Korean ramen. It has to happen. Japanese ramen with big, bold, spicy Korean flavours. There’s nothing here not to love. Someday this is going to be everywhere.
It had to happen on this blog anyway. I love ramen. I really love ramen. And I love Korean food. So sooner or later I had to try this. And I’m glad I did. I could open a food truck on this alone.
This is not dressed up instant noodles
This is not ramyeon with extra fixins. This has nothing to do with instant noodles. This is Japanese style traditional ramen done with Korean flavours.
Not quite full bore Japanese ramen though. That takes a day to make. At least. It’s epic. This is simplified. You can make Korean ramen in an hour.
That’s the nice thing about adding big Korean tastes. It takes away the need to create those subtle Japanese flavours. Those nuances take real work. Not weeknight dinner material.
I haven’t gone the whole way yet. Thinking about it though. What would happen if I took full on tonkatsu ramen broth and jacked it with gochujang?
It will be off the scale I’m pretty sure. But it would also use up some of my precious tonkatsu ramen stock. My all day stock. I’m not sure I am game for that. Not yet.
Korean ramen – it’s a food trend waiting to happen
This style Korean ramen doesn’t exist in Korea. There’s no such thing as traditional Korean ramen. In Japan, the instant ramen came from a deep rooted love of traditional ramen. Instant ramen was invented in 1958. Fast food.
The Koreans picked up on the instant ramen. And they ran with it. Today they eat more instant ramen per capita than any other country in the world.
They have restaurants that specialize in adding stuff to their version of instant ramen. Can’t say I’d line up to try it but it’s a thing.
Time to learn about Korean ingredients
There are a few ingredients you will need to source to make Korean ramen. Gochujang is spicy Korean fermented soybean and rice paste.
Doenjang is optional – pretty much gochujang without the spice. Gochugaru is Korean chili flakes.
All these ingredients figure highly in Korean cooking. If you are getting into it you will wind up using them up. They are not expensive. Go for it. If you like Korean, you will use them up.
The other big one is ramen noodles. You can make this with other types of noodles but ramen noodles are special. Different. They are alkalinated.
When you are shopping, look at the ingredients. Alkalinated noodles will have potassium carbonate and/or sodium carbonate listed in the ingredients. That’s what makes them alkalinated and that’s what makes them ramen.
Korean ramen. Spicy. Savoury. Bold. Delicious. If you like ramen. If you like Korean. Then you will like this. Maybe even love it.
korean ramen
Ingredients
Korean ramen broth
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 4 tsp gochujang
- 1 tsp doenjang (optional)
- 2 tsp shiro miso
- 1 tsp coarse gochugaru (not the fine powdered type)
- 1 tsp fish sauce
- 4 skinless chicken thighs
Korean ramen
- 2 large eggs
- green onions, enoki mushrooms, kimchi - whatever you like really
- the reserved chicken
- the Korean ramen broth
- 4-5 oz Japanese ramen noodles - not the instant kind
Instructions
The broth
- Bring the chicken stock to a simmer over medium low heat in a pot that is large enough to hold the stock, chicken and ultimately noodles.
- Poach the chicken thighs until they reach an internal temperature of 175F. Use an instant read thermometer. Always use an instant read thermometer. This should take about 25 minutes.
- Remove the chicken thighs. Set aside to cool enough to handle. Pull the chicken off the bones. You want bite size chunks. Reserve.
- Strain the stock if you are worried about little bits floating around in it. Not a big deal, though. Nothing wrong with little bits. Return the stock to the pot.
- Combine the gochujang, doenjang if using, miso and gochugaru in a small bowl. Add a bit of hot chicken stock to the bowl and stir to combine. You want to do it this way. If you just add the flavouring to the big pot you are going to be chasing bits of gochujang around the pot for an hour. Trust me.
- Add the gochujang stock mixture to the remaining stock in the pot. Stir in the fish sauce. Taste. Adjust salt if needed. Your broth is ready.
Medium boiled eggs
- In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Boil large eggs for 6 minutes 30 seconds. If using extra large eggs boil them for 7 minutes 30 seconds. You may have to adjust your times slightly depending on the exact size of your eggs but this should get you pretty close.
- Submerge the eggs in really cold or ice water to chill. This stops the egg yolks from continuing to set up. Peel and set aside. They will warm up in the broth.
- Carefully cut the eggs in half lengthwise right before you serve. The yolk is still a bit runny so use a sharp knife.
Korean ramen
- Bring the Korean ramen broth to a boil. Add the noodles and cook until done. Follow the instructions on the noodle package. Return the chicken to the broth to warm through. Slice the eggs lengthwise.
- Ladle the broth, noodles and chicken into a bowl. Top with the eggs, green onions, enoki mushrooms and kimchi. Serve a bit of extra gochugaru alongside for the serious chili-heads.
Thank-you!!
I used All the ingredients you suggested, then added:
1 TB. Mirin, to temper and “marry the wonderful complex of flavors.
2tsp. Grateded, Fresh Ginger, for a fragrant “bite”
1C cooked shrimp, added at a minute before serving,
1C fresh Snap Peas, also tossed in, just before serving.
You have provided a neat base recipe, to launch further
Explorations. I will use it often!
Cheers!
Elizabeth F.
Love that you are making it your own!
Hello, Romain. This is the second or third time that I found this recipe after googling around for non-instant Korean ramen. I believe last time was when I spent a couple of months in Seoul in 2019 and was trying to find a Korean ramyeon place. It’s a mystery to me that there aren’t (non-instant) ramyeon places all over Seoul, Busan and Daegu. Having Shin-Ramyeon every now and then definitely made me want to try a non-instant version so badly. And the spicy and sour flavors in many Korean dishes seem so perfect for noodle soup. It just seems so obvious. I will try to make this for dinner for my girlfriend, my sister and myself. We all love Korean food, so unless I slaughter your recipe, it should be a big hit. Thank you for making this!
I’ve been to Korea quite a few times and I was so busy eating everything in sight this one didn’t occur to me until I got home. Hope you enjoy it!
This recipe looks amazing and I am wanting to try it…. However if I’m not used to super Spicey how would you rate this? I’m thinking about maybe leaving the chili flakes out since the paste is spicy already? I love kimici but don’t know how much spicier this is?
It’s a tricky thing trying to guess what people will find spicy. I don’t think this is particularly spicy at all but I can only compare it what I know. I just went to the fridge to taste some gochujang straight from the container to calibrate. To my palate it is tingly but not all that hot. If you can take the taste of gochujang straight up then this dish will not be too anywhere as hot as that.
Kimchi varies in heat here but I’d say it is spicier than kimchi but not a lot spicier.
Not the best answer I’m afraid. Apologies for that…
genius dish! i made it for dinner and had the leftovers for breakfast. genuinely amazing
Breakfast of champions!
This is a genius marriage of two of my favourite cuisines. I threw some roasted sweet potato wedges & bok choy into the mix to up the veggie factor. Delicious!
I am a bit a ramen nut so it had to happen. Delighted to hear you enjoyed it.
Making this for my sister and I’s school lunches. I happened to live in Korea for two years and it was the best experience ever, hoping that this will bring back the food and memories of that amazing place.
Hope you enjoy. It’s not authentic Korean though. This is my love of Korean flavours and my love of ramen coming together.
You’re forgetting the cheese slice that goes on top!!! How dare you. 🙂
Haha. This is my ramen. You do you. I’ll do me:-)
I couldn’t believe how good this was. And especially surprising was how much better I felt after eating it. Soooo incredible that I had some for breakfast the next morning. What better way to fight the winter chill? Thank you so much for this recipe!!
Korean ramen for breakfast. I definitely like the way you think! Glad you enjoyed it!
Can’t believe Korean’s never heard about it! It such a easy thing to make! You mean the US heard of it before Korean! WOW lol
Maybe somebody in Korea has thought about it. Never say never. You heard it first in Canada though – glebekitchen is a Canadian blog.
This is my third time making this recipe, love it!
Awesome to hear and thank you for taking the time to say so. Glad you like it!
How much will it be for 1 person?
Divide everything by two and you should be OK.
Love this recipe I make it every week!
Awesome! Thank you for saying.
Just made this tonight, was extremely tasty and soooo easy to make ??
Jee thanks Leigh, i waited for you to drop my half off but i dunno mustve got lost:0
This ramen looks and sounds incredible! Putting this on my “to make list” 🙂
I don’t know why it isn’t a thing. It is really, really tasty. Hope you like it!