So I’ve already put together recipes for zaru udon and zaru soba.
What’s missing? Zaru ramen!
I’m sure you’ll love this amazing cold summer noodle dish! The perk is the umami-rich, vinegary, refreshing dipping sauce!
Wanna know how to make this? Keep reading!
What is Zaru Ramen?
Zaru ramen (also called zaru chuka) is a dish where boiled and chilled ramen noodles are enjoyed with a dipping sauce.
There’s another dipping-style ramen dish called tsukemen, but the main difference is that both the noodles and dipping sauce are served hot. Zaru ramen is served cold, making it perfect for those days where you’re looking something to help you cool down!
How I Developed This Recipe
We’ve all been there. It’s scorching hot outside, and the last thing you want is a steaming bowl of noodles. That’s precisely what I set out to solve!
First things first, I chilled everything – the noodles, the dipping sauce, the works! But I felt it needed something more, so I added a splash of vinegar to the dipping sauce!
Fancy trying it? Why not try making it on the next hot day? I bet you’ll be surprised at how refreshing ramen can be!
Key Ingredients & Substitution Ideas
- Ramen noodles: You can also use dried or fresh store-bought noodles, but avoid using fried noodles from instant cup noodles. If you’re feeling adventurous, why not try making your own ramen noodles? It’s perfect for a weekend cooking project.
- Japanese leek (negi): This aromatic gives your dish a subtle onion flavor. If you can’t find Japanese leek, no problem! A regular leek is a great substitute.
- Dipping sauce ingredients: Dark soy sauce, mirin, oyster sauce, rice vinegar (or white vinegar), Chinese-style chicken bouillon powder, dashi granules, ground black pepper, toasted sesame oil, sesame seeds, and grated ginger & garlic.
- Topping ideas: Pork chashu, menma, ramen eggs (or boiled eggs), kizami nori, chopped green onoions.
Curious about the exact brands and products that bring my recipes to life? Discover the brands and ingredients behind my recipes at the Sudachi Amazon Storefront. Explore my handpicked pantry essentials and find your next kitchen favorites!
Jump to Full Recipe MeasurementsVisual Walkthrough & Tips
Here are my step-by-step instructions for how to make Zaru 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.
In a saucepan, mix all the dipping sauce ingredients with water. Heat over medium heat until it starts to boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Keep stirring and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.
Turn off the heat and let it cool down.
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the ramen noodles and cook according to the package instructions.
Drain the noodles in a colander and then rinse them immediately under cold running water.
Once you’ve rinsed the noodles, put them in a bowl of ice water to chill completely.
For the dipping sauce, add about 5 standard ice cubes (or more if you’re using smaller cubes) to quickly bring down the temperature.
Chilling both components thoroughly is key to the refreshing nature of Zaru Ramen.
Arrange the chilled noodles on a plate or zaru mat if you have one.
Serve the cold dipping sauce in a separate bowl with your chosen toppings.
Jump to Full Recipe MeasurementsI hope you enjoy this Zaru 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!
More Ramen Recipes
- 10 Minute Hiyashi Ramen (Cold Noodle Soup)
- Hiyashi Tantanmen (Cold Spicy Ramen Noodles for Summer)
- Taiwan Mazesoba (Nagoya’s Spicy Brothless Ramen)
- Pork Miso Ramen in 15 Minutes (Sapporo Style)
Hungry for more? Explore my authentic ramen recipe collection to find your next favorite dishes!
Zaru Ramen (Chilled Dipping Ramen)
Ingredients
Dipping Sauce
- 30 g Japanese leek finely chopped
- ½ tbsp grated garlic
- ½ tbsp grated ginger
- ½ tsp dashi granules
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tbsp oyster sauce
- ½ tbsp Chinese-style chicken bouillon powder (granules)
- 2 tbsp mirin
- ½ tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 pinch ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 250 ml water
- 5 ice cubes medium size, increase if using small ice cubes
Noodles & Toppings (Customize to Taste)
- 2 ptns ramen noodles
- pork chashu optional
- menma
- ramen eggs
- shredded sushi nori seaweed "kizami nori"
- finely chopped green onions
Instructions
- Add all of dipping sauce ingredients to a saucepan (30 g Japanese leek, ½ tbsp grated garlic, ½ tbsp grated ginger, ½ tsp dashi granules, 1 tbsp soy sauce, ½ tbsp oyster sauce, ½ tbsp Chinese-style chicken bouillon powder (granules), 2 tbsp mirin, ½ tbsp rice vinegar, 1 pinch ground black pepper, 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil, 1 tsp sesame seeds, 250 ml water) and bring to a boil. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, then turn off the heat and leave to cool.
- Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil and add 2 ptns ramen noodles. Cook for the time stating on the package instructions.
- Once cooked, drain the noodles in a colander and then rinse with cold running water. Place the colander with noodles in a bowl of cold water and add a few ice cubes to chill further.
- Add about 5 ice cubes to the dipping sauce to chill.
- Drain the noodles once more and place them on a zaru (or on a sushi mat over a bowl to allow excess liquid to drain). Serve with pork chashu, menma, ramen eggs or your choice of toppings and sprinkle with shredded sushi nori seaweed "kizami nori" and finely chopped green onions.
- Divide the dipping sauce into individual serving cups, dip your noodles and enjoy!
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