CALIFORNIA VEGETABLE RAMEN RECIPES

Steps:

• Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, and let eggs stand in hot water for 2 minutes. While eggs cook, prepare a bowl of ice water. When eggs are done cooking, transfer them from the saucepan to the ice bath, reserving cooking water in the saucepan. Soak until completely cooled, about 15 minutes. Gently peel eggs and set aside.
• Heat sesame oil and olive oil together in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and ginger paste and saute 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add broth and bring to a simmer. Add soy sauce and mirin.
• Add mushrooms to the simmering broth and cook 5 minutes. Add bell peppers, bok choy, and green onions and cook 1 minute more.
• While vegetables are cooking, reheat the water used for the eggs. Add ramen to the boiling water and cook until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain.
• Place a portion of cooked noodles in a bowl and top with broth, vegetables, and 1 egg. Garnish with kimchi, chile-garlic sauce, and radish. Repeat with remaining noodles, broth, vegetables, egg, and toppings.

Steps:

• Cook garlic and ¼ cup oil in a medium pot over medium heat, stirring often, until garlic is beginning to turn golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in sesame seeds and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden brown and crisp, about 1 minute. Transfer mixture to a small bowl and stir in gochugaru; season with salt. Set garlic oil aside. Wipe out pot and set aside.
• Trim dark green parts from scallions and thinly slice; set aside for serving. Coarsely chop white and pale green parts. Heat remaining 2 Tbsp oil in reserved pot over medium-high. Cook chopped scallions and ginger, stirring often, until scallions are charred in spots, about 4 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to stick to the bottom of pot and darkens slightly, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and kombu, then stir in 5 cups cold water. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let sit until mushrooms soften, about 10 minutes. Remove and discard kombu.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer solids to a blender. Add a ladleful or 2 of broth to blender and purée until smooth. Stir purée back into broth in pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add butter a piece at a time, whisking to combine after each addition before adding more. Stir in soy sauce; season with salt. Reduce heat to low and keep warm until ready to serve.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add bok choy and cook until bright green and tender, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bok choy to a plate. Return water to a boil and cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and divide among bowls.
• To serve, ladle broth over noodles, then top with bok choy and reserved garlic oil. Top with eggs, nori, and cilantro if desired.