Lion's Mane Ramen
This Lion's Mane Ramen is a warm, umami-rich dish with mushrooms as the star. The Lion's Mane mushroom's unique meaty texture and ability to absorb flavor make it perfect for a vegetarian ramen that's both filling and satisfying.
Procedure:
- Prepare the broth base:
- Heat sesame oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add finely chopped garlic and ginger and fry for 1-2 minutes until they start to smell. Make sure they don't burn — they just have to get soft and release their aroma.
- Add Lion's Mane mushrooms:
- Add the sliced Lion's Mane mushrooms to the pan and fry them for 3-4 minutes until they turn golden and slightly crispy at the edges. Lion's Mane absorbs the flavor from the broth really well, so this step is important to get the most out of the mushrooms.
- Broths and flavorings:
- Pour the vegetable broth into the pan and bring to a boil. Add soy sauce, miso paste, rice vinegar, mirin and sesame seeds. Simmer for 10 minutes so the flavours can draw into the broth. Taste and adjust with extra soy sauce or miso if desired.
- Cook the noodles:
- While the broth simmers, cook the ramen noodles separately according to the package directions (usually 3-4 minutes for fresh noodles or 5-6 minutes for dried ones). When they are done, drain the noodles and set aside.
- Prepare toppings:
- For a classic soft-boiled ramen egg: Boil the egg for 6 minutes and immediately place it in ice water to stop cooking. Peel and halve the egg.
- Cut the carrot into thin strips, rinse the spinach leaves, and cut the nori sheet into thin strips.
- Assemble the frame dish:
- Distribute the noodles in bowls. Pour the hot Lion's Mane broth over the noodles, making sure the mushrooms are also distributed well.
- Top with carrot strips, spinach leaves, halved egg, nori strips and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro or spring onions. Add a teaspoon of chili oil for an extra kick if you like a little heat.
- Serve and enjoy:
- Serve immediately while the ramen is hot and steaming. Enjoy the taste of the rich broth and the meaty Lion's Mane mushrooms that give the dish an amazing fullness and texture.
Type: If you want a lighter version, you can omit eggs or replace the noodles with whole grain or shirataki noodles. Add extra veggies like bok choy or sugar peas for more nourishment and texture.
