Quick Japanese Curry Ramen with Spicy Pork Recipe
This Quick Japanese Curry Ramen with Spicy Pork is a comforting and flavorful dish combining a rich, mildly spiced Japanese curry broth with savory stir-fried pork infused with spicy doubanjiang chili bean paste. Topped with fresh baby spinach, scallions, and Japanese pickled ginger, it offers a perfect balance of heat, umami, and freshness, ready in just 15 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients
Scale
Broth
- 1 litre (1 qt) chicken stock
- 8 pieces (150g or 5 oz) Japanese curry cubes
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 tbsp mirin
Spicy Pork Mixture
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 300g (10.5 oz) pork mince
- 2 tbsp doubanjiang chili bean paste
- 100g (3.5 oz) baby spinach
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
Other
- Cooked ramen noodles (quantity sufficient for 2 servings)
- 1 spring onion (scallion), trimmed and finely sliced
- Japanese pickled ginger, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare boiling water: Place a pot of water over high heat and allow it to come to a boil; this will be used later to cook the ramen noodles.
- Make the curry broth: In a large pot, heat the chicken stock until it begins to simmer. Add the Japanese curry cubes, soy sauce, and mirin. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 6 to 7 minutes until the curry cubes dissolve completely and the broth thickens slightly.
- Cook the spicy pork: While the broth simmers, heat vegetable oil in a wok or frying pan over high heat. Add the pork mince and stir-fry until nearly cooked through. Incorporate the doubanjiang chili bean paste and mix well. Add the baby spinach and soy sauce, then continue stir-frying for another 2 minutes until the spinach is wilted. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Cook ramen noodles: Cook the ramen noodles in the boiling water according to package instructions until just tender. Drain the noodles well.
- Assemble and serve: Divide the cooked ramen noodles between serving bowls. Ladle the hot curry broth over the noodles, top with the spicy pork mixture, and sprinkle with finely sliced spring onion. Garnish with Japanese pickled ginger on the side. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of doubanjiang for spiciness according to your preference.
- Use fresh baby spinach for best texture and flavor.
- Japanese curry cubes add authentic flavor but can be substituted with mild curry powder mixed with roux if unavailable.
- Drain noodles thoroughly to prevent broth from becoming diluted.
- Serve immediately as the noodles can soak up broth and become soggy over time.
Keywords: Japanese curry ramen, spicy pork ramen, quick ramen recipe, Japanese curry cubes, doubanjiang chili paste, ramen noodles, easy Japanese dinner