Soy milk ramen isn’t necessarily a vegetarian option in Japan; most of the time the dashi will still contain katsuobushi (bonito, or dried skipjack tuna) flakes and the broth itself is typically made with pork bones. The same goes for miso ramen—not usually a vegetarian-friendly option in Japan. This vegan version of traditional miso ramen is so creamy, rich, and full of umami that you won’t even be able to tell it’s completely plant-based.
Since soy milk is the star of the show here, get the freshest you can find. If there’s a tofu company where you live, they probably sell soy milk as well. This ramen will still taste good with boxed soy milk, but it has to be unsweetened and unflavored—vanilla-flavored ramen will not taste good! If you want to try making your own (a super budget-friendly option!), there are a range of soy milk makers that can make the whole process easier.
You can use any type of ramen noodles you like for this recipe. Fresh noodles are great and cook super-fast, but the thin, straight dry noodles (chuka soba or chuka men) are also totally good. In a pinch, you can even use instant ramen noodles (save the seasoning packs for another use, like popcorn or onion dip).
A note about MSG: We don’t have a problem with it. It’s literally just pure umami. It makes lots of things taste really good, and there’s no scientific evidence that it’s any worse for you than regular salt. That said, mushrooms, onions, garlic, seaweed, miso, and soy sauce contain plenty of glutamic acid (nature’s MSG), so if you want to leave out the MSG you’ll still have a tasty bowl of ramen—just adjust the salt according to your taste.
This ramen makes a wonderful meal with tsukemono (Japanese pickles) and a cucumber-wakame seaweed salad, and if you’re not vegan you can add a soft-boiled egg as a topping. Fun fact: To make this ramen in the regional style of Aomori, Japan, just add curry powder. If you want to know more about the differences between the basic types of ramen, we have a handy primer for you.
“This was my first time making a vegan ramen and it was absolutely delicious! The sesame oil and seeds give it such a nutty flavor and the butter adds a decadent silkiness. Don’t skimp on the extra toppings, they add some wonderful extra texture.” —Julia Hartbeck
- 3 cups water
- 3 dried shiitake mushrooms
- 1 (1-inch) piece ginger, smashed
- 1 scallion, halved, more for garnish
- 1 (3 x 4-inch) piece dried kombu seaweed (kelp)
- 3 tablespoons toasted white sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons minced peeled ginger
- 3 tablespoons white miso
- 2 tablespoons sake
- 2 tablespoons mirin
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 4 cups unsweetened plain soy milk
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon MSG, optional
- 4 servings ramen noodles (fresh or dry)
- 4 tablespoons vegan butter
- Scallions, sliced
- Corn kernels
- 2 tbsp (1/8 cup) nori sheets
- Bamboo shoots
- Bean sprouts
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Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck -
Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add the shiitakes, ginger, scallion, and kombu. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
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Remove the kombu (otherwise the dashi will get kind of slimy) and continue simmering until the dashi becomes slightly golden (like tea), about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat. Remove and discard (or eat) the vegetables with a slotted spoon. Set the dashi aside.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
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Gather the soup broth ingredients.
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While the dashi is simmering, lightly crush the sesame seeds with a suribachi, mortar and pestle, or spice grinder (be careful not to turn them to paste—we just want to release the fragrance and oils). Set aside.
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Heat the sesame oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and sauté until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes.
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Add the miso and stir until well combined. Add the sake and mirin and stir to combine.
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Stir in the reserved crushed sesame seeds and the soy sauce.
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Add the reserved dashi, and continue to stir until the miso is fully dissolved.
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Slowly add the soy milk. Season with salt, pepper, and MSG, if using. Reduce the heat to low. You don’t want the broth to come to a boil, because it can make the soy milk “break” (it’ll get kind of clumpy and weird). You just want the broth to be warmed up to soup temperature.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
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Gather the ramen noodles, vegan butter, and optional toppings.
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While the soup broth is heating up, cook the noodles according to the instructions on the package.
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Divide the cooked noodles between 4 bowls, ladle in the soup, and then top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of vegan butter. Add your desired toppings, and enjoy.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
You can keep the toppings (except for the nori) warm in a splash of the dashi to prevent them from cooling off the soup.
You can make the broth a day or two ahead up to the point of adding the soy milk — add the soy milk and rewarm the broth immediately before serving.
You can add curry powder (Japanese SB brand is great) to make this ramen Aomori-style.
The dashi freezes beautifully; use it within 3 months for best flavor.
Quick Shoyu Ramen
