What is Ramen for Beginners about?
Ramen for Beginners is a home-cook ramen cookbook focused on simple traditional and modern recipes. It shows how to build ramen from broth, noodles, seasonings, and toppings without making the process overly complicated.
Who wrote Ramen for Beginners?
Ramen for Beginners was written by Robin Donovan. She is a cookbook author, recipe developer, and food blogger who has also written Sushi at Home and coauthored Ramen Obsession.
Is Ramen for Beginners good for people who have never made ramen before?
Yes, this book is designed for beginners and home cooks. It specifically says it is for people who do not have the time, skill, or interest to master fussy ramen recipes.
Does this book teach you how to make ramen from scratch?
Yes, it includes from-scratch recipes for broths, tare, and toppings. It also makes clear that you can use store-bought broth, noodles, and toppings if you want a simpler approach.
Can I use store-bought ingredients with these ramen recipes?
Yes, the book regularly allows for store-bought shortcuts. It encourages using premade broth, noodles, rotisserie chicken, frozen toppings, and other convenient options when that makes cooking easier.
What kinds of ramen recipes are in this book?
The book includes chicken, pork, seafood, beef, vegan, and vegetarian ramen recipes. It also has a 'Ramen Remixed' section with nontraditional dishes like mazemen, tsukemen, ramen salad, curry ramen, and cheesy ramen.
Does the book explain the basics of ramen, like broth, noodles, and tare?
Yes, it has a full section on the building blocks of ramen. It explains broth types, noodle options, and the main seasoning sauces: shio tare, shoyu tare, and miso tare.
Will this book help me understand what equipment I need to make ramen at home?
Yes, it includes a chapter on setting up a ramen-ready kitchen. It covers pots, bowl sizes, utensils, and pantry staples, and it emphasizes that you likely already own many of the basics.
Are the recipes in Ramen for Beginners practical for weeknights?
Yes, many recipes are marked as 30 minutes or less. The book also includes make-ahead components and shortcut suggestions to help busy home cooks get ramen on the table faster.
Does this cookbook include make-ahead ramen components?
Yes, many broths, tare, oils, eggs, and toppings are designed to be made ahead. The book often includes storage tips for refrigerating or freezing these components.
Are there vegetarian or vegan ramen recipes in this book?
Yes, there is a full chapter devoted to vegan and vegetarian ramen. It includes mushroom- and kombu-based broths along with toppings like tofu, tempeh, greens, sweet potatoes, and eggs for vegetarian options.
Does Ramen for Beginners include gluten-free options?
Yes, the book discusses using gluten-free noodles such as rice noodles in place of traditional ramen noodles. Some recipes are also labeled gluten-free or note that they can be made gluten-free with noodle substitutions.
Are the recipes all traditional Japanese ramen?
No, the book includes both traditional-style and modern, flexible ramen recipes. It also features creative variations that borrow from other cuisines and ingredients, such as laksa-style ramen, Thai green curry ramen, and tomato ramen with cheese.
Does the book include toppings and extras, or just full ramen bowls?
It includes both. There is a dedicated toppings chapter with items like soy sauce eggs, bamboo shoots, marinated bean sprouts, scallion oil, sesame-chili oil, and shichimi togarashi.
If I want easy ramen without restaurant-level technique, will this book help?
Yes, that is one of the book's main goals. It is written for home cooks who want flavorful ramen without needing advanced skills or making every element from scratch.
