PORK STOCK RAMEN RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. The day before you’re going to cook, make the Marinated eggs and prep the pork. Sit the pork in a tray, sprinkle with the kosher salt and the sugar, drizzle over the soy, then rub all over. Cover and marinate in the fridge overnight.
  2. The next day, preheat the oven to 160ºC/325ºF/gas 3.
  3. Remove the pork from the marinade, brushing off the excess salt and sugar. Place in a snug-fitting roasting tray, cover with tin foil and roast for 4 hours, or until super-tender, reserving the fat from the tray.
  4. Meanwhile, make the Ramen noodles.
  5. For the apple soffritto, peel and very finely chop the onion, garlic, ginger and apple (discarding the core). Place in a pan with the oil on a low heat and fry gently for 45 minutes, or until softened but not coloured, stirring regularly, then remove from the heat.
  6. For the shoyu tare, pour the sake and mirin into a pan and bring to the boil on a high heat. Leave to bubble away for 4 minutes, then reduce the heat to low, add the soy and apple soffritto, cook for an additional 5 minutes, then remove from the heat.
  7. When you’re getting ready to serve, make your broth: bring the stock and dashi to the boil in a large pan, then simmer over a medium heat for 5 minutes. Put a pan of water on to boil for the noodles, then thinly slice the pork.
  8. Get yourself six warm bowls. Spoon 1 tablespoon each of the shoyu tare and reserved pork fat into the bowls, then divide up the broth. Cook the noodles in the pan of boiling water for 45 seconds (or according to the packet instructions), then remove, shaking off any excess water.
  9. Divide between the bowls, using chopsticks to separate, if needed. Top each bowl with slices of pork and a halved marinated egg. Trim and finely slice the spring onions and chilli (deseed if you like), and scatter over the top to finish.

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Rub the onion halves all over with 2 teaspoons vegetable oil and place cut-side up on a small foil-lined baking sheet. Broil until completely charred on top, about 12 minutes; set aside. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook, turning, until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes. Add 3/4 cup water, the soy sauce, mirin, 2 scallions, one-quarter of the ginger and 3 smashed garlic cloves. Bring to a boil, cover and transfer to the oven. Cook, turning the pork every hour, until tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Transfer the pork to a plate or cutting board. Skim off the fat from the cooking liquid, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl; set aside.
• Meanwhile, make the stock: Bring 10 cups cold water, the chicken wings and bacon to a boil in a large pot. Boil vigorously for 3 minutes, then skim off any foam and reduce the heat to a gentle simmer; cook 1 hour. Add the broiled onion, dried shiitakes, remaining ginger, 4 scallions and 4 smashed garlic cloves. Simmer 1 more hour, skimming occasionally as needed. Strain the stock through a fine-mesh sieve into another pot; you should have about 8 cups (add more water if necessary). Stir in the strained pork cooking liquid; season with salt. Keep hot over low to medium heat.
• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Gently lower the eggs into the water and adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook 7 minutes for soft-boiled or 10 minutes for medium-boiled, then drain and run the eggs under cold water to stop the cooking. Peel the eggs and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook as the label directs. Drain well.
• Thickly slice the pork. Carefully halve the eggs lengthwise. Divide the 3 minced garlic cloves and the noodles among bowls. Ladle the hot stock into each bowl. Top with the sliced pork, an egg half and assorted toppings.