Ramen isn’t just a dish—it’s an experience, and nothing brings people together like a warm, flavorful bowl of noodles. Whether you’re hosting a ramen party or feeding a large family dinner, creating ramen for a crowd can seem daunting at first. But with a little planning and some helpful tips, it can be an enjoyable, efficient process that leaves your guests raving. Using high-quality ingredients like Hakubaku ramen noodles and making large batches of broth can ensure everyone gets a restaurant-quality bowl right at home.
Planning Your Ramen Party
Cooking ramen for a crowd starts with proper planning. Ramen is all about customization, so offering a variety of toppings and broth options allows guests to create their perfect bowl. Here’s how to get started:
- Stock Up in Bulk: Ingredients like bulk ramen noodles are essential for cooking for a large group. Hakubaku ramen noodles are an excellent choice as they mimic the texture and chewiness of fresh ramen noodles, giving your guests an authentic experience.
- Prep Ahead: Many elements of ramen—like broths, toppings, and even noodles—can be prepped ahead of time. Have your broth simmering on the stove, vegetables pre-sliced, and toppings ready to go for easy assembly.
- Set Up a Toppings Bar: Lay out toppings like soft-boiled eggs, sliced green onions, corn, bamboo shoots, marinated pork belly (chashu), bok choy, mushrooms, nori sheets, and chili oil so guests can personalize their bowls.
- Some toppings can include:
- Chashu: A popular topping of braised pork belly, thigh, or shoulder that’s stewed in a soy sauce-based sauce
- Nori: Sheets of dried seaweed that add a salty, umami flavor Corn: A sweet addition that goes well with miso broth Narutomaki: A cured fish cake with a distinctive pink swirl Bok choy: A classic ramen topping Pickled ginger: A classic ramen topping Tofu: A flavorful option for vegans
- Other ramen toppings include:
- Bean sprouts, Mushrooms, Kimchi, Eggs, Sesame seeds, Curry powder, Furikake, Miso paste, and Sriracha.
- You can also add condiments like white pepper, shoyu (soy sauce), chili paste, vinegar, and chili oil.
Recipes for Large Batch Ramen
Shoyu Ramen (Soy Sauce-Based Broth)
Ingredients (Serves 10-12):
- 5 liters chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 cups soy sauce
- 1/2 cup mirin (sweet rice wine)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2-inch piece of ginger, sliced
- Bulk ramen noodles from Hakubaku (10-12 servings)
Instructions:
- In a large pot, combine the broth, soy sauce, mirin, garlic, and ginger. Simmer for 30 minutes to infuse the flavors.
- Cook ramen noodles in batches and divide into bowls.
- Pour the hot broth over the noodles and let guests add their toppings of choice.
Vegetarian Miso Ramen
Ingredients (Serves 10-12):
- 5 liters vegetable broth
- 1 cup white miso paste
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Hakubaku ramen noodles (10-12 servings)
Instructions:
- Heat vegetable broth and whisk in miso paste, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Keep warm on low heat.
- Cook noodles and serve the broth over them.
- Add toppings like edamame, roasted sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and spinach for a plant-based option.
Ramen Dinner Party Ideas
Hosting a ramen dinner party? Turn it into a fun and interactive experience:
- Ramen Cook-Off: Provide a range of ingredients and challenge your guests to create the most creative or delicious ramen bowl.
- Ramen Tasting Flight: Offer small portions of different broths—shoyu, miso, and tonkotsu—so guests can sample a variety.
- Themed Ramen Night: Try international spins on ramen, like spicy kimchi ramen or Italian-inspired ramen with pesto and parmesan.
By using bulk ramen noodles and prepping your components ahead of time, you can serve up bowls of hearty, delicious ramen without the stress. Plus, the interactive aspect of a ramen bar adds a fun and unique touch to your gathering, making it a memorable experience for everyone.
