Weekend Comfort: Everyone loves Ramen

I have been trying to cook ramen for a long time but somehow never managed to. So tried my hand at this this weekend and voila it came out so flavourful. Now I know why everyone loves ramen and has been slurping on it.

There are many variants of ramen , I tried a relatively simple one. The beauty and flavour of ramen comes from the various ingredients and might involve a bit lengthy process. Try this recipe at home and let me know. So let's start cooking!!

Ramen: This is a soupy noodles famous across the globe. The assembly of the ramen is the key and gives perfect balance to flavors as well as the beautiful appearance. It involves 4 major steps: preparing the broth, boiling the egg to perfect texture, preparing the chicken and finally assembly.

Ingredients: For the broth- onions (medium , peeled cut in half) - 2; Garlic cloves - 6; Spring onions with greens - 4; Ginger (with skin) - 1/2 large; Leek ( chopped) -1; Green chilli ( split from middle) - 3; Mushrooms - 5; Water - 1tr; Salt to taste; Whisky or wine (optional) - 60 ml

1 egg; For chicken - Chicken breast - 2 ( cut in pieces of your liking); Soy sauce - 100 ml; Worcestershire sauce - 50 ml; Sesame oil - 50 ml; Chilli powder - 2 tsp; Salt to taste

For assembly - Carrot ( julienne) - 1/2 medium; corn ( boiled) - 1/3 cup; Spring onion greens - 2; sesame seeds - 1 tsp; Sesame oil - 50 ml; Soy sauce 50 ml

Ramen noodles - 2 packs

Steps:

i. Put all the ingredients of the broth in a deep bottom pan and let it simmer on low flame for 2-3 hrs.

ii. Marinate the chicken pieces for at least 1 hr in the ingredients listed above for it.

iii. Once the broth has been reduced to half and it has been 2-3 hrs; strain the mixture and keep it aside for the final assembly. Ensure that it hot when you are using it later.

iv. Boil the egg in swirling water close to boiling for 6 minutes ( this gives it that gooey texture on the inside when you cut it in half).

v. Take out the egg and put it in ice water so as to stop cooking. Keep it aside for the final assembly.

vi. Cook the ramen for 5 minutes in 500 ml of boiling water over a medium flame. Strain it keep it aside for the final assembly.

vii. Sear the marinated chicken in a grilling pan so that it is properly cooked from the inside as well.

For the assembly:

i. Mix the sesame oil and soy sauce well and pour it in the ramen bowl.

ii. Now add the broth (quantity as per your liking but at east pour 250 ml of it).

iii. Now put the ramen inside the bowl and ensure that it is well immersed in the liquid.

iv. Put the pan seared chicken pieces on the side of the bowl.

v. Garnish the ramen with carrot julienne, corn, sesame and spring onion greens.

vi. Cut the egg in half and put it over the ramen.

Serve and enjoy with your chop sticks!!!