The meals in anime always look so enticing, especially the ramen. Thankfully, with a few additions, grocery store ramen transforms into the steamy, flavorful meal seen in Japanese animation. With the image of ramen that can almost be smelled through the television on my mind, I started looking for recipes online. I found several very complex recipes online before settling on a simplified version I found on Pinterest. With a gluten-free diet, the recipe would need some adjustments, so I decided to include both the gluten-free version and the standard version with regular ramen noodles. I have rewritten the recipe’s instructions for clarity and to accommodate the adjustments I made.
Anime Ramen

Serves: 2

Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients

8 ounces of Chickpea Pasta (gluten-free)

2 cloves of diced Garlic

4 ounces of sliced White Mushrooms

1 tablespoon of Olive Oil

4 tablespoons of Siracha Sauce

2 packages of Beef Ramen (not gluten-free)

3 cups of Beef Broth (gluten-free)

2 or more Seaweed Snacks

1 Small Ham cut in half

Steak (to taste)

Garlic Powder (to taste)

Black Pepper (to taste)
Note: Check all of your ingredients for additives to ensure that your ingredients are gluten-free for a truly gluten-free meal. Some products may contain different ingredients.
Preparation
Gather all ingredients and prepare them for cooking. Slice the mushrooms and dice the garlic cloves. Cut the ham in half to create two even pieces.
Cooking
On a 4-burner stovetop, the cooked items can be prepared simultaneously, taking care to watch which burner is on and at what temperature for safety.
Pasta
For the gluten-free version, prepare the chickpea pasta as directed on the package. Portion the pasta evenly into two bowls. Then, heat 3 cups of beef broth in a saucepan until boiling. Remove from heat and pour evenly into the bowls over the pasta.
For the with-gluten version, prepare the ramen packages as directed. Portion the ramen evenly into two bowls.
Ham
Heat the ham steaks with the olive oil in a frying pan on the stovetop on medium for 15 minutes. Season with garlic powder and black pepper, flipping the steaks occasionally to prevent burning. When finished, place a ham steak into each bowl.
Vegetables
Combine the mushrooms, garlic, and sriracha sauce in a frying pan. Heat on the stovetop on medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes, or until the mushrooms become soft and are completely covered in the sauce. Stir frequently to prevent burning and evenly coat the mushrooms. When finished, evenly place half of the mushrooms on top of the pasta in each bowl. Add your desired number of seaweed snacks and serve.
This recipe’s creation was all I expected from ramen in my favorite show. It is spicy, but the mushrooms can be stirred into the noodles for a milder flavor. I used wasabi seaweed snacks for mine, which complemented the spice of the sriracha. More vegetables can be added, too, for a more complex meal. The sriracha could be swapped out with a different sauce for a less intense flavor, or the meat can be swapped out for a different variety. No matter how you customize it, this ramen is the perfect companion to an anime marathon. So, sit back, and enjoy your ramen to the tune of your favorite TV show.