Aug 6
2010
Yesterday I had one of those days where nothing got done.

Spicy Miso Pork Ramen Noodles

Actually, let me rephrase that.  Things got done, just not the things on any of my “To Do” lists.  It was one of those days where both of the girls seemed to be determined to do every single little naughty thing they could think of, including picking on each other.  Sisters sure know how to push each others’ buttons!  I know they usually appear so sweet and innocent,

Angelic Bug

but yesterday they put aside their angelic halos for little goblin hats.

Unhappy & Naughty Fujilings

By the end of the day I was tired of cleaning up messes, breaking up fights, and putting Fujilings in time out for jumping off the couch again after I had told them not to.

Fujiling Mess

I was finally forced to take a moment and sit down out of sheer exhaustion and exasperation.  It was that moment that I chose to look at the clock.  Somehow it had gone from 9am to 5:20pm and I realized that I hadn’t thought of what I was making for dinner.  I frantically thought of what I had in the pantry and refrigerator and got to work.  Thank goodness that I keep the pantry stocked with a variety of things that can always get me out of a pinch, like dried noodles, miso paste, and toban jian (chili bean sauce).

Chili Bean Sauce (Toban Jian)

I utilized those resources to make ramen noodles topped with spicy miso pork.  While the noodles were cooking in a pot of boiling water, I cooked some ground pork with a mixture of miso paste, toban jian, sesame oil, water, garlic, and sugar.

Ramen noodles and spicy miso pork

When the noodles were done, I drained them and added them to the meat, tossing them until they were coated, then served them sprinkled with fresh chopped chives from our garden.  20 minutes after I had started, dinner was done and on the table, and the little goblins were filling their bellies with noodles.  Crisis averted.

Spicy Miso Pork Ramen Noodles 2

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Spicy Miso Pork Ramen Noodles

Makes 4 servings

6 — 8 ounces dried ramen noodles (sometimes labeled chuka soba)
10 ounces ground pork
1/4 cup toasted sesame oil
2.5 tablespoons aka miso paste (dark/red miso paste)
1 1/2 tablespoons toban jian (chili bean sauce)
2 tablespoons water
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
chopped chives, to garnish
salt and pepper to taste

1. Cook the noodles according to the package instructions.  Drain the noodles and rinse them under cold water and drain well.

2. In a medium-size bowl, mix together the ground pork, sesame oil, miso paste, toban jian, water, garlic, and granulated sugar with a fork until everything is well-incorporated.

3. Cook the meat mixture in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat into small clusters, until it has cooked through (about 5 minutes).

4. Add the noodles to the skillet and toss them in the cooked meat mixture until they are coated and reheated.  Serve the noodles garnished with chopped chives.  Add salt and pepper as needed.

{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }

Life is Like A Box of Chocolates August 6, 2010 at 12:31 pm

I know how that feels. Seeing my babies go from one naughty prank to another. OK, I understand the boundaries have to be tested, but does it have to be tested non-stop? Please give me a break!

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Fuji Mama (Rachael) August 6, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Nolwenn August 6, 2010 at 12:38 pm

I am reassured: my girls are not the only one that are sometimes angelic, and others devilish ;)

I don’t know this chili bean paste, is it very hot (my 5yo doesn’t care about hot food, but my 3yo hates it) ?

I have to try :D

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Fuji Mama (Rachael) August 6, 2010 at 12:39 pm

@Nolwenn, Yes, you are not alone! The chili bean paste is medium-spicy. It’s a Chinese ingredient that is also very popular in Japan. You could always use a bit less of the paste!

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Ivy @ My Simple Food August 6, 2010 at 12:53 pm

Nice combination of miso and chilli bean sauce. The noodles looks great.

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Lyndsey August 6, 2010 at 1:02 pm

Aw yes…that innocent look…I know it well, not only on kids, but dogs know how to work it too! I want this recipe in my pantry meals. I have almost everything except the chili bean sauce which I literally just looked at. We got back from the Asian market to pick up some more Lee Kum Kee Oyster sauce to replace the one that I knocked on the floor and the whole bottom broke off. My husbands had to hold the dog back to keep him from investigating and hurting himself, usually he’s under foot all the time I’m in the kitchen(the dog not my husband). Anyhoo…this sounds really good! You know I’ll make it!

Those pics of the girls are so cute!!

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Belinda @zomppa August 6, 2010 at 1:07 pm

I admit – I LOVE ramen! Love that chili paste…and those faces!

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Emily August 6, 2010 at 1:20 pm

Not ten minutes after getting home from putting on a full cast on her arm (no, we don’t know how she broke her wrist) my little two year old climbed out the window, over the fence, into the chicken coop, and into the brooder box so she could show the baby chicks her new cast. I was not amused. I would love it if she just jumped off the couch. Anyway, could I substitute ground beef for the pork? I’ll probably do it anyway, just wanted to see if it made a big flavor difference.

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Emily August 11, 2010 at 2:53 pm

@Emily, Just thought I would let you know that I did make this and it was a big hit here. Everyone loved it, even with the ground beef instead of the ground pork! Wynnie even asked if I could make it every night. Def going into my favorites book, thanks!

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Joy August 6, 2010 at 2:19 pm

It has been so long since I had ramen. That looks great.

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Fuji Nana August 6, 2010 at 2:44 pm

Why, those look like their “Can Nana come play?” faces to me.

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susan August 6, 2010 at 5:45 pm

this is my kind of food. i am so excited to make this! looks totally and completely delicious! thanks fuji “hot mama”!

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Island Vittles August 6, 2010 at 6:13 pm

you have made me so hungry for those!

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Cajun Chef Ryan August 6, 2010 at 7:36 pm

Now this is some of the best looking Ramen noodles I’ve seen! Wonderful presentation!

=:~)

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Magic of Spice August 6, 2010 at 7:40 pm

A perfect save the day meal:) The girls are so cute:)

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Paula - bell'alimento August 6, 2010 at 8:37 pm

What those cute little fuji lings naughty…. NO WAY ; ) xoxo You though are a rawkstar & saved the day with this scrummy ramen dinner! I bet they had their halos back on in no time when they saw this!

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damaris August 6, 2010 at 9:52 pm

This looks really good. I can’t believe it only took you 20 minutes. I want to try this recipe this week.

My baby eats dirt from the plant while I try to cook. My son had been really tantrumy lately. Joy.

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Sharlene (Wheels and Lollipops) August 7, 2010 at 5:13 am

Oh I sympathise with you, my 4yr and 16mth old started off this morning being angels and by nap time they were devils !!!
I’ve never seen ramen noodles look so good !!

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Bonnie August 7, 2010 at 7:50 am

I can’t believe how easy this is and I have all the ingredients in my pantry. Will have to try it soon.

PS here’s a tip for everyone…always read your comment before you hit submit. As I was typing this I missed the “r” in “pantry”. Whew! Glad I caught that!

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Gail August 7, 2010 at 9:02 am

I love the way you deconstruct Japanese food, and make it easy and approachable!
This looks like Japanese spaghetti bolognese!

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All That I'm Eating August 7, 2010 at 11:09 am

This sounds like my kind of dinner!

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redkathy August 7, 2010 at 11:47 am

How simple and fabulously displayed, as always! Ramen noodles, my son loves it!

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Mommyof2Girlz/Steph August 8, 2010 at 10:01 am

This looks amazing and photographed so well. Found you on Twitter (you were recommended for me..lol), so glad I stopped by I love food blogs as well as also living in San Diego and having 2 girls we seem to have a few things in common. Looking forward to visiting often :)

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Maria August 9, 2010 at 12:59 pm

The girls are too cute, I know I say that all the time, but they really are:) Great noodles too!

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Michelle @ Brown Eyed Baker August 9, 2010 at 2:57 pm

I have a younger sister, by 2 years, and oh, the fighting that went on in our house while we were growing up! I don’t think we truly learned to like each other until I moved out when I went to college. I feel for you (and come to think of it, now I feel really bad for my mom, ha!). But, wow, what a sensational dinner you whipped up, this looks fantastic!

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Gaby @ What's Gaby Cooking August 9, 2010 at 3:28 pm

This looks freaking delish!!! I wish I whipped up something as fabulous as this when I am in a rush!!!!

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Sasha @ Global Table Adventure August 10, 2010 at 5:26 am

Found you on Tasty Kitchen! Love your blog and these ramen noodles look scrumptious :) I’m often found staring into the fridge at 4:20 thinking “hmmmmmmmm” lol

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Cookin' Canuck August 10, 2010 at 9:16 am

Considering you had “one of those days” with the kids (believe me, I feel your pain), you came up with one amazing meal!

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Lisa { AuthenticSuburbanGourmet } August 11, 2010 at 8:07 pm

WOW – this looks amazing and super tasty! A must make!!! :)

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Jen @ How To: Simplify August 12, 2010 at 2:56 pm

What a delicious looking dish! Yum!

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Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction August 15, 2010 at 2:14 pm

Lovely dish! I need to come live at your house, because your pantry is stocked with some seriously yummy things. I am going to go stock up my pantry so I can make this :)

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molly August 16, 2010 at 11:51 am

I made this dish the other night, i sub. chicken for the pork though..it was fantastic!

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Mardi@eatlivetravelwrite August 16, 2010 at 12:30 pm

I wish I could pull together a tasty dinner like this when I had had “a day”! The girls might sometimes be trying but they sure are cute!

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Rob Burdsal January 13, 2018 at 12:24 am

Hi, this looks fantastic and I can’t wait to try it in my home! I have a Ramon question though: I totally love soba, especially as a soup along side a small bowl of cold white rice (no salt, I like to dip it into the soba liquid.). But I’ve almost stopped eating soba entirely because I began pay g attention to the flavor packets and discovered the massive amount of salt they have crammed in those small packets. Have you ever run across recepies for soba flavoring packets without all that salt – pork or my favorite (or it was?). Thanks so much for having this wonderful Facebook page. You are a bright lantern in an otherwise dark kitchen.

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