Tonkotsu Ramen Recipe

 Tonkotsu ramen is known for its creamy and rich pork bone broth. It's a bit more involved, but the result can be incredibly delicious. Here's a detailed Tonkotsu Ramen recipe:

Ingredients:

For the broth:

- 4-5 pounds of pork bones (such as pork femur and trotters)

- 1 pound of chicken backs or wings

- 1 onion, peeled and halved

- 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, sliced

- 8 cloves of garlic, smashed

- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

- 12 cups of water

For the tare (flavor base):

- 1/2 cup soy sauce

- 1/4 cup mirin

- 1/4 cup sake

- 1 tablespoon sugar

- 2 tablespoons of miso paste

- 1 teaspoon of sesame oil

For the toppings (customize to your liking):

- Fresh ramen noodles

- Chashu pork (braised and sliced pork belly)

- Soft-boiled eggs (marinated in soy sauce and mirin)

- Bamboo shoots (menma)

- Nori seaweed sheets

- Green onions, chopped

- Bean sprouts

- Black garlic oil or chili oil (optional)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the broth:

   - Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Toss the pork bones, chicken backs or wings, onion, ginger, and garlic with vegetable oil, and roast them in the oven for about 45 minutes until they are well browned.

   - Transfer the roasted ingredients to a large stockpot and add 12 cups of water. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Skim any impurities that rise to the surface.

   - Simmer the broth for at least 12-16 hours, or longer if possible. Add more water if needed to keep the ingredients submerged. Strain the broth, discarding the solids.

2. Prepare the tare:

   - In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, miso paste, and sesame oil. Heat it over low heat until everything is well combined. Let it cool.

3. Prepare the toppings:

   - Cook your fresh ramen noodles according to the package instructions. Typically, fresh noodles take a few minutes. Drain and set aside.

   - Slice the chashu pork and warm it up.

   - Soft-boil eggs and marinate them in a mixture of soy sauce and mirin for extra flavor.

4. Assemble your ramen bowl:

   - In a large bowl, add a portion of the tare (about 2-3 tablespoons).

   - Pour the hot tonkotsu broth over the tare and stir to combine.

   - Add your cooked ramen noodles.

   - Arrange the chashu pork, soft-boiled eggs, bamboo shoots, nori, green onions, bean sprouts, and any other toppings you like.

5. Optionally, drizzle some black garlic oil or chili oil for extra flavor.