Easy One-Pot Spicy Vegan Ramen

Enjoy a delicious, warm bowl of Spicy Vegan Ramen, with toppings like bak choy, oyster mushrooms, garlic, ginger, and a spicy touch of Sriracha.

This bowl is filled with delicious flavors like oyster mushrooms, garlic, ginger, and a spicy touch of Sriracha. It’s great for cold nights or when you want something comforting and spicy. Plus, it’s super easy to make and takes less than 30 minutes. And we all know how much we are obsessed with quick and easy recipes. Just follow the instructions in this recipe, adjust the spiciness and voila, you’ve got yourself a simple and easy Vegan Ramen recipe.

This recipe stands out for its simplicity and the freedom to personalize it with various toppings, creating a dish that suits your preferences. It is quite an easy recipe to follow through on days when you don’t want to use up too much of your energy but want to eat delicious healthy meals. Along with adding a generous topping of green veggies and aromatics, enhancing the vegetable broth base with garlic, scallions, oyster mushrooms, tomato paste, soy sauce, and a generous amount of Sriracha results in an incredibly flavorful. THe broth or soup base is super savory and provides a perfect infusion for the noodles.

Spicy Vegan Ramen: The comfort food we all need

I made this one-pot ramen because I needed a quick and easy dinner that would provide both comfort and satisfaction. Ramen is the best comfort food, with its warm and flavorful broth, chewy noodles, and array of delicious toppings. When the weather is colder, nothing warms the soul quite like a bowl of steaming ramen. The combination of noodles, broth, and toppings in ramen creates a truly fulfilling meal. One of the reasons I love making ramen is its customizability. This versatility allows me to create a bowl of ramen with whatever is available in my fridge or kitchen.

For those who like some extra heat

For Mild Spice:

• Red chili flakes: Sprinkle these on for controlled spiciness.

For Extra Heat:

• Sriracha or hot sauce: Start with a small amount and adjust to your preference.
• Kimchi: This adds both heat and tanginess.
• Spicy miso paste: Provides heat and a rich umami flavor.

For an Instant Kick and Fiery Heat:

• Freshly sliced or chopped chili peppers: Adds a fresh, spicy bite.
• Hot sesame oil: Use cautiously due to its potency.
• Cayenne pepper: A pinch will turn up the heat significantly.

Tasty Topping Ideas for this Vegan Ramen

If you want to switch things up in your ramen bowl, experiment with the toppings. Think of your vegan ramen as a fun cooking experiment, trying out new combos and discovering flavors. When adding toppings to ramen, you can consider incorporating a variety of elements to create a balanced and flavorful bowl. Follow the below categories and divide toppings into one portion of each:

1. Vegetables: Grilled or sautéed vegetables like

• Thinly sliced carrots
• Bell Peppers (sliced)
• Sliced or spiralized zucchini
• Snow peas or snap peas
• Baby bok choy
• Thinly sliced jalapeño
• Shredded cabbage
• Pickled vegetables
• Mushrooms (any available mushroom)
• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Radish
• Onion (sliced and fried)
• Kale
• Garlic (sliced and fried)

2. Protein: Include good protein sources such as 

• Tofu: Cubed, pan-fried, or baked tofu
• Tempeh: Sliced or crumbled tempeh
• Edamame: Cooked and shelled
• Seitan
• Lentils or lentil tofu: Cooked lentils, or lentil tofu (roasted or baked)
• Chickpeas: Roasted chickpeas or chickpea tempeh
• Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP): Rehydrated TVP
• Black Beans or Kidney Beans: Cooked beans

3. Herbs and Greens: Chopped fresh herbs like

• Cilantro
• Green Onions (Scallions)
• Basil
• Parsley
• Spinach
• Mint
• Chives
• Arugula

4. Seeds and Nuts: You can consider adding the following to your ramen for a delightful crunch and nutty flavor:

• Toasted Sesame Seeds
• Crushed Peanuts
• Cashews
• Almonds
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Sunflower Seeds
• Chia Seeds
• Flaxseeds
• Pine Nuts
• Walnuts
• Pecans
• Hazelnuts
• Macadamia Nuts
• Pistachios
• Brazil Nuts

5. Seasoning, Flavors and Oils:

• Soy Sauce
• Tamari (gluten-free soy sauce alternative)
• Miso Paste
• Hoisin Sauce
• Mirin
• Rice Vinegar
• Sichuan Peppercorns
• Lemongrass
• Dried Seaweed (kelp or nori)

Oils:

1. Toasted sesame oil
2. Chili Oil: Combine red pepper flakes, garlic slices, pepper and red chili powder with hot oil and let it steep for an aromatic homemade chili oil with a spicy kick

Ingredients and Substitutes for this Vegan Ramen

The ingredients for the ramen include 

• 2 tablespoons neutral oil
• 3/4-1 cup shredded oyster mushrooms (0.5 oz)
• 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 inch ginger, minced
• 2-3 scallions, thinly sliced (white and green parts separated)
• 4-5 cups low-salt vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons Sriracha or 1 tablespoon gochujang (adjust to taste)
• 2-3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 200g (7 oz.) uncooked ramen noodles
• 1 bok choy, sliced in half

Substitutes:

These ingredients are essential for creating a flavorful and delicious ramen dish. However, if some ingredients are not available, there are a few alternatives you can consider.

1. Garlic and Ginger: Garlic and ginger paste or powdered forms if fresh ones are unavailable. Fresh options provide a stronger flavor.
2. Scallions: Thinly sliced onions or chives for a similar mild onion flavor if scallions are not on hand.
3. Vegetable Broth: if you don’t have homemade vegetable broth, opt for store-bought options or dissolve vegetable bouillon cubes/powder in hot water. Alternatively, infuse water with herbs, spices, or tea to create a makeshift broth.
4. Tomato Paste: If you don’t have tomato paste, you can substitute with canned tomato sauce, canned diced tomatoes, or fresh tomatoes blended. Alternatively, use ketchup as a makeshift replacement, bearing in mind it may alter the flavor profile slightly., though this may change the ramen’s flavor profile.
5. Spicy Element: Use any hot sauce, chili flakes, or paprika if Sriracha or gochujang is not available for a milder option.
6. Noodles: Substitute ramen noodles with udon or soba noodles, adjusting the cooking time accordingly.

How to make Spicy Vegan Ramen?

Spicy Vegan Ramen Method:

Prep the aromatics before hand for faster time. Mince garlic, ginger, and chop.

Add the minced ginger and garlic and chopped scallions in 1-2 tablespoons of oil until fragrant (about 1 minute).

Add tomato paste, cook for a minute. Meanwhile shred the oyester mushrooms into tiny long pieces.

Add shredded oyster mushrooms, stir in Sriracha and soy sauce; cook for 30 seconds.

Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, add ramen noodles and bok choy.

Simmer covered for 7 minutes or per noodle package instructions. Prepare chosen toppings while simmering. After cooking, taste and adjust seasoning. Add more Sriracha or soy sauce according to preferences. Adjust broth consistency if desired.

Drizzle chili oil on top, garnish with favorite toppings. Enjoy your comforting bowl of Spicy Vegan Ramen!

Notes and tips

Notes and Tips for Perfect Ramen:

1. Noodle Cooking Tip:
   • For a clearer broth, cook noodles separately and add them when serving to prevent mushiness and maintain broth clarity.
2. Noodle Variety:
   • Experiment with different noodles like udon, soba, or spaghetti for a unique twist on traditional ramen.
3. Fresh Herb Garnish:
   • Garnish with freshly chopped green onions or cilantro for a burst of freshness and added flavor.
4. Storage Tip:

• For optimal ramen storage, separate the broth and noodles to maintain texture. Refrigerate leftover ramen in airtight containers; broth stays fresh for up to 3 days, while noodles may soften over time.
• For extended storage, freeze cooled broth in freezer-safe containers, leaving space for expansion, and freeze slightly undercooked noodles in a single layer before transferring to a freezer bag.
• When reheating, thaw frozen broth in the refrigerator, then reheat on the stovetop, adjusting seasoning as needed.
• For frozen noodles, boil or steam briefly to maintain their original texture. Add fresh toppings just before serving to preserve their freshness and flavor.
• Don’t forget to label containers with dates for easy tracking of freshness.

Check out my other noodle recipes:

1. Gojuchang Tofu Noodles
2. Chili Garlic Noodles
3. Vietnamese Noodle Salad