TSUKEMEN RAMEN

My Cellar

Serves 4

8 cups (2 L) Ramen Broth, make ahead

4 slices Char Siu Pork Belly, make ahead

4 portions fresh or frozen ramen noodles, cooked according to package directions

2 green onions, sliced

½ cup (125 ml) assorted Japanese pickled vegetables

8 Japanese fish cakes, sliced in half and warmed in boiling water

2 packages enoki mushrooms, root end trimmed off and divided into 4 portions

SIMPLE RAMEN BROTH:

9 cups (2.1 L) chicken stock

2 packages Dashi granules

10 dried shiitake mushrooms, rinsed

1 tbsp (15 ml) soy sauce

2 tbsp (30 ml) mirin

1 tbsp (15 ml) sea salt, to taste

CHAR SIU PORK BELLY:

1 lb (500 g) pork belly, rolled and tied

½ cup (125 ml) soy sauce

1 cup (250 ml) water

½ cup (125 ml) cooking sake

½ cup (125 ml) mirin

½ cup (125 ml) sugar

4 garlic cloves, crushed

4 green onions, cut in half

4 slices ginger

¼ onion, peeled

1 tsp (5 ml) rice vinegar

In a pot over high heat, reduce prepared Ramen Broth to 4 cups (1 L). Set aside and keep warm while preparing remaining ingredients.
Over medium heat, warm Char Siu slices in its cooking liquid until hot, set aside.
Place hot noodles in 4 large bowls. Arrange Char Siu and fish cakes on noodles. Garnish with remaining ingredients. Ladle broth into 4 smaller soup bowls and serve broth with noodles and garnishes. This ramen is eaten by dipping noodles and garnishes into broth before eating.
To make SIMPLE RAMEN BROTH: In a large pot, simmer all ingredients for 30 minutes. Remove mushrooms before serving. Adjust salt to taste. Makes 8 cups (2 L)
To make CHAR SIU PORK BELLY: Preheat oven to 275 F (140 C).
Place pork in an ovenproof pot with a lid, just large enough to fit. Add remaining ingredients. Put pot on stove over high heat and bring to a boil. Cover with lid and put in oven for about 4 hours, or until pork is tender.
Let pork cool in cooking liquid until room temperature, then refrigerate overnight before slicing and using. Remove butcher’s twine before slicing. Pork can be kept in braising liquid for up to 3 days.