The Ponyo Ramen Recipe You Can't Miss Out On Because It's Delicious (2024)

Recipes | Savoury

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What sets the best mood for fall? A good movie and a nice bowl of yummy ramen. So it comes without a doubt that our choice – or better, Cristina’s choice – was to initiate me on the great work of Studio Ghibli. And this Ponyo ramen recipe it’s where we start from.

If you’re like me, then you know animated movies are my absolute favourite. I am a Disney girl through and through, but as such my knowledge has stayed with Disney all along. And both Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli have never even crossed my radar. That was until Cristina decided we had to change that. I don’t want to hide my confusion when we first started watching Ponyo: I think I had way too many questions within the first few minutes for Cristina to take, and we just decided to stop watching it.

I must admit, I have now watched bits of it and kind of get the whole appeal, but it’s still not very much my style. I have been told to try other Studio Ghibli films like My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away and Kiki’s Delivery Service, so that Cristina can finally watch her movies in peace without my trillion questions.

But for the people who like me have no idea, Ponyo is a Japanese animated film produced by Studio Ghibli and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The film was released in 2008 and it tells the story of a young fish named Ponyo who desires to become a human after developing a strong connection with a human boy named Sosuke. Does it sound similar to a Disney one we all know? Indeed, but fear not, because this movie is known for its beautiful hand-drawn animation, imaginative storytelling, and enchanting characters. It’s a film that appeals to both children and adults, characteristic of Studio Ghibli’s style.

In one of the scenes, Sosuke’s mother, Lisa, prepares a meal that includes ramen for Sosuke, Ponyo, and herself. This scene happens after Ponyo turns into a human and starts living with Sosuke and his mother. The ramen meal is a sweet moment in the movie and adds to the cosy and familial atmosphere of their interactions. So it’s about time we start looking at this Ponyo ramen recipe for real.

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The most delicious and simple Ponyo ramen recipe

As we wait for my love for Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli to begin, we can look at this extremely simple and quick recipe for a wannabe ramen. Because it’s not made following the original recipe and method, of course, but sometimes you’ll be craving something savoury and comforting and this is all for you. The Ponyo ramen recipe you did not know you needed.

What is so special about this Ponyo ramen recipe?

I know what you’re thinking: I am telling you this recipe is not authentic, nor it is original to me. Of course, since we’re getting inspired by such a beloved movie, you need to admit that originality wouldn’t be top of the list. But also, I wanted to recreate a recipe that could be extremely quick to whip up, delicious and comforting at the same time.

What is ramen?

Ramen is a Japanese dish that consists of Chinese-style noodles served in a meat or fish-based broth, often flavoured with soy sauce or miso, and topped with various ingredients such as sliced pork, dried seaweed, green onions, and more. It’s a popular and iconic dish in Japanese cuisine and is known worldwide nowadays.

The origins of ramen are a bit complex and intertwined with both Chinese and Japanese culinary histories. The concept of wheat noodles in soup likely came to Japan from China, but it underwent significant adaptations and modifications to suit local tastes.

The earliest forms of ramen-like dishes in Japan can be traced back to the late 19th century, but these early versions were quite different from the ramen we know today. The dish started to gain popularity and evolve during the 20th century.

One of the key moments in the popularization of ramen was after World War II when food shortages led to the development of instant ramen noodles by Momof*cku Ando. In 1958, Ando founded Nissin Food Products and introduced the world’s first instant ramen, known as Chikin Ramen. This innovation revolutionized the way ramen was consumed and made it more accessible to people all around the world.

The style of ramen we commonly see in Japanese restaurants, with various regional variations, evolved over the years through a combination of cultural influences, creativity, and local preferences. Today, ramen is a beloved and diverse dish enjoyed by people worldwide.

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What ingredients do I need for this Ponyo ramen recipe?

As I mentioned, this is meant to be a quick – extremely quick! – recipe and as such the ingredients reflect our taste mostly. What you will need for this Ponyo ramen recipe is as below:

Noodles: We have gone for egg noodles as it’s what we had on hand, but even a packet of ready-made noodles can work and will save you plenty of time, a win-win in my books!;
Water: Well, you need water to either make a broth or cook your pre-made ramen packet in;
White miso: So I am a lover of miso, but I find the red one too strong. Yet, I think a combination of the two could work here;
Soy sauce: Make your dish a little more savoury, but also you will need some to soy cure your eggs;
Ham: The movie has got ham so we went for ham, but I would happily have this again with SPAM instead;
Hard-boiled, soy-cured eggs: This might not be from the movie itself, as I remember a simple hard boiled egg, but let me tell you soy-cured eggs are extremely delicious;
Green onions: Finely chopped, they add a bit of freshness to this otherwise very savoury Ponyo ramen recipe.

How do I make this Ponyo ramen recipe?

This Ponyo ramen recipe is extremely easy to make, so let’s see how to do so together:

You will start by boiling your eggs, then you will peel them and let them sit in a bowl full of soy sauce in the fridge for 20 minutes or so, while you prepare the rest.

Time to chop the two spring onions finely, place them in a small bowl and set aside as well. The last bit of prep is the ham: in a pan, add some sesame oil and the sliced ham, then cook it until it’s seared on both sides and set aside.

In the same pan, add the water and bring it to a boil, then add the soy sauce and miso and let it melt. Once the miso has melted, add the noodles and cook them until they are ready to be served.

Finally ready to prepare yourramen bowl: add the noodles and broth base, then decorate with the ham, egg and spring onions you have finely chopped.

Ponyo Ramen Recipe

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Author: Simona
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: Serves 2 people 1x

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Description

This Ponyo ramen recipe is the perfect dish to whip up in no time and eat as you watch one of the best Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli movies!

Ingredients

UnitsScale

250g egg noodles
700ml water
2 tbsp white miso
2 tbsp soy sauce
4 slices ham
2 hard-boiled, soy cured eggs
2 green onions
sesame oil

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Instructions

Boil your eggs, peel them and let them sit in a bowl full of soy sauce in the fridge for 20 minutes or so, while you prepare the rest.
Chop the two spring onions finely, place them in a small bowl and set aside.
In a pan, add some sesame oil and the sliced ham, then cook it until it’s seared on both sides and set aside.
In the same pan, add the water and bring it to a boil, then add the soy sauce and miso and let it melt.
Once the miso has melted, add the noodles and cook them until they are ready to be served.
Prepare your ramen bowl: add the noodles and broth base, then decorate with the ham, egg and spring onions you have finely chopped.
Serve immediately.

Equipment

Notes

Use SPAM or bacon instead of thick ham slices.
You can also replace the thick ham slice with a few thin slices of fresh ham if you can’t find anything else.
Make it vegan by replacing the ham with pan-seared tofu and omitting the eggs.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Category: Savoury
Cuisine: Japanese-Inspired