Are you ready for some toothsome noodles, melt-in-your-mouth chashu pork, pickled bamboo shoots, fresh chopped scallion, and a spicy broth that you can’t stop slurping? I hope you are hungry because we’re going to make some hot bowls of spicy shoyu ramen together. If noodle soup is your comfort food, you are going to enjoy this one.
What is Shoyu Ramen?
‘Shoyu’ means soy sauce in Japanese. Shoyu ramen simply refers to ramen served with a soy sauce-based broth that is usually in clear, brown color. It is one of the 3 main types of ramen categorized by the broth flavors. If you’re in Tokyo, Shoyu is the most familiar form of ramen you’ll find. To make a good bowl of ramen is an art form itself. Ramen chefs pull together different elements to define the bowl of noodles. Even the simplest of ramen requires close attention to the ingredients, be it the broth or noodles, making sure each one interacts harmoniously. But, please don’t let this stop you from making ramen at home. So long as you have a well-stocked Japanese/Asian pantry, it is possible to whip up a ramen bowl that is of chef’s quality. The beauty of homemade ramen is you get to control the saltiness of the soup.
How to Make Spicy Shoyu Ramen at Home
Since we’re making spicy shoyu ramen today, the key ingredient for the recipe is spicy chili bean paste (la doubanjiang). You can always make slight modifications to the spiciness level. If you can’t handle spicy food at all, you can use regular chili bean paste (doubanjiang) instead. More about this broad bean paste (doubanjiang) on this post and where you can find it.
1. Ramen Noodles
The noodles used in shoyu ramen are usually the springy curly type. In my local Japanese grocery stores, they sell packages of fresh ramen noodles (with soup packages included, but I don’t use them). Sun Noodles make great noodles if you can find them locally.
2. Quick and Delicious Soup Broth
We all know that broth defines ramen. It is what brings the dish together. But many of us do not have the time to simmer the soup stock with bones and all for hours. To avoid compromising the flavor of homemade ramen broth, dashi or Japanese soup broth is elemental to give it extra depth besides the chicken stock we use in this recipe. Another key element is doubanjiang (豆板醤) or spicy/non-spicy broad bean paste—a combination of fermented broad beans as the main ingredient, soybeans, and often hot chilies. The salty, savory, umami-rich paste adds an incredible depth and character to the broth that you should not substitute. You can add more if you like your soup to be spicy, but one teaspoon would be enough to give it a good kick. Non-Spicy doubanjiang: You can find non-spicy versions made in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Guangdong. It has the same savory depth in the paste, but without the heat. To distinguish the two versions, the Sichuan doubanjiang is called la-doubanjiang (辣豆瓣醬, “la” (辣) meaning ‘hot’ or ‘spicy’).
Ming Teh Doubanjiang (non-spicy) – Yummy BazaarKangshan Doubanjiang (non-spicy) – WalmartKangshan Doubanjiang (non-spicy) – Weee!
Doubanjiang substitute: If you really can’t find doubanjiang, you can use gochujang (Korean chili paste; spicy) or doenjang (Korean soybean paste; non-spicy). However, the ingredients are slightly different and have different flavor profiles. Dashi and doubanjiang along with the other condiments and aromatics will yield a flavorful, rich soup in less time.
3. The Toppings
There are various toppings that can go into spicy shoyu ramen. In this recipe, I top the ramen with chashu pork belly, menma (bamboo shoots), narutomaki (fish cake), scallion, shiraga negi (Japanese long green onion), nori, and a soft-boiled egg. It may read like a long list of toppings, but you can definitely decide what you’d like to add to your ramen. Shiitake mushrooms are a great stand-in for chashu. Feel free to keep it as simple or complex as you like, although I do think that a soft-boiled egg is almost compulsory. You can make soy-marinated ramen egg. The workflow of assembling the ramen is to gather all your toppings first. Follow by cooking the soup broth and then the noodles. Make sure you cook the noodles just al dente because the hot broth will continue to cook the noodles. Soggy noodles in ramen are a no-no. When the bowl is ready, serve, and slurp! Swirl in a little bit of la-yu (Japanese chili oil) if you like an extra kick of spice. Enjoy!
Other Delicious Ramen Recipes on Just One Cookbook
Homemade Miso RamenVegetarian RamenShio RamenTsukemen (Ramen with Dipping Sauce)
Also, check out Japanese Ramen Guide for Beginners! Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram. Editor’s Note: The post was originally published on Nov 28, 2011. The content and photos have been updated in July 2017.
