Japanese Soup Stock Recipes

JAPANESE RAMEN NOODLE SOUP

Steps:

• Mix 700ml chicken stock, 3 halved garlic cloves, 4 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, a sliced thumb-sized piece of ginger, ½ tsp Chinese five spice, pinch of chilli powder and 300ml water in a stockpot or large saucepan, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 mins.
• Taste the stock - add 1 tsp white sugar or a little more soy sauce to make it sweeter or saltier to your liking.
• Cook 375g ramen noodles following the pack instructions, then drain and set aside.
• Slice 400g cooked pork or chicken, fry in 2 tsp sesame oil until just starting to brown, then set aside.
• Divide the noodles between four bowls. Top each with a quarter of the meat, 25g spinach, 1 tbsp sweetcorn and two boiled egg halves each.
• Strain the stock into a clean pan, then bring to the boil once again.
• Divide the stock between the bowls, then sprinkle over 1 shredded nori sheet, sliced spring onions or shallots and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Allow the spinach to wilt slightly before serving.

DASHI STOCK (KONBUDASHI)

Steps:

• Wipe away any dirt from the kombu with a paper towel, being careful not to rub off the white powdery deposits on the seaweed. Place the kombu and water in a saucepan, and allow it to soak for 30 minutes to become soft.
• Remove the kombu from the water, and cut several lengthwise slits into the leaf. Return the kombu to the water, and bring it to a boil. As soon as the water begins to boil, remove the kombu to prevent the stock from becoming bitter.
• Stir the bonito flakes into the kombu-flavored water, bring back to a boil, and take the pan off the heat. Allow the water to cool. When the bonito flakes have settled to the bottom, strain the dashi through a strainer lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter.

DASHI (JAPANESE SEA STOCK)

Steps:

• Bring cold water and kombu just to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Remove from heat and remove kombu (saving it for pickled Napa cabbage ). Sprinkle katsuo bushi over liquid; let stand 3 minutes and, if necessary, stir to make katsuo bushi sink. Pour through a cheesecloth-lined sieve or a coffee filter into a bowl. Reserve katsuo bushi for rice with soy-glazed bonito flakes and sesame seeds .

JAPANESE SOUP STOCK

Steps:

• Wipe any sand or salt from kombu with a dampened cloth. Bring kombu and water just to a boil in a 3-quart saucepan over high heat. Remove kombu with tongs and reserve for another use.
• Sprinkle katsuo bushi over liquid and remove pan from heat. Let stand 3 minutes, then pour through a cheesecloth-lined sieve into a bowl.

ELEGANT JAPANESE SOUP

Steps:

• Bring your broth to a boil.
• Add Mushrooms& Carrots simmer for 2 minutes.
• Add raw prawns& Scallops, simmer until the prawns are just pink.
• Stir in the lemon juice, Soy& Sherry.
• Strain the broth into 6 soup bowls and artistically arrange some carrots, mushrooms, 2 prawns, 2 scallops.
• a slice of lemon and a green onion in each bowl- Serve.
• N.B ***To clarify Broth:Whisk an egg white into one cup cool broth, Whisk this mixture into the rest of the cooled broth, heat to boiling whisking the entire time. When the broth comes to a boil remove from heat and let it rest 20 minutes. then scoop off the frothy top and you will have beautiful clear broth.