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tonkotsu Toroniku (Pork Cheeks Ramen)

Finally got around to trying my hand at a Tonkotsu ramen broth.  
 
I didn't go the traditional route that produces a milky cream colored broth as I was looking for something deep and smokey. 
 
I marinaded a mix of pork necks and beef bones in some soy, mirin, ginger and garlic.
 
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Lightly smoked over oak (was out of cherry)
 
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after smoking I put them in a pot along with a chicken carcass, covered with water and boiled for 20 minutes to loosen meat off the bones and rinse off excess smokiness. Lost of lot of the collagen though unfortunately 
 
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while that boiled I roasted some onion, ginger, garlic and shiitake mushrooms
 
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Then I strained the bones and picked most the meat off leaving a small amount for flavor
 
added it all to a slow cooker and cooked for 16 hours 
 
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in the morning I added some herbs
 
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Then I transferred to a stock pot and boiled hard for a few hours until it  was reduced by 1/3 
 
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Strained really good and the result yielded about 6 cups of super flavorful broth
 
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Marinating some soft boiled eggs in soy, mirin, ginger, sake, scallions 
 
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Hickory smoked Pork Jowl (cheeks)
 
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I cut the fat cap off to use in the broth before serving and braising in the same marinade as eggs
 
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rest the pics tomorrow when the meal is finalized. 
 
 
yo D3, this shit looks great. If i may make a suggestion to get your smokiness and still get that nice rich soup. I'm not a seasoned ramen chef, but from the 3 times i've made it i've learned a few things.
 
1. Great idea for smokiness, but I think there's a better route to getting that flavor without losing the collagen from the smoke. Order some benton's bacon. The first time I made ramen, i used a whole pack of benton's bacon and it was delicious. BUT i couldn't fathom boiling a whole pack of the world's most delicious bacon then throwing it away. For the other 2 times, I cooked the bacon and saved the fat in a little mason jar. Definitely used a good amount, maybe a cup or so. Traditional japanese ramen gets a slight smokiness from their dashi which is made out of katsuoboshi, dried smoked fermented bonito flakes. 

http://shop.bentonscountryham.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=hscb
 
2. Your boiling setup looked perfect, why switch to a slow cooker? You don't get enough heat, in my opinion. Cook the chicken and the pork/beef separately. The chicken should only take 1-2 hours. This last time i made ramen, I did pure pork neck/femur broth and started it the night before, cooking on the lowest setting possible overnight then the next day increasing it to a light bubble simmer and cooked all day at that setting, adding water as needed towards the end. Also, put in your vegetables and herbs in at the last hour of cooking. 
 
I hope you loved the process, these 2 tips will surely bring your soup to the next level. Regardless, can't wait to see your final product here
 
I went with slow cooker because I  was  going to be  sleeping and running errands and i'm not comfortable leaving a pot on the stove unattended. 
 
I'm worried enough about a crock pot. 
 
 
 
Beef cheeks sliced, very good. like a cross of ham and bacon
 
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wife real weird about anything that resembles fat texture and was throwing a fit about the cheeks so I pan fried them a little. 
 
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Bowels assembled with mushrooms, bok choy, beef cheeks and pickled ginger. 
 
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Honestly the best broth i've ever had. So damn flavorful. Everyone loved it. 
 
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BigB said:
those eggs are cooked to perfection. how did you do them?
Poke hole through shell with a needle, boil for 6 min spinning them in pot for first 2 and then rinse under cold water. Peeled and placed in marinade and refrigerator over night
 
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