Homemade Ramen Noodles

Making ramen noodles at home is much easier than you think and super fun!

⭐️ Why You Should Try It

• Perfectly tender and chewy. If you are looking for springy, slurpy noodles that taste like those from your favorite ramen restaurant, you will love this recipe!
• Budget-friendly. One batch will only cost you about $0.7 and serves a crowd! Plus, fresh noodles taste much better than store-bought.
• Simple method and ingredients. Flour, salt, and baking soda are the only ingredients you will need! There are no preservatives or colorings.
• It’s perfect for making homemade ramen! These noodles really shine in soups and broths. They do not fall apart or become soggy as opposed to regular noodles.

📘 What Are Ramen Noodles

Ramen noodles (ラーメンの麺 in Japanese) are a type of wheat noodles very popular in Asia. They are used to make many Chinese dishes and Japanese ramen.

This type of noodle contains alkaline water, which makes them more elastic, chewier, and prevents them from getting soggy in soups or broth.

🌾 Ingredient Notes

• Flour – I went with all-purpose flour, but you can use half all-purpose flour and half bread flour if you want slightly more chewy noodles.
• Baking soda – We are using baking soda to prepare alkaline water. You learn more about that below.
• Salt – For flavor.

🍜 How to Make It

Preparing ramen noodles at home consists of 3 steps: making the alkaline water, preparing the dough, and finally, rolling it out.

1. Make the alkaline water

1. Spread the baking soda on a small baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
2. Bake for about 1 hour at 250°F (120°C).
3. Let it cool, and transfer it to a small container.
4. You can then mix 1/4 tsp of the baked baking soda with 1 tsp of water to make enough alkaline water for one batch of noodles.

2. Prepare the dough

1. Add the flour, alkaline water, salt, and 3/4 of the water to a stand mixer bowl.
2. Knead on low-medium for about 1 minute or until it has a sandy texture.
3. Slowly pour in the remaining water and knead again until it forms a dry dough. Note: The dough will appear dry, this is normal. Do not add more water, as you want the dough to be on the dry side.
4. Shape into a ball and cover with plastic wrap to touch.
5. Let the dough rest for 45-60 minutes at room temperature. The resting time will allow the gluten to develop.

3. Roll out and cut the dough

The final step is to roll the dough into a thin layer and slice it into thin strips. To do so:

1. Divide the dough into 6 pieces.
2. Using a pastry roller, slightly flatten one piece into a small rectangle of a 1/2-inch thickness.
3. Using a pasta maker or a Kitchenaid fitted with the pasta roller attachment, run the dough through the widest setting. Repeat this step 3-4 times or until the dough is smooth.
4. Decrease the thickness setting of your pasta roller (I used setting 2 on my Kitchenaid pasta roller) and run the dough another 2-3 times.
5. Run the pasta sheet through the spaghetti cutter and toss the noodles with cornstarch.
6. Transfer the noodles to an airtight container and let them rest for 1 day in the refrigerator before using.

To cook the noodles: bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the noodles and cook for about 2 minutes. Drain and use in ramen, stir-fries, soups, and more!

🍲 Where to Use It

These homemade ramen noodles are so versatile! You can use them in vegan ramen, kimchi noodle soup, vegetable lo mein, or even in cold noodle salads!

📔 Tips

• Do not omit the baking soda. It’s the addition of baking soda that gives the noodles their chewiness.
• If using bread flour, you will have to adjust the amount of water slightly as it won’t absorb the same amount of moisture as all-purpose flour.
• Let the noodles rest for 1 day. For the best texture, I highly recommend letting the noodles rest for at least 24 hours in the refrigerator.
• Keep the noodles in an airtight container. This will prevent them from drying.
• Do not overcook the noodles. Since these noodles are fresh, boiling them for 1:30-2 minutes is enough.
• Do not try to dry them. I tested drying these noodles after shaping them into nests. Unfortunately, they broke too easily and didn’t cook properly.

💬 FAQ

If you have ever wondered how to make ramen noodles at home, I urge you to try this recipe! It’s not as complicated as it seems and makes the most delicious noodles!

🇯🇵 More Vegan Japanese Recipes

Vegan Inari Sushi

15-Minute Vegan Ramen

How to Make Chickpea Miso

Vegan Katsu Curry

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