Classic Chicken Ramen (Chikin Ramen)

Съставки

• Whole chicken1.5 kg
• Chicken backs or wings500 g
• Water4 liters
• Saltto taste
• Black pepperto taste
• Ginger5 cm piece
• Garlic cloves4
• Scallions (green parts)1 bunch
• Kombu (dried kelp)10 g
• Dried shiitake mushrooms4
• Soy sauce100 ml
• Mirin50 ml
• Sake50 ml
• Ramen noodles4 servings
• Chicken breast or thigh (for topping)300 g
• Ajitama (marinated soft-boiled eggs)4
• Nori seaweed sheets4
• Scallions (white and green parts, sliced)1 bunch
• Menma (fermented bamboo shoots)50 g

Стъпки

1. 1

   Prepare the broth: Rinse the whole chicken and chicken backs/wings. Place in a large pot with 4 liters of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 hours, skimming off any scum that rises to the surface. Add ginger, garlic, green parts of scallions, kombu, and dried shiitake mushrooms during the last hour of simmering.

2. 2

   Strain the broth: Carefully strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve, discarding the solids. You should have about 2-2.5 liters of rich chicken broth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

3. 3

   Prepare the tare (flavor base): In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, mirin, and sake. Heat gently until the alcohol evaporates slightly. Let cool.

4. 4

   Prepare the chicken topping: Poach or simmer chicken breast/thigh until cooked through. Slice thinly. Alternatively, prepare chicken chashu by braising chicken belly or thigh in soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar.

5. 5

   Prepare the eggs: Make ajitama by soft-boiling eggs (6-7 minutes), peeling, and marinating them in a mixture of soy sauce, mirin, and water for at least 4 hours or overnight.

6. 6

   Cook the noodles: Bring a separate pot of water to a rolling boil. Cook ramen noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well.

7. 7

   Assemble the ramen: In each serving bowl, add 2-3 tablespoons of tare. Ladle in about 400-500 ml of hot chicken broth. Add the cooked noodles. Arrange the sliced chicken, halved ajitama, nori sheets, sliced scallions, and menma on top.

8. 8

   Serve immediately.