Healthy Vegan Ramen

Ramen is an oh so delicious favorite comfort food... but the packaged kind is pretty nasty in comparison to a wholesome, HEALTHY, homemade batch of hearty ramen soup. Inspired by some Japanese ramen I got at a restaurant last week I wanted to see how easy it was for us to make our own.. and it was surprisingly easy. Give this a go and let me know what you think! It can be made and done in about 20 minutes. The best part is having fun with it.. you can customize it in SO many ways!



All ingredients are customizable and optional (get creative!) and amount varies depending on how many people you're serving. Just add what you like and have on hand and go with it!

Ingredients:

vegetable broth, store bought or homemade

fresh chopped vegetables of your choice such as: bell peppers, green onions, red or white onion, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, water chestnuts, broccoli, mushrooms, etc.

noodles: rice, wheat or mung bean noodles, can be purchased in the asian food section of the grocery store

optional proteins (I didn't use any in this batch but you certainly can to boost the protein!): raw tofu, cubed, or pre-cooked seitan chunks

herbs and spices: ginger root, garlic, lemon grass, basil, moringa leaves, sea salt, black pepper, turmeric, etc.

add ins (optional): bean sprouts, soy sauce, hot sauce, and hoisin sauce


Directions:

Pour your veggie broth into a large pot and allow to warm up.

Add your chopped veggies, starting with those with the hardest consistency, and as they soften you can add in the softer ones (such as tomatoes) later. Plan accordingly to avoid making anything too soggy. You can also add in your herbs and spices of choice. Feel free to let a chunk of scored ginger root or a blade of ripped up lemon grass steep in your pot to release some nice flavors and aromas and just leave it out when serving. Leave on medium-heat for about 5-10 minutes and then lower to low so it can simmer for a while (at least another 15 mins. minimum) and flavors can blend without losing too much nutrients in your hearty veggies.



About 5-7 minutes (or # of minutes your package says to cook noodles) before serving, add your noodles to the pot. Mix thoroughly and serve. If you have picky eaters or varying tastes of those enjoying the ramen, feel free to leave some veggies, herbs and toppings on the side so individual bowls can be customized. Bean sprouts, soy sauce, hoisin sauce and hot sauce (I'm obsessed with Trader Joe's green dragon sauce) (to taste) make excellent optional additions when serving. Enjoy!


* To minimize loss of nutrients in your veggies (this is coming from a part-time raw vegan that's still learning!), many veggies can be added right at serving, such as mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes etc. For those that are simmering for added broth flavor and softened texture, keep your pot covered at all times to minimize nutrients being lost in the steam while cooking. Herbs and spices should steep in your broth as long as possible for optimal flavors and noodles should be cooked according to package directions to be soft enough to enjoy!