I enjoy cooking playfully and mixing several international flavours, creating interesting crossovers and making culinary journeys. For March, my recipe is a vegan ramen soup from Japan.
Originally from China, it has been enjoyed throughout Japan for over a century. In Europe, ramen has become very popular in the last few years. You can find many variations made with different broth bases, garnish and toppings. My vegan Japanese noodle soup is warming, comforting and intensely flavourful, and you can easily make it with a few simple plant-based ingredients from your local supermarket!
Broth ingredients
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 onion
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1 small piece of ginger
- 1 fresh chilli
- 2 tbsp miso paste
- 2 tbsp soya sauce
- 2 tsp tahini paste
- 2 tsp peanut butter
- 2 tbsp vegetable broth powder
- Salt, chilli powder or pepper if you need
Preparation and cooking
Chop the onion, garlic, ginger and chilli. Put the sesame oil in a big pan; add the onion first and the garlic, ginger and chilli after a few minutes.
Next, add the miso paste, followed by the tahini paste, and then the peanut butter. Add a bit of water and mix the paste very well.
Add three litres of water and stir again before adding the vegetable broth powder and letting it boil. Finally, check if you need salt, pepper or even more chilli.
Tofu marinade ingredients
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 small piece of ginger
- 1 tbsp soya sauce
- 1 tsp wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
Preparation and cooking
Marinate the tofu with all ingredients, cover and put it in the fridge for
1–4 hours. Fry and set aside.
Soup ingredients
- 2 slices of tofu per person
- Ramen noodles
- Bok choy
- Red bell pepper
- Cauliflower or carrots
- Spring onion
- Sesame seeds
Preparation and cooking
Cook the cauliflower, bok choy and bell pepper. Next, cook the noodles and set aside. When everything is ready, you can pour the hot broth into a bowl; then, add the cooked veggies, the noodles and the tofu and decorate with the spring onion and the sesame seeds.
Tip: Ramen noodles can be found at Intermarché or Continente. Try to buy a biological miso paste, which you can find at shops like Naturboticae in Lagos or Celeiro in Portimão.
Wine Pairing
I recommend a smooth, light red Zweigelt wine from Austria; you can find it at Lita’s Concept Store in Lagos.
Instagram: @litasconceptstore
