Serious Vegetarian Ramen at Home
Why pay for boring take-out when you could make your own, way better, version at home!?
Ingredients
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
- 1 Tbsp. white sesame seeds
- 1½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt
- 4 scallions
- (1) 2" piece ginger, peeled, thinly sliced
- 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 8 dried shiitake mushrooms
- 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
- 4 baby bok choy (about 12 oz. total), quartered lengthwise
- (4) 5-oz. packages fresh ramen noodles
- Toasted nori sheets, and/or cilantro (for serving; optional)
Shopping List
- 1 Garlic
- 1 Jar White Sesame Seeds
- 1 Bunch Scallions
- 1 Hand Ginger
- 1 Can Tomato Paste
- 1 Pack Dried Shitake Mushrooms
- 1 Bottle Low-sodium Soy Sauce
- 4 Baby Bok Choy
- 4 5-oz. Packages Fresh Ramen Noodles
- 1 Pack Toasted Nori Sheets
- 1 Bunch Cilantro
Instructions
- Cook garlic and ¼ cup oil in a medium pot over medium heat, stirring often, until garlic is beginning to turn golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in sesame seeds and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden brown and crisp, about 1 minute. Transfer mixture to a small bowl and stir in red pepper flakes; season with salt. Set garlic oil aside. Wipe out pot and set aside.
- Trim dark green parts from scallions and thinly slice; set aside for serving. Coarsely chop white and pale green parts. Heat remaining 2 Tbsp oil in reserved pot over medium-high. Cook chopped scallions and ginger, stirring often, until scallions are charred in spots, about 4 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to stick to the bottom of pot and darkens slightly, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, then stir in 5 cups cold water. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let sit until mushrooms soften, about 10 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer solids to a blender. Add a ladleful or 2 of broth to blender and purée until smooth. Stir purée back into broth in pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add butter a piece at a time, whisking to combine after each addition before adding more. Stir in soy sauce; season with salt. Reduce heat to low and keep warm until ready to serve.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add bok choy and cook until bright green and tender, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bok choy to a plate. Return water to a boil and cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and divide among bowls.
- To serve, ladle broth over noodles, then top with bok choy and reserved garlic oil. Top with nori, and cilantro if desired.