Braised Pork Ramen Food

PULLED PORK RAMEN

Steps:

• For the ramen broth: Put chicken bones, kombu, mushrooms, ginger, soy sauce, vinegar
• bonito flakes, scallions, carrots, celery, garlic, tomatoes, lemon and pig foot
• in a large stock pot. Fill with water and bring to a boil, then simmer on low heat for about 36 hours. Strain out solids.
• For the braised pork butt: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sprinkle salt and pepper all over the pork butt and pan sear in olive oil over high heat to brown all sides. Transfer to a baking dish and add the stock, ginger, bay leaves, celery, garlic, tomatoes and onion and bake for 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours.
• For the ramen: Cook noodles in salted boiling water to desired texture, 4 to 6 minutes. Heat 12 ounces broth in a pot. Put lard in a bowl and add hot noodles, then pour heated broth in bowl. Place pork belly and 4 ounces pork butt on top and add bamboo shoots. Top with arugula and spinach. Add hard-boiled egg if desired, and garnish with green onions.

RAMEN WITH CHARRED PORK

Steps:

• Combine the chicken broth, 2 1/2 cups water, the sliced ginger, 3 smashed garlic cloves, 2 cut-up scallions, the shiitake mushrooms, soy sauce and rice wine in a large pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and gently simmer, covered, until the mushrooms are soft and the broth is flavorful, 35 to 40 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, combine the hoisin sauce, sesame oil, minced ginger, minced garlic, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper in a medium bowl. Prick the pork chops all over with a fork and add to the bowl; turn to coat. Let marinate at room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Heat a grill or grill pan to medium high. Grill the pork chops until cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Remove to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes. Thinly slice the pork chops.
• Bring a separate large pot of water to a boil. Gently add the eggs in their shells, return to a simmer and cook 6 1/2 minutes. Drain and run under cold water. Peel the eggs and cut in half.
• Return the pot of water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook as the label directs, stirring often. Drain and divide among 4 bowls.
• Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a separate pot. Add the spinach and stir to wilt slightly. Ladle the broth and spinach over the noodles and top with the pork, sliced scallions and eggs; season with shichimi togarashi.

JAPANESE-STYLE CHASU PORK BELLY FOR SPICY MISO RAMEN

Steps:

• Mix together the sake, water, soy sauce, sugar, green onions and ginger in a large pot.
• Halve or quarter the pork belly into large, manageable pieces.
• Transfer the pork belly pieces to the pot. Bring to just under a boil, but do not boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer poach slowly on the stove (alternatively, you can use an oven at 300 degrees F) until tender, about 2 hours 30 minutes.
• Check for tenderness by piercing the middle of each piece. When tender, allow to cool in the liquid for 2 hours off the heat, then transfer to the refrigerator to completely rest overnight in the liquid.
• The next day, remove the pork belly from the liquid and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Warm the pork belly with a bit of sauce and serve as a topping for Spicy Miso Ramen with the various garnishes. Serve 2 slices per person.