I’ve been thinking about Ramen a lot ever since we got back from a visit to Japan last April. I’m not talking about Ramen in dried noodle blocks (but I will eat that in a pinch). I’m referring to the fresh kind that one can find at their favorite Asian market. I love Japanese grocer, Ebisuya, in Medford, MA for example, but fresh Ramen noodles can found in most supermarkets these days. (Check the frozen section as well.) Perhaps the most popular and successful provider is Sun Noodles which claim to be the #1 brand used by restaurants. I wish I owned stock in them because I think they’re going to take over the world.
Preparing Ramen at home is fun and easy because it’s not difficult at all, takes very little time, and is deeply satisfying, Add a bit of seaweed, sliced chicken or porch, a soft-boiled egg, bamboo shoots and you are in for a real treat.
I don’t think I’m alone in my Ramen obsession. I think Ramen weighs on a lot of people’s mind for nutrition and their livelihood. Evidence is the ever increasing popularity of Ramen bars and menu options in the U.S. And, while it may be more of a testament to the poor quality of prison food, I recently read that Ramen is displacing tobacco as the most popular form of currency in prisons. Ramen even has a soundtrack. As reported by NPR, this past spring the Japanese pop-punk band, Shonen Knife embarked on its latest adventure – dubbed the “Ramen Adventure” tour of the U.S. Why ramen? Well, ramen is really like Japanese soul food, says Daisuke Utagawa, a ramen restaurateur in Washington, D.C., and unofficial ambassador of Japanese food culture. “It’s probably as important as your pizza here.”
Looking at pictures of Ramen makes me drool and fantasize about slurping down those succulent noodles. Similar-minded Ramen connoisseurs post pictures of their latest Ramen adventure on Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook. I follow them all. Now whenever I go to a new town, not only do I try to find a mom and pop guitar store, but I also seek out new Ramen adventures of my own.
From a dietary perspective, there are worse things you can eat. The key ingredients are wheat flour, water, salt and Kansui (sodium and potassium carbonate). Of course, you have to be mindful of the salt and carb intake however, lower sodium broth alternatives are often available at stores and restaurants. While companies like Sun Noodles offer excellent soup bases with their noodles, I also have created my own low sodium concoctions based on recipes discovered on the Web with delicious results.
Please now go and enjoy a bowl of Ramen and crank up Shonen Knife!
-Ken
My favorite Japanese food cook books, Japanese Soul Cooking. Great Ramen recipe and so much more. Buy it with this link!
Here’s a decent primer on Ramen at Wikipedia. (The pictures are not too attractive, however!)
Shonen Knife Ramen Rock
Facts Are Your Friends 