Autumn Ramen Recipe
Photo: Michael Harlan Turkell
This spicy ramen broth is enriched with soy milk, which gives it a luxurious, creamy body but without any heaviness. Be sure to use an unflavored soy milk, and check the ingredients—the best store-bought soy milks only contain whole soybeans and water. The simple toppings—juicy, roasted mushrooms, raw Brussels-sprout leaves, cubes of firm tofu and crunchy sprouts—offer lots of contrast, but are mellow enough to let the good broth shine.
Serves 4
1 pound mixed mushrooms, such as shiitake, oyster, cremini and white button, trimmed or torn into pieces about 1/2-inch thick
2 Tbsp. neutral-tasting oil
3/4 tsp. fine sea salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Pinch of red pepper flakes
1 1/2 quarts Vegetarian Dashi (see separate recipe)
3 to 4 dried whole chilies, or 1 Tbsp. red pepper flakes
5 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1 cup unflavored, good-quality soy milk
3 Tbsp. light-colored miso paste
4 ounces Brussels sprouts (8 to 10 small ones)
8 ounces dried, or 12 ounces fresh, ramen noodles
14 ounces firm tofu, blotted dry and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 cup tender sprouts, shoots or microgreens
Directions
Preheat oven to 425°.
Divide the mushrooms between 2 baking sheets. Drizzle with the oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt, the black pepper and red pepper flakes. Use your hands to toss so that the mushrooms are well coated. Roast for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring periodically, until the mushrooms are tender and crispy around the edges.
Meanwhile, combine the dashi, chilies and garlic in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer, then cover, remove from the heat and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain out and discard the solids and return the broth to the saucepan.
In a large glass, or a measuring cup or in the tall plastic cup that usually comes with an immersion blender, combine the soy milk and the miso. Puree with an immersion blender until smooth. (Alternatively, puree in a blender.) Pour the mixture into the broth and bring to a bare simmer. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and taste for balance, adding more salt if needed.
Trim the root ends off of the Brussels sprouts. Gently separate the leaves and halve or quarter the firm cores.
Meanwhile, bring a saucepan of water to boil and salt it generously. Add the noodles in a strainer basket or in the pasta insert that comes with your stockpot, if you have one, and cook until tender, usually 4 to 7 minutes for dried; or, according to the package instructions; or, 60 to 90 seconds for fresh. Lift out the noodles, reserving the cooking water, and rinse the noodles thoroughly under cold running water in order to remove excess starch. Quickly dunk them back into the hot water to reheat. Divide among 4 bowls.
Divide the roasted mushrooms, tofu and Brussels sprouts over the noodles. Ladle the hot broth over each serving and top with the tender sprouts. Serve immediately, passing the condiments of your choice at the table.
Text excerpted from BOWL © 2016, by Lukas Volger. Reproduced by permission of Rux Martin Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Serves 4
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat oven to 425°.
Divide the mushrooms between 2 baking sheets. Drizzle with the oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt, the black pepper and red pepper flakes. Use your hands to toss so that the mushrooms are well coated. Roast for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring periodically, until the mushrooms are tender and crispy around the edges.
Meanwhile, combine the dashi, chilies and garlic in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer, then cover, remove from the heat and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain out and discard the solids and return the broth to the saucepan.
In a large glass, or a measuring cup or in the tall plastic cup that usually comes with an immersion blender, combine the soy milk and the miso. Puree with an immersion blender until smooth. (Alternatively, puree in a blender.) Pour the mixture into the broth and bring to a bare simmer. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and taste for balance, adding more salt if needed.
Trim the root ends off of the Brussels sprouts. Gently separate the leaves and halve or quarter the firm cores.
Meanwhile, bring a saucepan of water to boil and salt it generously. Add the noodles in a strainer basket or in the pasta insert that comes with your stockpot, if you have one, and cook until tender, usually 4 to 7 minutes for dried; or, according to the package instructions; or, 60 to 90 seconds for fresh. Lift out the noodles, reserving the cooking water, and rinse the noodles thoroughly under cold running water in order to remove excess starch. Quickly dunk them back into the hot water to reheat. Divide among 4 bowls.
Divide the roasted mushrooms, tofu and Brussels sprouts over the noodles. Ladle the hot broth over each serving and top with the tender sprouts. Serve immediately, passing the condiments of your choice at the table.
Text excerpted from BOWL © 2016, by Lukas Volger. Reproduced by permission of Rux Martin Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
NEXT STORY
