Description
Hearty homemade Chicken Ramen delivers a soul-warming journey through Japanese culinary traditions, blending rich broth, tender chicken, and perfectly springy noodles. Delightful layers of umami and carefully balanced seasonings invite hungry diners to savor each spoonful of comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Proteins:
- 2 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or substitute with chicken breast)
- 2 soft-boiled eggs (boiled for 6–7 minutes, then cooled & peeled)
Broth and Seasonings:
- 2 cups chicken broth (low sodium or homemade preferred)
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) miso paste
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) chili oil (optional, for heat)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) fresh ginger (sliced)
- Salt & black pepper (to taste)
Garnish and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh spinach leaves
- 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (shiitake or button)
- 1 green onion (sliced)
- 1/2 sheet nori (cut into small strips)
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup tapioca starch
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) brown sugar
Instructions
- Season chicken thighs generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper, ensuring an even coating that will enhance the meat’s natural flavors.
- Warm a robust cooking vessel over medium heat, drizzling high-quality oil to create a smooth, glistening surface for searing.
- Carefully place seasoned chicken thighs into the heated pan, allowing each side to caramelize and develop a rich, golden-brown crust that seals in moisture and creates deep, complex flavor profiles.
- Gently rotate the chicken midway through cooking, monitoring the transformation from pale meat to a stunning amber-hued exterior, which typically requires approximately 5-6 minutes per side.
- Once perfectly seared, transfer the chicken to a clean cutting board, allowing the meat to rest and redistribute internal juices, which ensures tender and succulent protein.
- After the chicken has cooled sufficiently, employ a sharp knife to methodically shred or slice the meat into delicate, bite-sized pieces that will integrate beautifully throughout the ramen.
- The expertly prepared chicken will serve as a protein-rich centerpiece, ready to elevate the overall texture and taste of the upcoming ramen composition.
Notes
- Choose bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for deeper, richer flavor and more tender meat during cooking.
- Pat chicken completely dry before seasoning to ensure perfect golden-brown searing and prevent steaming instead of browning.
- Allow chicken to rest at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before cooking to guarantee even heat distribution and more consistent cooking results.
- When shredding chicken, use two forks and pull meat apart while it’s still warm for easier and cleaner separation of meat fibers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Searing
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg