10-Minute Cheat's Tonkotsu Ramen (No Pork Bones Required)

Name: 10 Minute Cheat's Tonkotsu Ramen
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 320 ml water; 320 ml soy milk (unsweetened); 2 tbsp Chinese-style chicken bouillon powder (granules); 1 tbsp lard; 2 tsp garlic paste (or grated garlic); 2 tsp oyster sauce; 2 tsp soy sauce; 1 tsp dashi granules; 2 portions ramen noodles; pork chashu; boiled wood ear mushrooms (thinly sliced); red pickled ginger (benishoga); finely chopped green onions; ground sesame seeds; seasoned bamboo shoots (menma); ramen eggs; sushi nori seaweed

Have you ever wanted to try the rich Tonkotsu Ramen but felt intimidated by the traditional cooking process?

While I’ve successfully made homemade miso, Shoyu (soy sauce), and Shio (salt) ramen, Tonkotsu always seemed like a challenge too big to take on.

Homemade shoyu ramen topped with ramen egg, menma, narutomaki, chashu, chopped spring onions and nori in a white and red Chinese style noodle bowl — My Shoyu Ramen

Easy homemade pork miso ramen in a black bowl topped with ramen eggs, spinach, beansprouts, nori and sweetcorn next to a plate of fried gyoza and a tub of miso paste. — My Miso Ramen

Japanese shio ramen topped with slices of chicken, menma (bamboo shoots), soft boiled egg, white spring onion and chilli threads in a red and white ramen bowl on a grey background — My Shio Ramen

Authentic Tonkotsu Ramen, with its signature milky broth, is notoriously labor-intensive.

The traditional method involves simmering pork bones for 8 hours or more. This method tests the limits of your patience, but it also has a powerful downside: the pungent aroma of simmering bones can permeate your entire neighborhood!

True story: Back when I was in England, there was this new tonkotsu ramen shop in my neighborhood. They instantly received smell complaints from the store next door.

But don’t worry! I’ve got a game-changing solution that will let you enjoy the essence of Tonkotsu Ramen without the hassle (or smell!). I’ll show you how to make a tonkotsu-style broth with “a secret hack ingredient” you can find at any grocery store. It’ll have that creamy richness you crave.

placing two sheets of nori in easy shortcut tonkotsu-style ramen topped with pork chashu, ramen egg and shredded vegetables in a black bowl on a white background — Can you believe this broth was made in 10 minutes?

Curious about our secret ingredients and techniques? Keep reading to discover more!

Jump to

What is Tonkotsu Ramen?

Tonkotsu ramen (とんこつラーメン) is a unique type of ramen that’s known for its rich, milky broth. The star of the show is the pork bones. These bones are simmered for a long time, often with chicken bones, vegetables, and other ingredients that add depth and complexity to the broth.

One of the most distinctive things about Tonkotsu Ramen is its cloudy, creamy appearance. But what’s the secret behind this soup? The secret’s in the collagen. As the bones simmer, the collagen breaks down and transforms into gelatin, creating that signature milky look and silky texture.

Tonkotsu Ramen is believed to have been born at “Nankyo Senryo (南京千両),” a ramen shop in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture. This historical tidbit explains why Tonkotsu Ramen is still strongly associated with Fukuoka to this day.

In fact, when many Japanese people think of Tonkotsu Ramen, Fukuoka is often the first place that comes to mind! The recipe we’re about to explore is inspired by Hakata-style soup too!

easy shortcut tonkotsu-style ramen topped with pork chashu, ramen egg and shredded vegetables in a black bowl on black wood-effect background

How I Developed This Recipe

I have to be honest with you. This mock recipe wasn’t my original plan. I was all set to make real Tonkotsu Ramen with pork bones. But then reality hit me. Just picture this: hunting down a butcher for custom-ordered pork bones, simmering them for 8 whole hours, and turning your entire neighborhood into a pork-scented scene. Not exactly practical, is it?

Don’t get me wrong, I do want to share authentic Japanese recipes on my website. But I also believe in recipes you’ll actually want to make with ease at home. So, I put on my thinking cap and came up with this alternative.

When I tasted the result, I was blown away. Is it exactly the same as real Tonkotsu? Of course not. But it’s so close in taste and texture that it was incredible. Ask yourself: 8 hours of simmering and a house that smells for a few days, or 10 minutes and a normal-smelling kitchen? The choice should be clear.

Key Ingredients & Substitution Ideas

Ramen noodles: Thin fresh noodles are the best! Making them at home is my favorite – it’s easier than you might think! I wrote a whole guide called “Ramen Noodles 101” if you want to learn how. But if you’re short on time, there are some good store-bought options too. Just promise me one thing: don’t use those instant cup noodles for this!
Soy milk: Yes, soy milk is the magic ingredient in this mock recipe! Use plain, unsweetened soy milk. It really helps create that creamy texture we’re after.
Chinese-style chicken stock powder: This adds a savory depth that you just can’t get from soy milk alone. I prefer the Chinese style, but Western bouillon powder also works in a pinch.
Lard: Lard is key to pork flavor that you need in tonkotsu soup. It makes a big difference!
Other seasonings: To round out the flavors, use oyster sauce, soy sauce, and dashi granules. Each one brings something special to the broth.
Toppings that I used: Here’s where you can get creative! I like to top my ramen with pork chashu, thinly sliced boiled wood ear mushrooms, beni shoga (red pickled ginger), chopped green onions, ground sesame seeds, menma, ramen eggs, and a couple of sheets of nori seaweed.
Alternative topping suggestions: Easy cheat oven-roasted pork chashu, seasoned bean sprouts, spicy leek, garlic chips, sesame seeds, blanched spinach.

Jump to Full Recipe Measurements

Visual Walkthrough & Tips

Here are my step-by-step instructions for how to make Cheat’s Tonkotsu Ramen at home. For ingredient quantities and simplified instructions, scroll down for the Printable Recipe Card below.

This section aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the cooking steps and techniques with visuals. It also includes more in-depth tips and tricks and explains why I do what I do.

STEP

Prepare the Broth

Combine all broth ingredients in a pot.

tonkotsu style ramen broth in a saucepan

Place over low heat, stirring occasionally. Keep a close eye on it and remove from the heat once warmed through.

Caution!!

Keep the heat low and don’t let it boil! This prevents the soy milk from curdling. This is a vital step to achieve the soup texture.

STEP

Cook the Noodles

While the broth heats, prepare ramen noodles in a separate pot according to package instructions.

ramen noodles boiling in a large pot of water

Once cooked, drain the noodles in a colander.

STEP

Assemble the Ramen Bowls

Divide cooked noodles among serving bowls. Ladle hot broth over noodles, distributing evenly, then customize your ramen with desired toppings.

And that’s all there is to it!

easy shortcut tonkotsu-style ramen topped with pork chashu, ramen egg and shredded vegetables in a black bowl on a white background

Jump to Full Recipe Measurements

FAQ

Here are answers to frequently asked questions I have received across all platforms, including here, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest. If you have any questions, feel free to send them to me anytime! It will be a big help for everyone in this community!

If we don’t have lard available can we substitute with anything else or omit it?

This recipe is designed to replicate pork broth and lard is one of the most important ingredients in the recipe so I don’t recommend omitting it or swapping it for anything.

I hope you enjoy this Cheat’s Tonkotsu Ramen recipe! If you try it out, I’d really appreciate it if you could spare a moment to let me know what you thought by giving a review and star rating in the comments below. It’s also helpful to share any adjustments you made to the recipe with our other readers. Thank you!