Tsukemen
Dipping Ramen
Tsukemen is a style of ramen where cold, chewy noodles are dipped into a separate, rich, and concentrated hot broth. This offers a distinct textural and flavor experience compared to traditional ramen.
🧂 Ingredients
- 300 g Thick ramen noodles (e.g., udon-style or tsukemen-specific)(Look for noodles specifically labeled for tsukemen, or a thick, chewy udon noodle.)
- 400 ml Concentrated dipping broth base(This can be a pre-made concentrated tonkotsu (pork bone) or gyokai (seafood/fish) broth. If making from scratch, this is the result of a long simmering process.)
- 4 slices Chashu pork(Thinly sliced braised pork belly, a classic ramen topping.)
- 2 Ajitsuke Tamago (marinated soft-boiled egg)(A ramen egg, with a jammy yolk and savory flavor.)
- 2 sheets Nori (dried seaweed sheets)(Toasted nori adds a subtle oceanic flavor and crisp texture.)
- for topping Menma (fermented bamboo shoots)(Adds a salty, slightly crunchy element.)
- for garnish Scallions or green onions(Thinly sliced, for freshness and aroma.)
- for rinsing noodles Ice water
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the concentrated dipping broth. This is the most time-consuming step, often involving simmering pork bones, chicken, vegetables, and aromatics for several hours to extract maximum flavor and richness. The broth should be significantly thicker and more intensely flavored than regular ramen broth. Keep it hot until serving.
⏱️ 4 hours - 2
Cook the ramen noodles according to package directions. They should be cooked al dente, meaning they still have a slight bite. Immediately drain the noodles and rinse them thoroughly under cold running water or plunge them into a large bowl of ice water. This stops the cooking process and removes excess starch, resulting in a firm, chewy texture.
⏱️ 10-15 minutes - 3
Drain the chilled noodles very well. Arrange them neatly on a plate or in a shallow bowl. Prepare your toppings: slice the chashu, halve the soft-boiled eggs, and have the menma and nori sheets ready.
⏱️ 5-10 minutes - 4
Reheat the concentrated dipping broth until it is piping hot, but not boiling vigorously. Ladle the hot broth into individual serving bowls. Garnish the broth with a ladleful of broth, and place the prepared noodles, chashu, egg halves, menma, and nori sheets alongside the broth on the plate.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 5
Serve immediately. To eat, take a portion of the cold noodles, dip them into the hot broth, and then enjoy. Add sliced scallions to the broth for extra freshness.
⏱️ As needed
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The dipping broth should be intensely flavored and concentrated; it's meant to coat the noodles, not be slurped like a soup on its own.
- ✓Ensuring the noodles are thoroughly chilled and well-drained is crucial for the tsukemen experience.
- ✓Leftover concentrated broth can be diluted with hot water or dashi to make a lighter soup, or used as a base for other dishes like fried rice.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Spicy Tsukemen: Add chili paste (like togarashi or gochujang) or chili oil to the dipping broth.
- Seafood Tsukemen: Incorporate dried shrimp, scallops, or fish flakes into the broth during simmering.
- Vegetable Tsukemen: Use a rich vegetable or mushroom broth as the base.