Really, is there anything more satisfying and comforting than ramen? Those packets of ramen we ate as an after-school snack in middle school and in college aren’t just great because they’re so cheap, I honestly think they’re so good. The long, chewy noodles mixed with that sodium-laden flavor packet is really unlike anything else. Now I’ve realized that ramen you might find in a restaurant is like an art form. Each component of it requires knowledge and skill, like the handmade noodles and making a broth that can take hours, even days to prepare. What I make is so far from that, but it’s like an upgrade from the microwave ramen. You still get the satisfying experience of springy egg noodles, a salty umami soup, and even some veg. A crispy fried egg on top rounds it all out, as crispy eggs always do.
I make this soup frequently on weeknights, especially when I’m craving that comfort or have some veggies looming in the back of the fridge I need to use up. Mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, spinach, kale, raddish, broccoli, even roasted squash work. Just throw in what you’ve got during the last few minutes of cooking.
Some key ingredients for me are really just some miso and/or veggie broth (from the carton or using bouillon paste). You could also fry up some ~aromatics~ like the classic trio of garlic, onion (or scallions, or shallots), and ginger. If you’re using those guys just cook them up in some oil (sesame oil would be especially good here), then add the liquid and miso, then add your noodles. Cooking with egg and rice noodles is also great because they each take less than 10 minutes to cook. If you’ve used water, you could also add a splash of soy sauce right before you take everything off the heat to add even more flavor. You’ll have yourself a hot bowl of noodles in less than 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- water/vegetable broth (carton or bouillon paste)
- miso paste (~1 tablespoon)
- vegetables
- egg (or whatever protein you prefer)
- oil (olive oil, canola, or sesame)
- ginger (~1 inch piece, peeled, finely chopped)
- garlic (1 clove, sliced)
- onion/shallot/white part of scallions (~1 tablespoon, finely chopped)
- soy sauce (if desired, a splash)
- toppings: scallions, sesame seeds, cilantro, chili flakes
Do it
- If using, peel and chop ginger and onion finely. Peel and chop garlic into thin slices.
- In a small pot, heat a good amount of oil over medium-low heat. Once the oil is warmed, add the ginger, onion, and garlic. Fry for about a minute, watching for any browning or burning, as these ingredients can burn easily. If using mushrooms, add them here and brown them with the aromatics.
- Once ginger, onion, and garlic are fragrant, add about three cups (or enough for you serving size) of liquid. Add miso or bouillon paste if using either/both. Let heat on medium heat so pastes can dissolve. Note: avoid bringing miso paste to a boil, as it diminishes the awesome health benefits of miso! 🙂
- When pastes dissolve, add a serving of noodles, let them cook in the broth until softened.
- While noodles are cooking, heat a pan over medium-high heat. Once the pan is HOT, add a generous amount of oil to coat the pan, then crack the egg into the oil. The egg will ideally bubble and might splatter a bit, so just be careful of the hot oil.
- After the noodles have cooked, add the vegetables and stir until vegetables are cooked, but still tender (not too wilty). This should take just a minute or so, depending on the vegetable.
- Pour into a bowl, top, and shlurp.