Ramen
Wheat noodles in a rich, savory broth, crowned with chashu pork, soft egg, nori and spring onions. Ingredients: ramen noodles, pork or chicken broth, soy sauce or miso, chashu pork, soft-boiled eggs, nori, spring onions, sesame oil, ginger, garlic. Recipe: 1) Simmer broth with ginger and garlic; season with soy or miso. 2) Marinate soft eggs in soy. 3) Cook noodles separately until just springy. 4) Assemble: broth, noodles, sliced chashu, halved egg, nori and onions. Serve: piping hot, eaten with chopsticks and loud, appreciative slurping. History: arrived from China in the 19th century and became a Japanese obsession, with regional styles from Sapporo miso to Hakata tonkotsu.