Ramen with Bacon & Soft-Boiled Eggs

Egg Buddies

Yield: 2-4 servings, depending on how hungry you are

4 slices bacon, chopped

1 (1-inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced

3 garlic cloves, sliced

1 tablespoon minced lemongrass

Red pepper flakes, to taste (about ½ teaspoon)

4 cups low-sodium chicken stock

1 tablespoon white miso paste (or more to taste)

2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce (or to taste – the miso already adds quite a bit of salt)

½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar

½ tablespoon rice wine vinegar

2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

2 cups ramen noodles (use fresh if you can – dried work in a pinch, just make sure to discard the included seasoning packet!)

Toppings:

2 cups stemmed and chopped baby spinach leaves

1 shallot, very thinly sliced

Soft-boiled or poached eggs (1 egg per person)

Chopped Spring Onions

Sriracha hot sauce (optional)

Here we go

Place a pot over medium-high heat and add the bacon. Render until crispy. Remove the bacon and set aside (this will be used as a garnish).

To the drippings, add the ginger, garlic, and lemongrass and sauté for 1 minute. Add the red pepper flakes and stock and bring to a simmer, scraping up the brown bits on the bottom of the pan.

Simmer for 30 minutes and then strain out and discard the aromatics (garlic, ginger, and lemongrass). Stir in the miso paste, soy sauce, vinegars, and toasted sesame oil and keep warm until ready to serve.

Make the soft-boiled/poached eggs at this point but do not drain the water when finished. Instead, return the water to a simmer and cook the ramen noodles for 2-3 minutes or until tender. Drain, rinse, and set aside.

To serve, divide the baby spinach, shallot, and the cooked noodles between two bowls. Ladle the hot broth over the noodles and top each bowl with the crisped bacon, soft-boiled eggs, scallions, and hot sauce.

Serve immediately and enjoy!