This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Is there anything more comforting than a bowl of piping hot noodle soup!? Introducing Smoky Vegan Ramen!
This vegan ramen is smoky, spicy, and served with gingery mushrooms! Garnished with green onions for freshness, tofu, and corn for some crunch!
WHAT IS RAMEN
Ramen is a type of Japanese soup that consists of wheat noodles served in a flavorful broth and finished with many different toppings. The authentic version usually comes with a meat-based broth. The vegetarian version, however, comes with a vegetable broth.
Please note: This smoky ramen is in no way an authentic recipe. There are hundreds of ways to make ramen, so consider this one our take on vegan ramen!
HOW TO MAKE VEGAN SMOKY RAMEN
Note: Do not get scared by the long ingredient list in the recipe. Most ingredients are staples and spices!
Vegetable Broth
It starts with the broth that requires just 5 ingredients. We use a simple combination of carrots, daikon radish, onion, sugar, and salt. It is simmered for about 90 minutes to get a rich and flavorful broth.
Chili Oil
Next comes the chili oil, which adds a delicious smokiness and spiciness to the broth.
Garlic and shallots are fried until golden brown; then, we add red pepper flakes for spiciness, sesame seeds for a nutty flavor, and finally, smoked paprika.
I also added some Korean chili pepper for color and for an extra smoky flavor.
Tip: I do not recommend transferring the chili oil directly to the pot containing the broth. It is better to add the chili oil to each serving bowl. This way, each person can adjust the spiciness to taste.
Ginger Mushrooms
Finally, we have mushrooms that are sautéed with garlic and ginger and deglazed with soy sauce and a pinch of coconut sugar.
This ramen is versatile, so feel free to be creative with the add-ins! Here, we went with a few radish slices and corn for some crunch, and black wood ear mushrooms for more texture. You could add extra greens like pak choy, edamame, or some vegan chicken for more protein!
The smoky, warming smell coming out of this bowl of ramen! Amazing! The broth is rich and flavorful, the chili oil brings that heat and smokiness, and the mushrooms add a delicate ginger flavor.
Looking for more noodle soups? Check out this Kimchi Noodle Soup, Bún bò Huế, or this Rich Vegetable Macaroni Soup!
Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe!
Smoky Vegan Ramen
Ingredients
Broth
- 1 small daikon radish cut into 1-inch thick slices
- 2 carrots cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
- 1 large onion quartered
- 10 cups water
- 2 tbsp coconut sugar
- 1 and 1/2 tsp salt
Smoky Chili Oil
- 1/4 cup oil
- 1 shallot minced
- 1 clove of garlic minced
- 1 and 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 and 1/2 tsp korean chili flakes
- 1 tsp white sesame seeds
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
Ginger Mushrooms
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 clove of garlic minced
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 1 and 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp coconut sugar
The Rest
- 5 ounces dry noodles
- 6 ounces tofu of your choice (I used fried tofu), cut into slices
- 1/2 cup cooked corn
- 3/4 cup chopped green onions
Instructions
Broth
- Add the chopped daikon radish, carrots, and onion to a large pot. Cover with the water, and add the coconut sugar and salt.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat and let it simmer gently uncovered for about 1 and 1/2 hour. It will reduce by about 1/3. In the meantime, prepare the chili oil and mushrooms.
Smoky Chili Oil
- Heat the oil over low-medium heat, in a medium-size saucepan. Once hot, add the minced shallot and garlic, and fry for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the red pepper flakes, Korean chili flakes, white sesame seeds, and smoked paprika, and cook for one more minute. Remove from heat, transfer to a small bowl and let it cool.
Ginger Mushrooms
- Heat the oil over medium heat in a non-stick skillet. Once hot, add the garlic and ginger and fry for 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant.
- Next, add the sliced mushrooms and sauté for another 3-5 minutes, or until mushrooms are cooked.
- Pour in the soy sauce and coconut sugar and cook for another minute. Remove from heat and cover.
To Serve
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Drain.
- For one serving: Add about one teaspoon of the chili oil to a large bowl. Next, add 1/3 of the cooked noodles and top with some of the sautéed ginger mushrooms, tofu slices, and a couple tablespoons of corn. Pour about 1 and 1/2 cup of the piping hot broth into the bowl and top with 1/4 cup of green onions. Serve immediately!
- Broth as well as mushrooms will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Nutritional information is just an estimate.
Nutrition
About the Author
Thomas Pagot is the founder, photographer, and recipe developer behind Full of Plants. He created the blog in 2016 as a personal cookbook for vegan recipes. Through years of recipe development, Thomas has successfully grown Full of Plants into a trusted resource for plant-based recipes.
🧀 25 Mind-Blowing Vegan Cheese Recipes!
Sign up for the Full of Plants newsletter and you’ll get new recipes delivered by email weekly, PLUS your FREE 100-page printable eBook!
Hi Thomas,
Did you season the tofu, in the picture it looks like it might have a crust/ sear on the edges?
Thank you!!
Hi Christine,
The tofu is not seasoned, it is just fried tofu 🙂 You can find the recipe for it here.
Hi Thomas- looks great. I would caution your readers to slightly undercook the noodles a bit.. they will continue to cook in the soup in front of you. Cheers, Gary
i loved this recipe and nothing was missing. thank you Thomas and you should make more recipes!
Glad you liked this recipe! Thanks for your feedback and rating 🙂
Hello?
I love vegan ramen. I’d like to use soy puffs I got from Asian supermarket. They have to cook in broth though. Have you ever used them ? Trying to figure out how to add them here. Not sure how long they have to soften in broth.
Yes, I am familiar with soy curls. I would first rehydrate them, rinse and squeeze to remove as much moisture as possible. Then add them at the beginning of cooking so they can absorb the flavors of the broth.