Quick Garlicky Miso & Ginger Mazemen (brothless ramen)

Kitchen Little Essentials

For this recipe, you’ll need:

A large pot/pasta pot (I love this one)

A high-speed blender (I’ve used this one for years)

Ramen noodles (these are great – no packaged flavoring mix included)

Good kitchen tongs

White miso paste

If you were to take a peek inside my kitchen little last night (not creepy like, but in more of a Bob Cratchit & The Ghosts of Christmas sort of way), you would have seen a lot of heads bowed diligently over big, steaming bowls of this Garlicky Miso & Ginger Mazemen. Slurps abounding, spoons and chopsticks clanking about, it would have been one of the most calm and serenely still scenes you’d be likely to find in a house that is populated most often by busyness and children’s playing and, well, kinetics. It’s not usually that still, is my point.

All of this to say, it was an outta-the-park grand slam sort of hit with everyone, as noodle bowls do tend to be, and I think y’all are going to really dig it, too. If all of this talk about “mazemen” has you scratching your collective heads in wonderment over what the heck I’m talking about, do allow me to explain … 

What is Mazemen?

Ramen is not some one-dimensional food by any means. Even with the ramen noodle craze that has swept the American (and worldwide food scene) over the past decade, many don’t realize that there are actually many types of ramen bowls and varieties to be enjoyed.

As when we say the word “pasta,” we’re not only referring to one thing but rather, an entire genre of recipes and dishes, a similar notion applies to the term, “ramen.”

Mazemen: A Ramen for All Seasons

Of all the varied iterations of ramen, I think my favorite is what is referred to as “Mazemen” (pronounced maz-eh-mon). Broth-less in its presentation, I find Mazemen to be a bit simpler and faster to prepare than a bowl that boasts a time-consuming, multi-layered broth (which, for the record, I also adore). A broth-less noodle bowl, however, seems appropriate on a dinner table any time of year, which I think is what I love most about it. Are you trudging through the hot dog days of summer? Well then. A sauce-slicked bowl of insanely tasty noodles piled high with seasonal veggies is practically perfect in every way. 

If you find yourself in the heart of darkness that is the dead of winter (like I am as I write this), then a piping hot bowl of flavorful noodles topped with succulent bites of fatty pork belly or crispy-skinned chicken and a spicy, flame-throwing hot sauce is just the ticket. 

Mazemen: How to Build Your Bowl

I’m not going to tell you how to top your Mazemen. That’s really up to you, as the possibilities are truly endless and there are so many great combinations of things that would sit real pretty atop these this oh so tasty tangle of noodles. As for me (and what I’ve got in these photos as a demo for you) I always opt for boiled eggs, simple sautéed mushrooms, and some cubed extra firm tofu – either raw or just crisped up in a skillet with a little cooking oil. 

Just know that the noodles themselves comprise the base of this recipe and take all of 10 minutes to make. We’ll cook our noodles and, at the same time, create what I like to call a “broth concentrate” in our trusty high-speed blender and then douse those noodles with the stuff, give it a toss, and get to slurping. Or, top it however you like. This is a perfect opportunity to “fridge forage” and use up what you’ve got in your produce and meat drawers …

In case my egg-shrooms-tofu combo doesn’t float your boat quite as much, here are some other toppings or add-ins that would be great atop this Garlicky Miso & Ginger Mazemen:

1)    Thinly sliced carrots

2)    Thinly sliced radishes

3)    Sautéed or steamed bok choy

4)    Edamame

5)    Sliced roasted pork tenderloin

6)    Sliced roasted chicken

7)    Pork belly 

If you like the looks of this recipe, you might want to try:

Pan Roasted Green Curry Salmon

Creamless Lemon Cream Angel Hair

Here is a ready-made pin for you! Simply save it to your “Noodles” or “Fast Dinner Recipes” boards and you’ll be all set when the craving strikes.

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