Inspired by Chaco Bar’s chilli coriander ramen where Japanese pork tonkotsu-style ramen blends seamlessly with more Chinese-leaning flavours. Our version swaps Japanese chashu braised pork for the more fragrantly spiced red braised version and a fiery Xinjiang-style chilli oil to finish. Begin this recipe two days ahead.
Ingredients
Method
Place pork bones in a saucepan, cover with cold water and soak overnight to extract any impurities.
Drain pork bones from soaking water and place in a large stock pot. Cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Skim surface, then drain. Scrub and wash bones well under cold running water to remove any blood. Return bones to a clean stock pot, add chicken wings, cover with 7 litres cold water and bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, skimming surface occasionally to remove impurities, for 1 hour. When only white foam rises to the surface, cover and simmer, stirring every hour, until rich and creamy (9-10 hours). Strain through a fine sieve into a large bowl, pressing on solids to extract maximum flavour (discard solids). Cool stock in a bowl over a bowl of iced water, then refrigerate until required. Makes 4 litres.
For dashi, place all ingredients except katsuoboshi in a saucepan, cover with 600ml cold water and refrigerate overnight to soak. Next day, place saucepan over low heat and gently heat to 80°C (30-40 minutes). Remove from heat; add bonito flakes and stand to infuse (15 minutes). Strain into a large jug, pressing on solids to extract all liquid content (this should yield 400ml). Return liquid to pan. Add 20gm salt and stir over low heat until dissolved. Refrigerate until required. Dashi stock will keep for 1 week or frozen for 3 months.
For red braised pork, combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until pork is fork tender (2 hours). Cool in braising stock and refrigerate until required. Pork will keep refrigerated in braising liquid for 3 days.
For fragrant chilli rayu, place all ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and sesame seeds are golden (10-12 minutes). Remove from heat, season and set aside to cool slightly (10-15 minutes).
Remove pork from braising stock (see note). Cut pork into 10cm-long, 1cm-thick slices. Heat a lightly greased char-grill pan to high. Drizzle pork with a little oil and char-grill until charred (1 minute each side). Remove from pan. Drizzle broccolini with a little oil and grill, turning, until charred and tender (2-4 minutes).
Heat remaining 1 tbsp oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, until lightly caramelised (4-5 minutes). Add 1.5 litres pork stock and 350ml-400ml dashi to taste and bring to a gentle simmer.
Meanwhile, cook noodles in a large saucepan of boiling water until cooked but still firm (1 minute). Drain.
Divide noodles among four serving bowls. Ladle over hot ramen broth and top with pork slices, broccolini, ajitama, spring onion and micro coriander. Drizzle with fragrant chilli rayu to serve.
Note
Ask your butcher to prepare pork bones for you. Frozen ramen noodles, usukuchi shoyu, dried scallops, niboshi, dried prawns, dried shiitake mushrooms, katsuobushi are all available from Japanese or Asian grocers. Any remaining red braising stock can be cooled, frozen and reused.
Allow extra time for soaking and cooling — refer to the method for details.
Brett Stevens