Vegan Ramen

Ingredients

• 1/2 napa cabbage
• 2 tbsps vegetable oil (divided)
• 7 slices ginger
• 2 cloves garlic (peeled and cut in half)
• 2 cubes white fermented bean curd
• 1 large onion (peeled and quartered)
• 1 pound carrots (peeled and cut into large chunks)
• 8 scallions (ends removed)
• 8 ounces daikon radish (peeled and cut into chunks)
• 1 5x5 inch piece dried kelp (kombu) (rinsed)
• 16 dried shiitake mushrooms (rinsed)
• 16 cups water (1 gallon or about 4L)
• Salt to taste
• 2 1/2 tsps spicy bean sauce (la doubanjiang)
• 1 tbsp white miso paste
• 1/2 tsp sesame oil
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened soy milk
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 pound fresh ramen noodles (450g)
• 8 ounces baby bok choy (225g)
• 1/2 cup chili bamboo shoots
• 2 scallions (chopped)
• Toasted nori

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Take your napa cabbage half, and cut it in half again lengthwise. Place the cabbage on a sheet pan and drizzle lightly with oil. Roast for 25 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a large stockpot, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add the ginger and garlic and cook for 2 minutes, until fragrant but not browned. Add the fermented bean curd and cook for another minute. Then add the onion, carrots, scallions, daikon, kelp, dried shiitake mushrooms, and water. When the napa cabbage is done roasting, add it to the pot as well.
3. Bring to a boil, turn the heat down to low, and simmer with the lid on for 4 hours. Strain the stock, and season with salt to taste.
4. In a separate pot over medium heat, add a tablespoon of oil. Fry the spicy bean paste for 1 minute. Then strain the stock into the pot (you will need about 8 cups to make 4 bowls of ramen).
5. Add the miso paste and sesame oil, stirring until the miso paste is dissolved. Stir in the soy milk. Taste for seasoning and season with salt if desired. Keep over low heat (do not boil, or the soy milk will curdle), cover, and leave on the stove while you assemble the rest of the ingredients.
6. Bring a pot of water to a boil for the noodles and bok choy. Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium high heat and add a tablespoon of oil. Add the corn and season with salt. Sautee the frozen corn until it’s tender and heated through.
7. Meanwhile, your water should be boiling. Cook the ramen noodles according to the package instructions. Blanch the bok choy for 30 seconds in the same pot you’re using to boil the noodles.
8. Ladle your ramen broth into 4 bowls. Add the noodles, and top with the cooked corn, blanched bok choy, chili bamboo shoots, scallions, and nori. Serve!