Originating in China, Ramen is traditionally a Japanese noodle dish served in either a meat or fish based broth, and is often flavored with miso or soy sauce. Toppings for the Japanese dish often include pork, green onions, dried seaweed, and corn, among other traditional favorites. Each region in Japan has its own variations on ramen noodles dishes.
Ramen Soup
In Japan, Ramen soup is typically made from stock with a pork or chicken base, combined with a variety of ingredients including kelp, tuna, dried sardines, beef bones, and onions. The soup is often flavored with salt, soy sauce, or miso.
Ramen Noodles
Ramen noodles are made primarily from wheat flour, water, salt, and kansui, an alkaline mineral water. Kansui gives ramen noodles a yellowish tint and a firm texture. Often, eggs are used in place of kansui. In some cases, neither eggs or kansui is used.
Instant Ramen Noodles
Instant Ramen noodles are dried noodles fused with oil. They are commonly sold with a packet of flavoring included. The ramen noodles are boiled for about three to five minutes before adding the flavor packet. Instant ramen noodles are available in a variety of flavors, including beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, mushroom, and oriental. Other traditional Japanese flavors such as miso, shoyu, and kimchi are also available. Instant ramen noodles are especially popular with college students and can be found in college dorm rooms across the United States. College students love ramen noodles for their low cost, as well as their ease of preparation.
Where To Find Ramen Noodles
The instant ramen noodles we commonly think of are sold in supermarkets and convenience stores across the nation. The three major brands of instant ramen noodles are: Maruchan Ramen, Sapporo Ichiban, and Nissin Top Ramen. In addition, you may find variations of traditional Asian dishes using ramen noodles in Chinese and Japanese restaurants. Some of the more common Japanese dishes using ramen noodles are Sapporo, Kitakata, and Hakata. Some traditional Japanese Raman soups include Shio, Miso, Shoyu, and Tonkotsu.
Nutrition Information
Ramen noodles may taste great, but they are extremely high in sodium. This is primarily due to the flavor packet included in instant ramen noodles. For a healthier, tasty variation, try leaving out the flavor packet and add fresh vegetables, sliced beef, chicken, or pork, and various spices for a little extra flavor with much less sodium.