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Pork Ramen

17/11/2023

Pork ramen is a typical dish of Japanese cuisine that mainly consists of broth, noodles, slices of pork, and various toppings. Here I propose a version with an Italian touch, using ingredients that are easily accessible. If some ingredients are not available, I can suggest alternatives.

Ingredients

  • 1 liter of chicken or beef broth
  • 200 g of spaghetti (Japanese ramen uses specific noodles, but spaghetti can serve as a substitute)
  • 200 g of pancetta or pork neck (instead of the typical Japanese chashu)
  • 4 eggs
  • 100 g of canned bamboo shoots (or fresh if available)
  • 100 g of shiitake mushrooms or champignons
  • 2 fresh spring onions
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1 piece of ginger
  • Soy sauce
  • Sesame oil
  • Salt
  • Chili pepper (if you like a spicy touch)

Preparation

  1. Prepare the broth: bring the chicken or beef broth to a boil and add finely chopped ginger and garlic; let it simmer for at least 30 minutes to flavor the broth.

  2. Season the pancetta or pork neck: marinate the meat with some soy sauce and sesame oil, then cook it in a pan until it is golden brown and crispy. Slice the meat thinly.

  3. Cook the spaghetti: in a separate pot, cook the spaghetti in plenty of salted water following the cooking times indicated on the package to achieve an al dente texture. Drain and set aside.

  4. Prepare the eggs: cook the eggs for about 6-7 minutes to get medium-cooked marinated eggs.

  5. Assemble the ramen: in large deep bowls, place a portion of spaghetti, add the hot broth, arrange the slices of meat on top, and add the pre-cooked bamboo shoots and mushrooms.

  6. Finish with chopped spring onions, a drizzle of sesame oil, and chili pepper to taste. You can also add a nori seaweed if you like and it’s available.

  7. Serve the ramen hot with the eggs cut in half arranged on the surface.

Curiosity

Ramen is a dish that varies greatly from region to region in Japan, with recipes and ingredients changing according to local traditions. This version adapts to Italian cooking by incorporating pancetta or pork neck, ingredients more readily available in Italy.

If you need anything else or have other ingredients at hand, I’m here to help!

Pork Ramen