SPICY GROUND BEEF RAMEN

Looking for a new way to cook budget friendly ground beef?  Try my Spicy Ground Beef Ramen Soup.

With its rich savory broth, deliciously spiced minced beef, ramen noodles, and topped with the traditional egg and any other toppings you enjoy, this easy ramen soup is a flavor sensation.

Although this recipe requires more effort than just throwing a package of ramen into a pot of boiling water on the stove and three minutes, it's definitely worth the effort. You start by roasting soup bones, onions, carrots, celery and mushrooms in the oven for 1 hour before tossing them into a stock pot with water and simmering for another 2 hours.  Strain the broth, add a few more ingredients and simmer for another 30 minutes and you are left with a richly flavourful ramen broth.  The rewards are absolutely worth the extra time and effort!

BEEF RAMEN BROTH

4 large beef bones

1 large onion

1 large carrot

2 ribs celery

8-10 mushrooms

4 Garlic cloves

Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Roast above ingredients for 1 hour at 325 F degrees.

2. Place the roasted bones and vegetables into a large stock pot and cover with water. Allow to simmer over medium low heat for at least 2 hours.

3. Skim off any foam and remove bones and vegetables. Strain the broth through cheesecloth or a very fine sieve. Return broth to pot.

Add the following ingredients to the pot:

1/4 cup mirin

2 tbsp rice vinegar

3-4 star anise

1 tbsp minced ginger

1 tbsp minced garlic

1/4 cup miso paste

1 - 2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari (to taste)

2 tbsp Vietnamese pho spice or Chinese 5 spice powder

1/2 tsp red chili flakes

Continue to simmer broth for another 30 minutes.

SPICED BEEF:

• 1 lb lean ground beef

• 3 tsp sweet chili sauce

• 4 tsp sesame oil

• 3 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tsp ground ginger

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/2 tsp chili flakes

Fry ground beef in sesame oil over medium high heat until fully cooked. Drain off excess fat.

Add the rest of the ingredients and cook an additional 2-3 minutes.

ASSEMBLING THE RAMEN:

Place cooked ramen noodles in bowl. Top with minced beef, and any other toppings you like.

Suggestions:

Fried or sliced boiled egg

Green onions

Seasme seeds

Blanched broccoli or Napa cabbage

Lightly sautéed bell pepper slices

Radish slices

Kimchi

Jalapeño or chili slices

Etc

Ladle broth over assembled bowl and top with garnishes of choice such as lime wedges, toasted sesame seeds or crispy chili sauce.