Hey there! I’m still eating a bowl of scalding hot ramen despite the oppressive heat, because of ramen. I’ll never grow weary of ramen, and this combination of birria tacos and ramen is simply too amazing to pass up! It has a ton of flavor and is flavorful, fresh, peppery, and savory. The ramen broth is replaced with the consomé you obtain from cooking birria stew, and everything comes together in a delightful bowl of the best of both worlds.
The fact that Mike and I are noodle people is no secret. We literally noodle every day while traveling to test new noodles and improve noodle dishes. I’m there if there are noodles involved. Hence, when birria ramen appeared on my radar, I was confident it would become a fast favorite, and it did not disappoint.
Let’s take a step back and speak about the Mexican stew known as birria. It’s a meal fit for festivities like weddings, holidays, and other special occasions. Normally served as a stew with corn tortillas for dipping, birria tacos have recently taken the taco world by storm and are now found everywhere. I am fixated. I believe I have viewed 10,000 videos of birria taco trucks in action. It’s fascinating how they stack corn tortillas with birria meat and cook everything until it’s crispy after dipping it into the stew’s vibrant crimson oil.
We’ve started preparing birria tacos at home, so it’s alright that there isn’t a birria taco truck in our area. If you don’t want to lose out on the birria taco trend, check out Mike’s amazing recipe. However, birria ramen has been on my list of must-have birria varieties. That seems like the ideal pairing to me every time I see LA taco vendors combining the two. So let’s taco about birria ramen!
What is birria ramen?
Birria and ramen are combined to create birria ramen. Traditionally made with lamb, birria is a spicy, flavorful, sweet, sour, and extremely tasty Mexican beef stew. To create a soft, crumble-apart, luscious beef stew, chunks of beef are marinated in dried chiles, chipotles in adobo, vinegar, herbs, and spices. Ramen is a Japanese noodle soup with chewy noodles, a deep, umami-flavored broth, and toppings.
The birria consomé, or the soup that results from making birria, serves as the base for this birria ramen, to which we’ll add noodles, pork pieces, shredded cabbage, onions, cilantro, jalapenos, a birria ramen egg, and a squeeze of lime.
THE BEST BIRRIA RAMEN
Ramen and birria are two fantastic meals by themselves. Yet, they could be much better when combined.
You will undoubtedly adore this dish for birria ramen if you enjoy both birria tacos and ramen. How, really, could you not? The dish is served with quick ramen noodles and a variety of fresh vegetables on top. It features soft beef that has been cooked in a fragrant broth of peppers and spices.
Ah, it’s simply so fantastic!
Related – How to eat ramen with chopsticks?
This meal will be a hit with even the pickiest eaters in your household; I know my own do.
Apart from how delicious this ramen birria dish is, I love how easy it is to make. After just 10 minutes of preparation, the slow cooker conducts the labor-intensive process of breaking down the meat until it is juicy and tender. In all honesty, there is no easier way to prepare homemade ramen than this.
By the way, I know I said that this birria dish and ramen are best when combined, but just in case you’re more of a purist, I already have wonderful recipes for chicken birria tacos and cheese ramen on the blog that you might want to check out someday. Both of them are pure fire.
Ingredients
Making birria ramen is a great way to elevate your ramen game and give it a unique twist! To make it, you’ll need the following ingredients:
– 2 tablespoons of olive oil
– 1/2 onion diced
– 4 cloves garlic minced
– 2 tablespoons of chili powder
– 1 tablespoon of ground cumin
– 2 teaspoons oregano
– 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
– Salt and pepper to taste
– 2 cups beef broth or stock
– 2 cups tomato sauce or salsa (for a more spicy flavor)
– 3/4 pound stew beef, cut into small cubes
– 8 ounces dried ramen noodles (or any other type of favorite ramen noodles)
Braised brirra. Both the soup and the meat portion of your ramen are made from this foundation. While bone broth is often used to make ramen stocks, we’re going to utilize the incredibly delicious consomé that results from cooking birria in this instance. Any beef cuts will work in the stew, but I suggest using shanks since they include a bone, which will give the liquid more flavor. Here is additional information on birria stew.
Ramen noodles. You have two options for ramen noodles: either go all out and create your own, or take the simple path and buy fresh ramen noodles. Even for us, making your own noodles is frequently much too much labor, so we normally go for fresh or frozen. See more below about it.
Toppings. A bowl of ramen that has complementary and contrasting flavors and textures is always enjoyable. This birria ramen dish also includes sliced jalapenos for heat, shredded cabbage for crunch, pickled onions for a tart, sharp flavor, chopped cilantro for fresh herbaceousness, a lime wedge for brightness, and a ramen egg because what is ramen without a ramen egg? Oh, and a taco made with crispy birria, just because!
Related – How to cut bok choy for ramen?
How to make birria ramen
Thus, because it is the most practical choice, I used the instant ramen that this recipe called for. But, if you like, you can use fresh noodles for the quick variety. Please bear in mind that if you use fresh ramen noodles, the cooking time may change.
About the toppings, the ones I’ve given above are my suggestions, but you are free to use other toppings as well. Shredded cabbage, toasted sesame seeds, or sliced green onion are some more fantastic toppings to use with the ones I listed. With my creamy ramen, all of these toppings work really well.
You won’t have any trouble cooking this birria ramen even if you’ve never cooked ramen or birria stew before. The crock pot actually accomplishes the labor-intensive work for you, as I have explained.
Basically, you sear the beef in a rich sauce made from your guajillo chiles before adding everything to your crock pot. After that, the crockpot handles all the labor-intensive work until the noodles are added. Dinner is ready after the noodles are done. It is a straightforward, four-step technique that can never fail.
Let’s get started learning how to create birria ramen now that that has been stated.
STEP 1: MAKE THE SAUCE
Making the very tasty sauce comes first. Boil the water first, then add it to the blender with the ancho and guajillo peppers that have been seeded.
After everything is blended and smooth, add the cumin, garlic, dried oregano, cinnamon, and bay leaf. After straining the sauce to get rid of any large lumps, you may save it for later use.
STEP 2: PREPARE THE BEEF
It’s time to cook the flesh of the birria, which is fork tender. Salt and pepper the meat equally to begin with.
Next, cook the beef for a minute on each side in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat until golden brown.
Related – How to cook top ramen in the microwave?
STEP 3: COOK THE BEEF AND RAMEN
Then, you may put the previously made sauce and seared beef in your slow cooker and cook it on low for 5-7 hours, or until the meat is soft to the fork. If the meat is difficult to shred with two forks, let it simmer longer.
You may now prepare the instant ramen noodles when the meat is nearly finished cooking. Simply put your instant ramen noodles in a saucepan of boiling water, let them simmer until tender, and then drain them to do that.
STEP 4: SERVE
When everything has finished cooking, it’s time to serve!
Therefore, combine the cooked noodles and shredded meat in a dish with the delicious birria broth. Next, just add a selection of toppings, such as sliced onion, radish, cilantro, and lime juice, and indulge.
Tips and Tricks
Marinate. If you have the time, marinade the beef for a whole night to give the ramen extra flavor.
Plan ahead. The stew and all of the toppings may be prepared in advance for this dish. All you have to do to prepare food for eating is heat it up. It provides practically immediate delight! Also, you may strain and refrigerate the consomé if you prepare the birria the day before. The fat will float to the top and solidify when the consomé is refrigerated (keep the beef separately), making it simple to remove and re-add. You should absolutely reintroduce some of the oil since it adds taste.
Have bowls available, please. Ramen should be served in deep bowls that can accommodate both the soup and the noodles; a typical shallow soup dish won’t do. Use the biggest, deepest bowls you have that can accommodate at least three cups of liquid if you don’t have specific ramen bowls.
Build tacos. Prepare a taco (or five) and provide the birria ramen on the side for dipping. Ramen and crispy, crunchy tacos make for an incredible contrast.
HOW TO STORE BIRRIA RAMEN
This birria ramen dish yields two filling meals. So, it is ideal as a meal for two or for only one person with leftovers. In addition, this birria ramen produces some fantastic leftovers.
So all you have to do to keep your leftover birria ramen fresh is put it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. The ramen may be kept in this manner for up to 4 days.
Related – How to cook tofu for ramen?
Related questions
Q: Can I use chicken instead of beef?
A: Yes, you can certainly substitute chicken for the beef in this recipe. Just make sure that it is cooked all the way through before adding to the pot with the other ingredients.
Q: How long will my birria ramen last?
A: Your birria ramen should last up to four days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Be sure to heat it thoroughly before eating.
Q: Can I freeze this birria ramen?
A: Yes, you can definitely freeze your birria ramen for up to three months in an airtight container or zipper freezer bag. To reheat, simply thaw overnight in the refrigerator then warm on the stovetop or microwave until hot! Enjoy!
Q: Can I make this recipe vegetarian/vegan?
A: Absolutely! Just substitute vegetable broth for the beef broth and use a plant-based protein such as tofu or tempeh instead of beef. The flavors will still be delicious!
Final thoughts
Now that you know how to make birria ramen, get creative and add your own personal touch! This dish is perfect for any season and can be made in under an hour. Try adding different vegetables or proteins to change things up. Experiment with the broth until you find a flavor that you love. And don’t forget the all-important garnishes – they really take this meal to the next level. So what are you waiting for? Get cooking!
Birria ramen is a twist on the classic dish that is perfect for winter. This comforting soup is packed with flavor and can be made in under an hour. If you’re looking for a new culinary adventure, give this recipe a try. And if you need help perfecting your technique, contact us at Angelo’s Burgers. Our team of experts are ready and waiting to help you take your cooking to the next level.