Hello friends of Fairness Magazine, Japanese cuisine enthusiasts, and above all food lovers! Today I will take you on a culinary journey to the land of the Rising Sun, revealing the secrets of true Japanese cuisine. Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of unique flavors, fresh ingredients, and traditional techniques. Are you ready? Then, put on your apron and follow my instructions!
Japanese cuisine is based on balance and the enhancement of the natural flavors of the ingredients rather than the addition of heavy sauces. The basic meal consists of soup, several side dishes, and a bowl of steamed rice.
Ramen is an iconic dish of Japanese cuisine. Preparing the broth takes time and patience, but it is absolutely worth it. Boil pork bones, chicken, and vegetables for several hours, adding ingredients like kombu seaweed, shiitake mushrooms, and soy sauce to intensify the flavor. Cook the ramen noodles separately and prepare your favorite toppings, such as marinated eggs, slices of roasted pork, and chopped scallions. Finally, assemble your homemade ramen by pouring the boiling broth over the noodles and adding the toppings. Enjoy this comforting and flavorful dish!
When it comes to Eastern cuisine, few dishes can compete with ramen in terms of charm, complexity, and enveloping flavor. Originating from Japan but influenced by various culinary traditions, ramen has become a global icon of comfort food in recent decades.
A Dive into History
Ramen, as we know it today, is a fusion of Chinese and Japanese culinary traditions. Its history can be traced back to the Edo period (1603-1868) in Japan, when the first Chinese noodles arrived in the country thanks to Chinese immigrants. These noodles were known as “shina soba” or “chuka soba” and formed the basis for what would later become ramen.
However, ramen began to gain popularity during the 20th century, especially after World War II. During the post-war period, Japan was subjected to strong American influence, leading to the emergence of “ramenya,” small restaurants specializing in ramen preparation. The dish evolved over time, taking on unique and regional characteristics throughout Japan.
Today, ramen has become a global phenomenon, with specialized restaurants serving variations of the dish worldwide. However, preparing authentic ramen at home is possible, and this brings us to the original recipe. Do you want to try it and experiment with us with this recipe? Then follow us step by step and you will get a Masterchef-level Ramen!
The Original Ramen Recipe
Preparing ramen requires time, dedication, and the use of high-quality ingredients. Here’s how you can make your authentic Japanese ramen:
👩🏻🍳Ingredients for 2 people
- 4 servings of fresh or dried ramen noodles
- 8 cups of chicken broth (preferably homemade)
- 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame oil
- 4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 2 pieces of fresh ginger, thinly sliced
- 4 tablespoons of miso paste
- 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons of mirin (sweet rice wine)
- 400g of thinly sliced pork meat (such as loin or bacon)
- hard-boiled eggs, thinly sliced green onion, bamboo shoots, and nori seaweed for garnish
👩🏻🍳Preparation
- Start by cooking the chicken bones with vegetables over low heat for several hours, otherwise, if you don’t have time, you can opt for high-quality pre-packaged chicken broth.
- In a separate pot, heat the sesame oil over medium heat and sauté the garlic and ginger until fragrant.
Add the miso paste to the pot and sauté for a minute; then, add the soy sauce and mirin. Mix well. - Pour the chicken broth into the pot with the miso mixture and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat and let it simmer over low heat for at least 30 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Meanwhile, boil the ramen noodles according to the package instructions, then drain and rinse them in cold water to stop cooking.
- Cook the pork meat in a hot skillet until golden brown on both sides.
- To serve, put a portion of noodles in each bowl and pour the hot broth over them. Arrange the pork meat over the noodles and garnish with hard-boiled eggs, green onions, bamboo shoots, and nori seaweed.
Every spoonful of this dish will make you feel enveloped by the comfort and tradition of Japanese cuisine. Remember that ramen is a highly customizable dish, so you can experiment with different ingredients and seasonings until you find your favorite version.
Ramen is much more than just a dish; it is a journey through culinary history and a tasting experience rooted in centuries-old traditions. With this original recipe, you can enjoy ramen in its most authentic form and celebrate its culinary evolution over the centuries.
Bon appétit from Fairness Magazine! 👩🏻🍳
Ig – @fairness_mag
