Ramen is a Japanese noodle dish with as many variations as there are regions in Japan. It's basically a noodle soup, most often made with a meat or chicken broth, and occasionally a fish-based broth. Making delicious ramen noodles can be quite difficult. Chefs in Japan usually train very hard to make quality ramen. This recipe, however, is a relatively quick and easy take on soy sauce-flavored (shoyu) ramen that you can make at home.
![Shoyu ramen soup with negi onions and seaweed in a bowl](https://www.thespruceeats.com/thmb/-pMKAa4dA2NwKZJiq6-y-w74JfI=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/quick-shoyu-ramen-2031288-hero-01-c1f652d8d2bd4f25b32a3f4d6e6d8b37.jpg)
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Shoyu is just one of several types of ramen. Other common categories include shio, tonkotsu, and miso ramen. Among these, the soy sauce version is noted for its curly noodles and tangy, salty, savory, but light broth. Make it a meal by serving alongside vegetable tempura or top your bowls with cooked chicken, pork, or veggies.
What Is the Difference Between Shoyu and Tonkotsu Ramen?
Tonkotsu ramen uses a rich, savory, cloudy broth made with pork bones and other ingredients and is often cooked for several hours before being combined with noodles and slices of pork. Shoyu ramen has a clear broth flavored with soy sauce and other ingredients that is lighter and not as rich as tonkotsu. Chicken, pork, or even fish broths can serve as the base.
Does Shoyu Ramen Have Pork?
Shoyu ramen can be made using a chicken, pork, or fish-based broth. The type of meat broth used to make the soup will depend upon the chef or cook.
Tip for Making Shoyu Ramen Recipe
What noodles to use?
The typical noodle used in ramen dishes is called ​chukamen. It is made in Japan using wheat flour and kansui, an alkaline solution. This is the variety we recommend using when making this recipe.
Make Ahead
"This broth is very satisfying. A quick hack is to use plain water and a piece of kombu in place of the kombu stock; remove the kombu when it comes to a boil. Customize this any way you like, adding pork or chicken or mushrooms for a filling and comforting meal." —Rick Horiike
![Quick Shoyu Ramen Tester Image](https://www.thespruceeats.com/thmb/VA1FcPkv_s6AQNjOke7z71C6Hmc=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/quick-shoyu-ramen-2031288-rhoriike-2020-da191d3b4edb41d7894a4123a3c77562.jpeg)
Ingredients
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1 teaspoon sesame oil
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1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
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1 clove garlic, minced
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2 cups chicken stock
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1 cup store-bought or homemade kombu dashi soup stock
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3 tablespoons soy sauce
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1 tablespoon sake
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1 teaspoon sugar
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1 teaspoon salt
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2 (3-ounce) packages dried chukamen noodles
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Negi, or spring onion, chopped, for optional garnish
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Nori, dried seaweed, for optional garnish
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Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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Heat 1 teaspoon sesame oil in a deep pan over medium heat. Sauté the chopped 1 teaspoon fresh ginger (minced) and 1 clove garlic (minced) in the pan for about a minute.
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Lower the heat and add 2 cups chicken stock and 1 cup kombu dashi stock to the pan. Bring to a boil.
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Add 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sake, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt to the soup and bring to a boil again.
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In the meantime, boil water in a large pot. Add 2 (3-ounce) packages chukamen noodles to the boiling water and cook for a few minutes (follow package directions).
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Place a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and pour the soup through the strainer.
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Pour the hot soup into individual bowls.
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Drain the noodles and add to the hot soup.
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Add toppings, such as chopped negi and nori seaweed, if desired. Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper to taste. Enjoy!
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Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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533 | Calories |
21g | Fat |
64g | Carbs |
19g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 2 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 533 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 21g | 27% |
Saturated Fat 8g | 41% |
Cholesterol 8mg | 3% |
Sodium 4475mg | 195% |
Total Carbohydrate 64g | 23% |
Dietary Fiber 3g | 10% |
Total Sugars 8g | |
Protein 19g | |
Vitamin C 1mg | 7% |
Calcium 41mg | 3% |
Iron 4mg | 25% |
Potassium 691mg | 15% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
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