How To Properly...
Make Ramen
Ramen is not that hard to make its just time consuming but if you make the noodles up in packets and freeze them you will have them when you want to make ramen. Ramen is a Japanese "fast food" similar to hamburgers in the United States. There are many different kinds of ramen and most of them are only different by the ingredients you put in them. This recipe is for Shouyu Ramen or Soy base soup. It's very delicious and healthy.
To make ramen noodles:
This recipe can be doubled and frozen (so you always have some on hand).
Alternately you can buy the packages of ramen noodles at your supermarket (they're not as good but acceptable)
Homemade Ramen Noodles
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
4 eggs
Salt to taste--from ¼ to ½ teaspoon
1 T. water
Oil for frying
Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Add eggs and water and mix until it forms a nice stiff dough. It will be a little stiffer than bread dough.
Let sit in warm place for 30 minutes then knead for about ten minutes before you roll through a pasta machine or cut them by hand.
To cut by hand: roll out dough on heavily floured counter to the thickness of a penny. Each time rolling in a different direction. This will keep the dough uniformed. When dough is thin enough flour the top side of the dough and roll up from one edge. Using a very sharp knife cut into 1/8 in strips. Separate noodles and allow to dry for about 5 minutes. Cook in boiling water for 4 to 8 minutes depending how done you like your noodles.
To make Shouyu Ramen soup:
Ingredients:
2 to 8 cups of chicken stock (just enough to cover pork loin)
4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
2 inches ginger, peeled and crushed
1 carrot, peeled and cut into pieces
one bunch of green onions, cleaned
1 onion, peeled
2 lbs pork loin, uncut
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons white wine
Sauté vegetables until just brown, add pork loin and brown on all sides. Add chicken stock, soy sauce and white wine and simmer for about 4 hours. Simmer not boil. Just before serving strain out the vegetables and add noodles and cook about 4 to 8 minutes.
Top with your choice of vegetable: spinach, bean sprouts, roasted pork, chicken, green onions, carrots, etc.
This recipe can even be made with beef or seafood. It is one of Japan's favorite "fast foods."
Enjoy!
