Ingredients
Broth and Flavorings
- 3 tbsp toasted sesame oil (divided)
- 4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp sambal oelek (or other chili paste, optional, adjust to taste)
- 2 tbsp Thai red curry paste
- 1 can (14 oz/400 ml) unsweetened coconut milk (full fat)
- 1 tbsp lime juice
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 3.5 ounces shiitake mushrooms (torn into small pieces)
- 4 garlic cloves (grated)
- 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
Noodles and Garnishes
- 9 ounces instant ramen noodles
- 4 boiled eggs (cooked for 7 minutes)
- Chili oil (for serving)
- Sesame seeds (for serving)
- Chopped chives (for serving)
Instructions
- Prep Aromatics and Mushrooms: Grate the garlic and ginger. Tear the shiitake mushrooms into small pieces to prepare them for sautéing.
- Sauté Shiitakes: Heat 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the torn shiitake mushrooms and cook until they begin to brown. Drizzle an additional 1 tablespoon of sesame oil over the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and continue cooking until the mushrooms are crispy. Remove the mushrooms from the pot and set aside.
- Cook Garlic and Ginger: Reduce the heat to low and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of sesame oil to the pot. Add the grated garlic and ginger and cook for about one minute, until fragrant but not browned.
- Deglaze the Pot: Pour in the chicken broth while stirring and scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Increase the heat and bring the broth to a boil.
- Add Spices and Sauces: Stir in the ground turmeric, brown sugar, low sodium soy sauce, fish sauce, Thai red curry paste, and sambal oelek. Mix well to incorporate all the flavors into the broth.
- Incorporate Coconut Milk and Lime: Add the full-fat unsweetened coconut milk to the pot and squeeze in the lime juice. Allow the broth to return to a gentle boil.
- Cook Ramen Noodles: Add the instant ramen noodles directly to the boiling broth and cook for 2 minutes. If not serving immediately, cook the noodles separately to prevent them from soaking up too much broth.
- Serve: Transfer the ramen broth and noodles to bowls. Top each serving with the crispy shiitakes, boiled eggs, a sprinkle of sesame seeds, chopped chives, and a drizzle of chili oil according to taste.
Notes
- For a vegetarian or vegan version, substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth and omit fish sauce or replace it with a vegan alternative.
- If you prefer a spicier ramen, increase the amount of sambal oelek or add fresh chili slices.
- To make prep faster, you can buy pre-grated ginger and garlic.
- Cooking eggs for exactly 7 minutes yields a perfectly soft to medium-boiled egg with firm whites and a slightly runny yolk.
- Instant ramen noodles cook quickly and can become mushy if left in the broth too long, so cook just before serving or separately if preparing in advance.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Thai-Japanese Fusion