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–+ servings

Easy Menma (Seasoned Bamboo Shoots)

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Author Yuto Omura
Servings 6

Ingredients 
 

  • 200 g canned bamboo shoots
  • ½ tbsp toasted sesame oil for frying
  • ⅛ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp dried red chili pepper thinly sliced
  • 180 ml water
  • 1 tbsp Japanese soy sauce (koikuchi shoyu)
  • 1 tbsp sake
  • 1 tbsp mirin
  • ½ tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tsp Chinese-style chicken bouillon powder based on 1 tsp = 200ml soup ratio, scale to your brand's strength
  • ½ tbsp toasted sesame oil for finishing

Instructions 

  • Start by thinly slicing 200 g canned bamboo shoots and cutting them into pieces about 1cm wide, 3-4cm long. (Approx ¾" by 1 ¾ inches)
    Sliced bamboo shoots on a wooden chopping board
  • Heat a pan on medium and add ½ tbsp toasted sesame oil. Once hot, add the sliced bamboo shoots and sprinkle with ⅛ tsp black pepper and 1 tsp dried red chili pepper. Fry for 1 minute.
    sliced bamboo shoots in a wok with seasonings and dried chilis
  • Add the 180 ml water, 1 tbsp Japanese soy sauce (koikuchi shoyu), 1 tbsp sake, 1 tbsp mirin, ½ tbsp oyster sauce and 1 tsp Chinese-style chicken bouillon powder to the pan. Mix well and simmer uncovered until the liquid is completely gone.
    simmering sliced bamboo shoots in broth to infuse flavor
  • Turn off the heat and drizzle ½ tbsp toasted sesame oil, mix throughly until evenly coated.
    seasoned bamboo shoots seasoned in a wok
  • Transfer to a container to cool, then chill in the refrigerator. (You can also eat them hot if you like.)
    seasoned bamboo shoots (menma style ramen topping) in a white container with blue rim
  • Enjoy alongside your other favorite ramen toppings!
    Homemade shoyu ramen topped with ramen egg, menma, narutomaki, chashu, chopped spring onions and nori in a white and red Chinese style noodle bowl

Notes

Chicken bouillon powder varies by brand. My brand is 1 tsp per 200 ml, so if yours is more concentrated (e.g., 1 tsp per 300 ml or 1 cup), use touch less to avoid oversalting.