma at your local Asian grocery store, you can try making it at home by fermenting bamboo shoots. Alternatively, you can substitute it with sliced shiitake mushrooms for a similar umami flavor.

Tips & Tricks

• For an extra kick of flavor, add a drizzle of chili oil or a sprinkle of shichimi togarashi (Japanese seven spice) to your bowl of Menma Ramen.
• To make the broth even richer, you can simmer it for a longer time, up to 1 hour, to extract more flavors from the ingredients.
• Customize your toppings by adding sliced roasted pork, corn kernels, or bean sprouts to your Menma Ramen.

Serving advice

Serve the Homemade Menma Ramen hot in individual bowls. Encourage your guests to mix the toppings and noodles with the broth before enjoying each spoonful.

Presentation advice

Garnish each bowl of Menma Ramen with a sheet of nori seaweed and a sprinkle of sesame seeds for an attractive presentation. Serve the ramen in traditional Japanese bowls to enhance the dining experience.