Wholesome Ramen Magic: A Complete Guide to Making Your Bowl

Radhika Dadhich

Jul 1, 2024

Perex: Ramen is a delicious dish that you can try out. Read ahead to find out the best healthy ramen recipe.

Ramen is a scrumptious dish that is loved throughout the world. It is a Japanese noodle soup that has garnered immense popularity in recent times, all thanks to globalization and related factors, such as the emergence of K-pop, J-pop, etc. In this blog, we will delve into the basics of ramen and check the best healthy ramen recipe you can try out!

What is Ramen?

Ramen is a noodle soup that includes a broth base, long thin noodles made of wheat and an assortment of toppings. Hearsay suggests that ramen originated in China and it is not clear when it was introduced to Japan. However, in today’s times, ramen is one of the core foods of Japanese cuisine. In recent times, it has found its way to the west, primarily in the form of packaged, dried noodles. So, we can think of ramen as a soup that contains noodles.

Despite its reputation, not all ramen is created equal; with fresh, high-quality ingredients and mindful preparation, this beloved dish can transform into a nutritious meal that satisfies both taste buds and health goals.

Besides, there are several types of ramen noodles, and each one is differentiated based on the preparation of the soup. Currently, the most popular type of ramen is Shoyu ramen, which is made from a chicken broth base flavored soy ramen. Miso ramen is thicker and heartier, with a rich brown birth flavored with miso or fermented soybean paste. Likewise, Shio ramen features a thinner chicken broth seasoned with salt. Lastly, Tonkotsu ramen is prepared with simmered pork bones, which results in a thick, creamy and fatty broth.

The second most important element of ramen is its noodles. Similar to the soup base of ramen, its noodles also vary from thin and curly to thick and straight. Thicker ramen noodles are usually paired with a heavier broth. However, what all ramen noodles have in common is that they are made of wheat, flour, salt, water, and an alkaline mineral called kansui. It is kansui that provides ramen noodles with their distinctive chewiness and elasticity.

Last but not least, the final element of a ramen dish is the toppings, and they vary widely based on the region and the restaurant you are ordering in. Some of the most popular ramen toppings include roasted pork, eggs prepared in different ways, dried seaweed, steamed fish cake, and pats of butter, etc.

Now that we know what ramen is, let us check out the most healthy ramen recipe of all time.

The Most Healthy Ramen Recipe of 2024 - Crispy Pork Belly Ramen

Crispy pork belly ramen is a healthy ramen recipe that uses crispy pork belly, veggies like mushroom and spinach, and the right burst of sauces and flavors. Then ingredients you need to prepare this dish are -

6 cups of chicken stock
½ pound of pork belly skin
1 teaspoon fine salt or 2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon sugar
A few grinds of black PEPPER
4 to 5 ounces of fresh noodles
Some baby bok choy
1 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger and 2 teaspoons of toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
4 large eggs
Sriracha
Green onions
Fresh cilantro
Thai basil

After a crisp overview of the ingredients, let us check out the preparation style. Firstly, prepare the crisp pork belly in a preheated oven of 540F and place. Roast the pork for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350F and roast for an additional 25 to 30 minutes, until the skin is golden brown and crispy. Then, chill the pork in your refrigerator.

Thereafter, in a large pot, you have to bring the chicken stock to a boil and add the noodles and cook for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to simmer and add the bok choy, ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Cook the noodles for 5 minutes more. Thereafter, crisp the pork belly in a large skillet and voila your healthy ramen recipe is ready.