Ramen is a popular Japanese dish that has become a comfort food loved around the world. Among the many types of ramen, Iekei ramen is especially popular among Japanese people. Tonkotsu ramen and soy sauce ramen originated from Yokohama, a port town located south of Tokyo. Thick and chewy noodles, fragrant pork bone soup, soft pork char siu, boiled eggs, spinach and other ingredients are plentiful. In this article, I'll show you how to make Iekei-ramen at home. You can enjoy Iekei ramen deliciously and comfortably at any time.

Iekei ramen ingredients:

For soup:

• Pork bone 1 pound

• 1 onion, cut in half

• 3 cloves of crushed garlic

1 slice of ginger

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

• 4 cups of water

• 2 cups chicken broth

• 1/4 cup soy sauce

• 2 tablespoons sake

• 1 tablespoon mirin

• 1 tsp salt

Topping:

• Ramen for 4 people

• 4 boiled eggs, cut in half

• 4 slices of pork char siu (you can make your own or buy ready-made)

• 2 cups of fresh spinach

• 1/2 cup green onion, sliced

• 1/4 cup nori seaweed, sliced

How to make Iekei Ramen:

1. Start by making the soup. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Rinse the pork bones in cold water and pat dry. Place them in a roasting pan and brush with vegetable oil. Flip the pork bones once or twice and bake for about 30 minutes until golden brown.

2. Put pork belly, onion, garlic, ginger and water in a large pot and fry. Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer the soup for 3-4 hours, skimming off impurities and bubbles that rise to the surface.

3. After 3-4 hours, remove the pork bones and discard. Strain broth through a fine sieve and return to pot.

4. Add chicken stock, soy sauce, sake, mirin, and salt to a pot. Reduce the heat and simmer the soup for an additional 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.

5. Make the toppings while the broth is boiling. Boil the ramen as directed on the packet. Boil the spinach in another pot for 30 seconds and drain. Chop the green onions and seaweed.

6. To assemble the ramen bowl, divide the cooked noodles into 4 large bowls. Pour hot soup over the noodles and spread evenly. Boiled spinach, pork char siu, boiled egg, chopped green onions, and chopped seaweed are placed on top of the noodles.

7. Enjoy Iekei ramen piping hot!

Tips for making delicious family-style ramen

• Use high quality ingredients in soups. Tonkotsu is the base of the soup stock, so it is important to use good quality ones. Look for bones rich in meat and connective tissue. This gives the soup a rich flavor and gelatinous texture.

• Roast pork bones before making soup. Roasting the bones adds depth to the soup, adding richness and flavor.

• Skim the broth regularly. As the soup boils, impurities and bubbles rise to the surface. These impurities can cloud the broth and affect its taste, so use a fine-mesh sieve or skimmer to remove these impurities.

• Adjust seasonings to taste. The amount of soy sauce, sake, and mirin varies from person to person, so adjust the flavor while tasting.

• Use raw ramen whenever possible. The chewy raw noodles go well with the rich soup and toppings. If you can't get fresh noodles, you can use dried noodles, but boil them according to the instructions on the package.

• Make extra soup and freeze. The soup can be frozen for up to 3 months, so make a large batch and freeze it in small portions. With this, you can enjoy family-style ramen at any time without removing the soup stock.

• Customize toppings. Common toppings for Iekei ramen are char siu, boiled egg, spinach, green onions, and seaweed, but you can add or substitute toppings as you like. Some popular additions include corn, bamboo shoots, sprouts, and mushrooms.

Conclusion

Iekei ramen is a delicious and soothing dish no matter when you eat it. A unique flavorful soup that combines tonkotsu ramen and soy sauce ramen goes well with chewy ramen and hearty toppings. With this recipe and some tips and tricks, you can easily make Iekei Ramen at home and impress your family and friends with your cooking prowess. Please try it once and enjoy the deliciousness of the beloved Japanese food.