What Is Instant Tonkotsu Ramen?
Tonkotsu is a classic ramen flavor that features a thickened rich broth infused by pork. The pork can be any part of the pig but commonly needs the pork bones and skin, such as the pork trotters or pork knuckles, so the gelatin and collagen can be extracted. It’s these ingredients that create a milky and rich-tasting broth that differentiates this broth from other lighter ramen broths.
It’s a long and time-consuming cooking process, so there are many hacks to avoid having to do all that work. Using instant noodles is a great way to circumvent this step, and this hack strives to mimic that broth’s flavor and texture by using milk while the luncheon meat adds extra meaty umami to the instant noodle broth.
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How to Serve Instant Tonkotsu Ramen
Tonkotsu is best served while piping hot with the luncheon meat, a soft-boiled egg, and a few sheets of nori or dried seaweed. However, there are other ways to serve this instant noodles without making it too complicated. Here are other serving ideas:
Add mushrooms: Saute mushrooms in garlic and add to the luncheon meat. Or make it meatless and use the mushrooms as the substitute for the luncheon meat.
Stir in miso: If you love miso ramen, you can make the milky broth more flavorful by adding miso. The fermented bean paste adds a delicious flavorful taste that the milk doesn’t.
Use dumplings: Skip the luncheon meat and use frozen dumplings instead as the meaty element. You can also add fish cakes and seafood balls, too.
Add steamed vegetables: Sweet corn kernels, bok choy, cabbage, carrots, or bean sprouts can make this a more balanced meal! Simply add to simmering soup when you cook the noodles or, for more flavor, stir fry in the oil before frying the luncheon meat.
How To Cook Instant Tonkotsu Ramen
What makes instant noodles so convenient is really the short time it takes to cook them. This time is lengthened by the extra ingredients we add to it to make it more filling and satisfying but honestly, the additional time is minimal compared to what you would be doing if you were to make this from scratch.
To make instant tonkotsu ramen, you need instant noodles (we used a La Paz style batchoy instant noodles pack), water, milk of your choice (we used soy milk), slices of luncheon meat, an egg softly boiled or cooked to your desired doneness, and some nori or dried seaweed sheets.
We start by frying the luncheon meat because admit it: it’s better when it’s been slightly toasted and crispy around the edges. We also used sesame oil so it’s even more aromatic and delicious once made. Water and milk is added which dissolves the fond created by frying the sliced meat.
The seasoning packets are not discarded in this recipe! The seasoning packets and even the dried meat and veggie packet are used to give this instant noodles a more rounded flavor. The noodles emerge more tasty when simmered in the flavored soup. When ready to serve, just transfer to a bowl and top with the soft-boiled egg, the luncheon meat, and nori sheets.
Tips To Make The Best Instant Tonkotsu Ramen
1 Add toppings right before serving.
This is a meal best made and served right before you eat it. There is little need in making this ahead of time, so the toppings should be freshly made as well, even the egg so when you serve it, the egg is still warm and the nori sheets still crispy.
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2 Pre-cook the eggs.
If there is one thing you can cook ahead of time, it’s the eggs. You can cook soft-boiled eggs and keep them stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days (1 week).
You can even make ramen eggs to make an even more delicious ramen bowl!
Instant Tonkotsu Ramen Storage Tips
1 Refrigerate if you have leftovers.
Should you have leftovers, you can refrigerate this covered to keep its aroma from flavoring your other stored food. The eggs can be kept stored for up to 7 days but the noodles are best consumed within 3 days for best results.
2 Freeze the soup.
If you make a big batch of this, you can make and then store the soup in the freezer. Then all you have to do is thaw and reheat the soup when ready. You can add the refrigerated egg to the soup, too, to easily reheat it.
Watch: How to Make Instant Tonkotsu Ramen Recipe Video
Instant Tonkotsu Ramen Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 slices pork luncheon meat
- 1 55- grams pack Lucky Me la paz batchoy
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup soy milk
- 1 soft-boiled egg for topping (optional)
- 2 pieces nori sheet for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Heat sesame oil in a saucepot. Fry the luncheon meat seared on both sides.
- Add water and soy milk. Add instant noodle seasoning packets and then dried noodles. Bring the mixture to a boil then lower heat to a simmer, and cook until noodles are tender, about 3 minutes.
- Transfer noodles and broth to a bowl. Top with luncheon meat, egg, and nori sheets. Serve immediately.
Notes
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