Ramen, Heavy on the Healthy
Rochelle Bilow, recipe by Alison Roman, photo by Yossy Arefi
Want comfort food? There’s little better than a hot, steamy bowl of ramen, teeming with noodles, heady broth, and plenty of accoutrements. But somewhere between the pork belly and the soft-cooked egg, traditional bowls of ramen can veer off toward mega-indulgence. We’re all about being naughty now and then, but tonight, we’re lightening things up: This vegetarian version of ramen is heavy on the flavor. Onion, carrot, celery, cabbage, and—of course—noodles make this a satisfying meal, while chile paste and garlic ramp up the flavor. Healthy ramen tonight, and all in the comfort of your pajamas? Yup, your night just got a lot better.
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SHOYU CABBAGE SOUP
Humble cabbage takes center stage in this vegetarian ramen inspired soup.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 carrots, peeled, thinly sliced
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 head Napa cabbage, chopped
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 tablespoons (or more) shoyu (Japanese soy sauce)
2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
2 cups cooked ramen or soba noodles
Hot chili paste (such as sambal oelek) and fresh cilantro leaves (for serving)
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Preparation:
Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, 10–12 minutes. Add cabbage, broth, shoyu, vinegar, and sugar and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover partially with a lid, and simmer until vegetables are very tender, 15–20 minutes; season to taste with more shoyu if desired. Serve over noodles topped with hot chili paste and cilantro.
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