Turkey Paitan Ramen With Crispy Turkey and Soft-Cooked Egg Recipe (2024)

Why It Works

  • The paitain-style broth is cooked at a low rolling boil, which results in a rich, deep brown stock that is loaded with turkey flavor.
  • Turkey drumsticks cooked in the broth are shredded and browned, serving as a crispy garnish in the finished bowl.

Turkey soupis all well and good for the day after Thanksgiving, and what's more, it's a snap to make. But sometimes I don'tfeellike making things snappy. Sometimes I feel like investing a bit more time into my scraps. Sometimes I feel like Iwantmy home to smell like simmering turkey broth for an entire day before I get to dig into the fruits of my labor (or really, the fruits of my stove's labor, because it does the lion's share of work in this recipe). Enterturkey paitan ramen.

If you've kept abreast of ourramen style guide, you'd know thatpaitanrefers to the thickness and opaqueness of the soup. Rich and creamy is what we're after here, and while paitan-style broths are traditionally made with pork (tonkotsubeing the most famous example) or chicken, turkey works wonderfully well, with its fuller flavor and slightly sweet aroma.

In truth, this recipe is nothing more than a reworking of mytonkotsu ramenrecipe, with a few tweaks.

Like that one, it starts with bones. In this case, I use fresh or roasted turkey bones (it's excellent made with a leftover roast turkey carcass!), along with a few extra fresh drumsticks, which are there not only for the soup itself, but to give us a bit of braised turkey meat to use as a crispy garnish in the finished bowl.

Turkey Paitan Ramen With Crispy Turkey and Soft-Cooked Egg Recipe (1)

To make the broth, I start by blackening onions, garlic, and ginger in the bottom of a big pot. And when I say blacken, I mean that they should be well-charred on almost every side before adding my turkey bones and drumsticks (which have been briefly blanched and rinsed to rid them of excess minerals and blood that can darken the broth), and some carefully chosen aromatics: scallions and leeks (quadruple allium for quadruple allium flavor!), and mushrooms to bring out the meatiness of the turkey.

I fish the turkey drumsticks out of the pot as soon as they're tender enough to shred—a few hours.

The key with a paitan ramen is to forgo the classic French method of broth-making—the low and slow simmer—in lieu of a heavier boil. We're looking for a low rolling boil for the entirety of its six to eight-hour cooking time.

What you end up with is a rich, deep brown stock (brown from the roasted turkey bones!), that is absolutely loaded with turkey flavor.

A bittoomuch flavor if you want my honest opinion. To tame it, I find that this particular broth takes well to the addition of miso paste and sesame.

Turkey Paitan Ramen With Crispy Turkey and Soft-Cooked Egg Recipe (2)

Tahini is hardly a traditional Japanese ingredient, but it's pretty much identical to thegomapaste used in Japanese cuisine, and much easier to find in your average supermarket.

I whisk in a bit of each, adjusting the quantity to taste.

Turkey Paitan Ramen With Crispy Turkey and Soft-Cooked Egg Recipe (3)

As with making miso soup, it's important that once you add the miso, you don't bring the broth back up to a boil, or the miso will separate, turning into grainy little lumps. If you let your soup sit and see it breaking like the photo above, you'll know you got it too hot.

Don't worry! It's an easily fixed problem: Just buzz it all up using an immersion blender or a regular blender and nobody will know the difference.

So what's up with that turkey drumstick meat we fished out? Well, after discarding the skin and bones, you're left with tender meat that can...

Turkey Paitan Ramen With Crispy Turkey and Soft-Cooked Egg Recipe (5)

...easily be shredded into fine pieces before...

Turkey Paitan Ramen With Crispy Turkey and Soft-Cooked Egg Recipe (6)

...browning in a skillet with some oil, cooking until crusty and browned all over.

And boom goes the dynamite. Even if you don't make the ramen broth, I heartily recommend simmering turkey drumsticks, shredding, and browning the meat. Turkey carnitas tacos anyone?

I finish off the bowl with asous-vide soft boiled egg(amarinated soft boiled egg would do, as well), a ton of scallions, some crispy turkey meat, a drizzle of sesame oil, and—as a nod to the turkey's traditional American partner—some seared Brussels sprouts leaves.

Now isn't it better than boring old turkey soup?

November 2013

Recipe Details

Turkey Paitan Ramen With Crispy Turkey and Soft-Cooked Egg Recipe

Active60 mins

Total9 hrs

Serves6to 8 servings

  • 3 pounds turkey backs and wings or leftover roasted turkey bones and carcass, roughly chopped with a cleaver or a heavy duty chef's knife

  • 2 poundsturkey drumsticks and/or thighs

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

  • 1 large onion, skin on, roughly chopped

  • 16 garlic cloves, divided

  • One 3-inch knob ginger, roughly chopped

  • 2 whole leeks, washed and roughly chopped

  • 2 dozen scallions, white parts only (reserve greens and light green parts for garnishing finished soup)

  • 6 ounces whole mushrooms or mushroom scraps

  • 1/2 cup red or whitemiso paste

  • 1/4 cup sesame tahini

  • 12 Brussels sprouts, divided into individual leaves

  • Kosher salt

  • 6 to 8 servings ramen-style noodles, store-bought orhomemade

  • 6 to 8marinated eggs, orsous-vide soft boiled eggs

  • 2 to 3 tablespoonsmayu(black garlic oil) or toasted sesame oil, for serving

Directions

  1. Place turkey bones and drumsticks or thighs in a large stockpot and cover with cold water. Place on a burner over high heat and bring to a boil. Remove from heat as soon as boil is reached.

  2. While pot is heating, heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a medium cast iron or nonstick skillet over high heat until lightly smoking. Add onions, 12 cloves garlic, and ginger. Cook, tossing occasionally until deeply charred on most sides, about 15 minutes total. Set aside.

  3. Once pot has come to a boil, dump water down the drain. Carefully wash all bones and meat under cold running water, removing any bits of dark marrow or coagulated blood. Bones should be uniform grey/white after you've scrubbed them. Meat should be lightly rinsed.

  4. Return turkey to pot along with charred vegetables, leeks, scallion whites, and mushrooms. Top up with cold water. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, skimming off any scum that appears (this should stop appearing within the first 20 minutes or so). Use a clean sponge or moist paper towels to wipe black or gray scum off from around the rim of the pot. Reduce heat to a bare simmer and place a heavy lid on top.

  5. Once the lid is on, check the pot after 15 minutes. It should be at a slow rolling boil. If not, increase or decrease heat slightly to adjust boiling speed. Boil broth until turkey legs/drumsticks are completely tender, about 3 hours. Carefully remove turkey legs/drumsticks with a slotted spatula. Transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate until step 7. Return lid to pot and continue cooking until broth is opaque with the texture of light cream, about 3 to 5 hours longer, topping off as necessary to keep bones submerged at all times. If you must leave the pot unattended for an extended period of time, top up the pot and reduce the heat to the lowest setting while you are gone. Return to a boil when you come back and continue cooking, topping up with more water as necessary.

    Turkey Paitan Ramen With Crispy Turkey and Soft-Cooked Egg Recipe (7)

  6. Once broth is ready, cook over high heat until reduced to around 3 quarts. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean pot. Discard solids. Skim liquid fat from top with a ladle and discard. Return to a medium pot on the stovetop and keep warm.

    Turkey Paitan Ramen With Crispy Turkey and Soft-Cooked Egg Recipe (8)

  7. Whisk miso paste and tahini into broth. Grate garlic cloves and whisk into broth. Season to taste with salt and/or soy sauce.

    Turkey Paitan Ramen With Crispy Turkey and Soft-Cooked Egg Recipe (9)

  8. Pick turkey meat from turkey legs and finely shred by hand. Place in a cast iron or nonstick skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Cook, flipping and breaking up the meat occasionally, until crusty and browned all over. Season to taste with salt and transfer to a bowl. Set aside.

    Turkey Paitan Ramen With Crispy Turkey and Soft-Cooked Egg Recipe (10)

  9. Heat remaining tablespoon oil in a large skillet over high heat until lightly smoking. Add Brussels sprouts leaves. Season to taste with salt and cook, tossing frequently, until bright green and charred in spots, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

  10. Cook ramen noodles according to package directions. Drain and transfer to individual serving bowls. Top with broth, Brussels sprouts leaves, sliced scallion greens, shredded turkey, and an egg. Drizzle with mayu or toasted sesame oil. Serve immediately.

    Turkey Paitan Ramen With Crispy Turkey and Soft-Cooked Egg Recipe (11)

Special Equipment

Large stock pot, cast iron or nonstick skillet, fine-mesh strainer

Notes

For an even cleaner soup, strain through a fine-mesh strainer lined with several layers of cheesecloth.

Read More

  • Soft-Boiled Eggs for Ramen
  • Mayu (Black Garlic Oil) for Ramen
  • Turkey
  • Japanese
  • Stovetop
  • Eggs
  • Ramen
Turkey Paitan Ramen With Crispy Turkey and Soft-Cooked Egg Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to cook a soft boiled egg for ramen? ›

Using a spider or slotted spoon, carefully lower eggs into water. Reduce heat to maintain a bare simmer (about 190°F/88°C). Cook for exactly 6 minutes for a liquid egg yolk and 7 minutes for jammy egg yolk. Drain hot water and carefully peel eggs under cold running water.

Does turkey taste good in ramen? ›

Rich and creamy is what we're after here, and while paitan-style broths are traditionally made with pork (tonkotsu being the most famous example) or chicken, turkey works wonderfully well, with its fuller flavor and slightly sweet aroma.

Can you put scrambled eggs in ramen? ›

Ramen with egg is the perfect match in this quick and easy breakfast or lunch scramble that combines two classic comfort foods. Finish with hot sauce.

How to make ramen noodles with egg? ›

directions
  1. Follow the directions for regular Ramen. ...
  2. Now here comes the fun part. ...
  3. As the noodles are cooking Slowly pour the egg into the mix like you would if you were making regular egg drop.
  4. Stir it up.
  5. When noodles are done cooking add seasoning packet, a little soysauce and garnish with chives.

How long to cook a soft egg for ramen? ›

Carefully and gently lower one egg at a time into the boiling water with a mesh strainer/skimmer or a ladle. When you add the first egg, set a 7-minute timer. You can cook them 6 to 6½ minutes for a runny egg yolk and 8 to 9 minutes for a custard-like egg yolk.

Can you crack an egg into boiling ramen? ›

If you want to add a poached egg to Ramen, start by boiling your Ramen in 2 cups of water for 90 seconds. Then, stir in your seasonings and crack a raw egg into the pot of water. Place a lid on the pot, turn off the heat, and let it sit for 2 minutes to cook the egg and finish the noodles.

What sauce makes ramen taste better? ›

Adding Sriracha, the popular hot sauce made with red chili and garlic, to a bowl of instant ramen is a classic, low-cost hack because it's easy, affordable, and gives the noodles a nice spice.

What is the tastiest ramen broth? ›

The most widely recognized and celebrated broth worldwide these days is tonkotsu, a boiled pork bone broth. The best tonkotsu broths are a milky, golden color and leave a sticky sheen of gelatin on your lips as you slurp them.

Does ramen taste better with milk or water? ›

While it's possible to cook instant ramen noodles with milk, it's important to note that the end result may not be as satisfying as cooking them with water or broth.

Do you cook egg before adding to ramen? ›

Bring 2½ cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the noodles and cook for 2 minutes. Add the flavor packet, stir, and continue to cook for another 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat and carefully add the egg.

What does adding an egg to ramen do? ›

Protein Boost: Eggs are a good source of protein, and adding an egg to your ramen can make it a more filling and satisfying meal. Texture: The contrast between the silky yolk and the noodles adds a pleasant texture to the dish. Customization: It's a simple way to customize your ramen.

How to add fried egg to ramen? ›

Make sure to move the noodles around often so they don't burn. Once the noodles are crispy, take the bowl with the beaten eggs and slowly add them to the ramen noodles, stirring frequently to avoid sticking and burning. Once the eggs start to firm up you can break the eggs into as small or as big of pieces as you want.

What seasoning to add to ramen? ›

10 Ingredients to Spice Up Your Ramen
  1. Sriracha. For those looking to add a different kind of kick in the form of heat, Sriracha is your option! ...
  2. Peanut Butter. ...
  3. Dried Seaweed. ...
  4. Furikake. ...
  5. Kimchi. ...
  6. Miso Paste. ...
  7. Soy Sauce. ...
  8. Eggs.
May 4, 2022

How long do you soft boil an egg? ›

Bring water to a gentle simmer in a medium pot. Gently lower eggs into water with a slotted spoon or strainer (do not drop eggs into water, as they might crack). Cook for exactly 6 minutes, then remove eggs with slotted spoon and serve.

Why do people put soft boiled eggs in ramen? ›

Ramen Eggs (Ajitsuke Tamago) are soft boiled eggs with a sweet, salty, and rich umami flavor. The yolk is perfectly soft and the flavors of the egg are SO delicious when topping your ramen, or any other way you want to eat them!

How do you soft boil eggs for ramen in the microwave? ›

To soft boil eggs in microwave: PLACE both eggs in a microwave safe bowl and COVER with warm water. ADD salt. PLACE in microwave and COOK for 6-7 minutes. TRANSFER to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process.

How long can ramen eggs soak? ›

Marinate the eggs:

Place the peeled eggs into the prepared marinade and allow the eggs to soak for at last 8 hours, best overnight. Enjoy the eggs in ramen, as a side, or as a snack. Leftover ramen eggs should be removed from the marinade after 12 to 36 hours, depending on how seasoned you'd like the eggs.

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