Ingredients
Broth and Base
- 2 TBSP light sesame oil (or avocado oil)
- 3/4-1 cup chopped dried porcini mushrooms (about 0.5 oz)
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced (white parts for broth, greens for topping)
- 3-4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 2 TBSP tomato paste
- 1-2 TBSP Sriracha
- 1-2 TBSP low-sodium soy sauce
- 4-5 ounces uncooked ramen noodles
Chili Garlic Oil and Toppings
- 1/4 cup avocado oil (or vegetable oil)
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 TBSP sesame seeds
- 1 TBSP crushed red chili flakes
- Thinly sliced jalapeño (optional)
- Cooked and shelled edamame
- Jammy soft-boiled egg (optional, skip for vegan)
- Chopped green onion and/or cilantro
- Baby bok choy
- Chili garlic sauce (for drizzling)
Instructions
- Make Fried Garlic in Chili Oil: Heat 1/4 cup oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Once hot, add thinly sliced garlic and fry, stirring often, until just golden (about 3 minutes). Stir in sesame seeds and cook another minute until garlic is crisp. Transfer to a small bowl, add crushed red chili flakes, mix well, and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: Return the same pot to medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil. Add minced garlic, chopped white scallion parts, and chopped dried porcini mushrooms. Sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add Broth and Seasonings: Pour in vegetable broth, soy sauce, tomato paste, and Sriracha into the pot.
- Simmer Broth: Cover and simmer on medium-low heat for 10 minutes to develop flavors.
- Prep Toppings: While broth simmers, prepare your choice of toppings such as soft-boiled eggs, edamame, baby bok choy, jalapeños, and herbs.
- Strain Broth: Pour broth through a fine mesh sieve to remove onion and mushroom bits, returning the clear broth to the pot.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the broth and add extra Sriracha for heat or soy sauce for saltiness/umami as desired. Add more broth if you prefer a soupier consistency.
- Cook Noodles: For thicker broth, cook ramen noodles directly in the simmering broth 3-4 minutes until tender. Otherwise, cook noodles separately and add before serving.
- Optional Vegetable Softening: If desired, add sliced veggies like carrots or jalapeños into the broth to soften before serving.
- Assemble and Serve: Ladle noodles and broth into bowls, drizzle with chili garlic oil, and top with prepared toppings. Enjoy your customizable spicy vegetarian ramen!
Notes
- Use low-sodium soy sauce and vegetable broth to control salt levels.
- For vegan ramen, omit the soft-boiled eggs and use vegetable broth.
- Dried porcini mushrooms add deep umami flavor; substitute with shiitake if unavailable.
- Adjust chili flakes and Sriracha to your preferred heat level.
- Additional toppings like sliced carrots, baby corn, or nori can be added for variety.
- Cook noodles separately for thinner broth or directly in broth for richer consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Japanese
- Diet: Vegetarian
