Tonkotsu Ramen - Behind the Scenes

My first ramen was surprisingly, in new york when I was in high school. I went out on a date with a boy who took me to momofuku noodle bar in Lower East side. As a high school student, I didn’t get many chances to get “wine-and-dined” and this was an eye-opening moment for me. To see all these young new yorkers, drinking their korean pear slushies, slurping down noodles, scarfing down pork-belly baos, and sharing a platter of bossam (very odd menu combo), I was stunned. It felt cool to be in the scene, and I remember waitresses with sleeve tattoos and cool names squeezing through the crowded noodle bar. I don’t even think I ordered tonkotsu, but it was my first non-instant noodle experience and I loved it. I’ve made ramen before, but this was my first time really making everything from scratch. Not going to lie, ramen is.. arduous. This ramen cost me 1 week of trial and error + a forever porky lingering smell in my apartment. But is it worth it? Yes. What surprised me the most was the noodles. I’m actually not a big fan of fresh pasta- I find that most people overcook to a mushy-blobby gunk and I like my pasta al dente. However, these? I honestly thought they were going to be gimmicky. But no. They were, chewy, springy, and the perfect consistency to slurp. I, like most people, got intimidated by the “baking baking soda” part. But once you get over that hump, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful fresh ramen noodles to use. I think the broth and cha-shu doesn’t even need an explanation. Hint? Heavenlyl. I ended up stewing the broth for 14 hours, plus an additional 8 hour rest in the fridge. When I took it out, it was literally pork jello- a sign that all the gelatin, collagen, fat, and marrow have successfully emulsified into the broth. Making ramen from scratch was a humbling experience. As I put a week’s worth of effort into one bowl, I understood why it’s such a beloved dish everywhere. For avid ramen lovers, this is a great weekend quest. So many nuances, techniques, planning, all concentrated in one bowl. Recipe will be up tomorrow on my instagram @doobydobap Social Links... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doobydobap/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doobydobap Website: www.doobydobap.com