Ramen is more than packet noodles
Ramen has gone from student food to one of the world's most loved noodle dishes. The secret lies in the interplay between four elements: broth, seasoning sauce (tare), noodles and toppings. When these work together, you get a bowl full of depth and warmth. Not sure what ramen actually is? Start with our ramen guide.
The four building blocks
- Broth: The foundation. It can be based on chicken, pork, fish or vegetables, and is simmered until rich and full-bodied.
- Tare: The concentrated seasoning sauce at the bottom of the bowl, often based on soy sauce (shoyu), miso or salt (shio).
- Noodles: Fresh wheat noodles with a good bite are the classic choice – see our noodle range.
- Toppings: Marinated egg, spring onion, nori, bamboo shoots and slices of pork or chicken.
Easy ramen in one evening
You do not need to simmer broth for 12 hours to make good ramen. Here is how to get a great result quickly:
- Heat up a good chicken or vegetable broth.
- Put a tablespoon of miso or two tablespoons of soy sauce and a little sesame oil in the bottom of the bowl – feel free to read our guide to soy sauce.
- Cook the noodles separately so they do not turn mushy, and transfer them to the bowl.
- Pour the hot broth over and stir in the seasoning sauce.
- Top with marinated egg, spring onion, corn and nori.
The marinated egg (ajitama)
A soft-boiled egg that has been soaking in soy sauce and mirin is a favorite. Boil the egg for 6.5 minutes, cool it in ice water, peel it and place it in a mixture of soy sauce, water and a little sugar for a few hours. The golden, creamy yolk lifts the whole dish.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not cook the noodles in the broth itself – they release starch and make the soup cloudy. Always taste the seasoning sauce before pouring in the broth, so the salt level is right. And serve immediately – ramen does not wait.
No time to make it from scratch?
Then we have over 90 varieties of instant ramen – from Japanese classics to Korean buldak noodles – that you can dress up with the ajitama egg and the toppings from this recipe.
Find the ingredients at FUDI
At FUDI you will find everything you need for an authentic ramen: fresh and dried noodles, miso, soy sauce and sesame oil, nori and bamboo shoots. Put together your own favorite bowl, and experiment with the flavors until you find your signature ramen.
