Author:Aura RuggeriPublished: June 12, 2023 (Updated: October 12, 2023)
This article was fact checked and it's 100% helpful.
Ramen is a widely popular dish in Japan (even though it technically originated from China) and there are lots of different ways you can eat this Japanese favorite.
One popular method is to add a ton of interesting ingredients from other Asian countries to make completely new dishes – and one such dish is kimchi ramen!
If you want to learn how to eat kimchi with ramen, then just follow the guide below to discover how to make your very own kimchi ramen!
What Is Kimchi Ramen?
Before we dive into how you should make kimchi ramen, let’s look at what these two key ingredients actually are.
Ramen is a Japanese noodle soup dish that is rich in flavor and nutrients. It often contains a range of various meats and vegetables but the noodles are the key ingredient.
This dish is very filling and is considered to be a type of ‘fast food’ in Japan as you can purchase bowls from street vendors, small restaurants, and more.
Kimchi, however, is not from Japan at all – it’s actually from Korea! This ingredient is made from fermented vegetables (mainly from a type of cabbage) that is well seasoned with spices including the Korean version of chili powder gochugaru, garlic, ginger, and more.
It’s usually served as a side dish but eating your kimchi alongside your ramen soup is not the best way to enjoy both dishes simultaneously.
A good way to eat kimchi with ramen is to bring the two together to make kimchi ramen soup!
How To Make Kimchi Ramen Soup
Making kimchi ramen soup is super easy – when you know how to make ramen soup in the first place. So, here’s a quick recipe for you to try out yourself. Follow the steps closely and try to use the right ingredients!
Kimchi Ramen Ingredients
Kimchi – Kimchi is usually sold in jars but if you are struggling to get your hands on any, you can try making your own kimchi in advance. You will need ½ a cup of kimchi with ¼ cup of kimchi juice.
Ramen – All you need is a pack of ramen noodles!
Chicken or Vegetable Stock – 2 ½ cups of stock will give the ramen broth plenty of flavor and liquid.
Shiitake Mushrooms – For this recipe, we will be using 5 thinly sliced shiitake mushrooms. However, what vegetables you choose to add to your ramen all comes down to your preferences.
Chili – Traditional ramen recipes will use a type of Korean red pepper powder but chili powder is a good substitute here.
Scallions – 1 scallion sliced into matchstick shapes are added for additional garnish and flavor.
Kimchi Ramen Recipe
Start by stir-frying your mushrooms for 3 minutes and then add your kimchi. Stir fry it all together for a further 2 minutes so the kimchi is nice and warm.
In a medium pot, add the kimchi juice, chili powder, and stock and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat so the broth can simmer for 5 minutes.
Open up your ramen noodles (discarding the flavor packet) and follow the packet’s instructions to boil your noodles. You can either boil your noodles separately or just add them straight to the broth so they cook directly in the stock.
Once your noodles are nice and soft, transfer them to your bowl for eating, and add the scallions, mushrooms, and kimchi over the top. Stir and enjoy!
Additional Ramen Toppings
Ramen is a pretty versatile dish so you can add any kind of toppings you desire to the above recipe. Here are some great topping ideas for you to consider:
Boiled Egg – One of the most popular ramen toppings is a boiled egg. Usually, you just add one half of an egg or one egg split in half.
Pork or Chicken – Meats can be easily added to kimchi ramen to give it protein. Chicken and pork work best but you can also add beef or duck.
Nori or Wakame (a type of Japanese dried seaweed) – If you want to try more unique Japanese ingredients, then dried seaweed is a must.
Green Onions – Lots of vegetables can go into ramen but green onions bring plenty of texture as well as flavor.
Bok Choy – Another trendy ingredient for ramen broth.
Sesame Seeds or Peanuts – Not only do these ingredients bring their own special flavor, but they add a nice crunchy texture to your kimchi ramen!
What Utensils To Use To Eat Kimchi Ramen
Ramen is traditionally eaten with a set of chopsticks and a ramen ladle (a type of long, shallow spoon). The chopsticks pick out your noodles and other ingredients while the ladle helps you drink up the broth liquid.
If you want an authentic Japanese meal, you should try to use these utensils – but a fork and spoon are a lot easier for Westerners who are not used to chopsticks!
Final Thoughts
The best way to eat kimchi with ramen is to cook it up with the vegetables and add it over the broth once it’s ready to be eaten. This way, you can combine the flavors together to make a truly delicious meal.
It is possible to eat the kimchi separately as a side but most people love adding kimchi directly to the ramen for a hot, filling meal!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Eat Kimchi Hot Or Cold?
One of the best things about kimchi is that it can be eaten cold or hot. Some people love to eat kimchi cold and straight from the container while others cook it up with sides like fried rice and serve it hot. So, how you eat it all depends on whichever temperature you prefer!
Do You Heat Up Kimchi For Ramen?
According to our best ramen and kimchi recipe, you will need to heat up the kimchi in the same pan as the rest of your ramen vegetables. However, some people prefer to serve kimchi as a side to the ramen, and in this case, the kimchi can be cold.
Again, it depends on if you like your kimchi hot or cold.
Hi, I’m Aura Ruggeri and I want to make sure that no one makes the same mistake that I did.
So, if you’re planning a trip to Japan anytime soon, do exactly that - plan! Read up on all of the amazing things to do here to make the most of your time. I can bet that you’ll still return home feeling like you could’ve explored much more.
