Delicious Vegan Ramen Noodle Soup [don’t Miss out on Flavor!]

What’s more satisfying than a hot ramen noodle broth with hearty ingredients like miso, tofu, shiitake mushrooms, veggies, and homemade seasoning?

Comfort food like ramen is a perfect dish when you are in a hurry but want something that keeps your tummy full.

Instant ramen noodle soup is very popular in Asia, and now it’s gaining in popularity in the West too.

Vegan ramen noodles with fried tofu

However, nothing beats fresh homemade ramen because it’s just so filling and tasty.

The recipe I’m sharing with you takes no more than 30 minutes to make, and it embodies all the unique flavors of classic ramen soup, but it’s vegan and healthy.

The secret is shiitake mushrooms, which is the base flavor for these vegan noodles. Honestly, this recipe is easy, so even if you have no cooking skills, you can put this soup together for sure!

Or you can add a vegan dashi broth if you have a bit more time and can get your hands on the ingredients, more on that later.

What sets this recipe apart from others is the delicious homemade ramen seasoning mix and the fried tofu, which, combined with various vegetables, really brings the flavors together for that umami goodness.

Vegan ramen noodle ingredients

Delicious vegan ramen noodle soup [don’t miss out on flavor!]

Vegan ramen recipe with fried tofu

Course SoupCuisine JapaneseKeyword Ramen Prep Time 5 minutesCook Time 20 minutes Servings 4 people Calories 397kcal Author Joost Nusselder Cost $5

Ingredients

8 oz vegan ramen noodles check below the recipe for suggestions
3 tbsp vegetable oil or canola
4 green onions chopped
3 garlic cloves cut into quarters
20 dried shiitake mushrooms
1 small cube ginger grated
34 oz vegetable broth
1.5 cups of water
1 tbsp white miso paste
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 block tofu fried in oil
2 handfuls spinach
1 bunch cilantro
1 carrot cut into strips/julienne

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

In a large pot, heat 2 tbsp of cooking oil on medium to high heat.
Add the garlic, ginger, and green onions and sautee them for approximately 2 minutes or until slightly brown.
Add in the shiitake mushrooms and saute for another couple of minutes.
Next, add the water, vegetable broth, miso paste, and soy sauce and bring to a boil.
Cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and let the soup simmer for 12 -15 minutes.
At this time, grab a smaller pot and boil the noodles for about 2 or 3 minutes (or as per package instructions). Once the noodles are done, strain them and set them aside.
While the soup is simmering, heat a frying pan and fry the tofu block for about 2 minutes on each side in 1 tbsp of oil. Place to the side and cut into small cubes.
Now, once the soup is done, remove the ginger and garlic pieces with a fork.

Put the soup together & garnish

Grab your serving bowls and place a portion of noodles, a couple of ladles of soup mixture. Garnish with some carrots, some tofu cubes, spinach, cilantro. Additionally, you can add some toasted sesame seeds for crunchiness.

Notes

Note: If you want to make the dish healthier, swap the fried tofu with grilled or boiled tofu.

Nutrition

How to turn this simplified vegan ramen into a full meal

This simple vegan ramen recipe is easy to make, but it’s also light.

If you want to turn it into a protein-packed lunch or dinner, then simply add some of the ingredients we suggest below.

Healthy fats and plant-based protein will make you feel fuller for longer, and you’ll surely feel satisfied with this dish!

To make vegan ramen a full meal, with all the health benefits of non-vegan ramen, add a bit of healthy fat like a splash of sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds.

Make sure to add some veggies that are rich in fiber (see list below) and plenty of plant-based proteins in the form of vegan “meat” alternatives.

Alternative Vegan “Meat”

Sure, tofu is a tasty vegan alternative to meat. But, did you know there are some others worth trying?

Here’s what else you can use as a vegan “meat”.

Add it alongside tofu, or substitute the tofu with the tasty options below:

Beyond Meat “Beef” – cut the “beef” into strips and fry it in hot oil for a few minutes until it browns and add it to your ramen.
Tofurky – use this soy-based turkey substitute to add some poultry flavor to your ramen.
Tempeh – cut up this soy-based meat substitute and cook it like tofu.
Seitan – this is a wheat-based meat substitute with a similar texture to steak. Cut it into strips and fry it for your ramen bowl.
Fried Shiitake Mushrooms – serve ramen with a portion of fried mushrooms and add some tasty flavor to your ramen.

Alternative ingredients for vegan ramen noodles

This vegan recipe is very versatile. Just like the protein component, you can substitute all the vegetables we used for the ones you prefer.

Here is a list of vegetables to use in your vegan ramen:

Cabbage
Leeks
Bok choy
Fresh mushrooms
Jalapeno
Bell Peppers
Brussel sprouts
Kale
Snap Peas
Edamame
Brocolli
Cauliflower
Mung beans

Vegan ramen condiments and toppings

Some people use the packaged ramen seasoning mix.

Sure, it’s convenient, but it’s full of salt and other questionable ingredients, full of saturated fats.

The reality is that you don’t need to ingest those ingredients to get flavorful ramen. All you need is miso paste, dashi, soy, garlic, ginger, and some mirin (optional).

Traditional ramen is made with dashi stock, which you can find in Asian grocery shops.

But vegan dashi is available too, and it’s made with kombu and dried shiitake mushrooms, but it doesn’t contain non-vegan ingredients, such as dried shrimp and bonito flakes.

Check out the vegan dashi stock on Amazon.

Be sure to check out our post about the best dashi alternatives if you want that true ramen flavor.

If you prefer a stronger umami flavor, use awase miso (a mix of white and red) or red miso (strong potent taste).

Learn more: What are the different types of miso? [full guide to miso]

A good substitute for miso is curry paste and harissa.

You can also add in some mirin and rice vinegar for that sour taste.

Toppings are a great way to garnish your ramen and bring in more flavor. Whether you like something crunchy, spicy, or healthy options, we’ve got you covered.

Here are topping options for this vegan ramen dish:

Black sesame seeds
Toasted sesame seeds
Menma (salty bamboo shoots)
Shredded leeks
Fried crispy onion
Seaweed bits
Karanegi (spicy leeks or onions)
Bean sprouts
Corn
Chili Flakes
Garlic chips
Cilantro
Parsley

Vegan ramen nutritional information

Vegan ramen is a healthy food because it doesn’t contain all its meaty counterparts’ fats and carbs.

A bowl of this ramen only has about 220 calories, whereas meaty ramen has almost double.

This dish has about 11 grams of protein, 35 grams of carbs, and only 5 grams of fat.

What you need to be careful about is your choice of vegan ramen noodles. Many packaged noodles are full of sodium (salt).

If you have diabetes or you’re on a diet, you need to be careful about salt consumption. Choose low sodium noodles and skip any extra salty toppings.

You can always also skip the fried tofu and boil or grill it instead.

Generally, vegan ramen is a good source of iron, manganese, and B vitamins.

If you load up your bowl with veggies, the dish is a healthy option, and you can eat it for lunch or dinner quite often.

Vegan ramen buying guide

There are several vegan noodles on Amazon that you can use for this recipe.

Here are my top 3 recommendations. They are cheap & tasty!

Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods Ramen Chicken Soup with Noodles. This is a vegan “chicken” flavored instant ramen noodle. It is my top pick to go with this recipe.
Nissin Top Ramen, Chili. This is an authentic Japanese vegan instant noodle pack with a spicy chili flavor.
Nongshim Soon Cup Noodle Soup, Veggie. Delicious veggie ramen made from vegan ingredients.

Conclusion

This recipe proves you can skip the beef, pork, and poultry and yet still end up with a hearty, tasty ramen soup.

The secret to good vegan ramen is your selection of vegetables, tofu, condiments, and toppings. Vegetables add a good dose of vitamins to this dish.

While some people may tell you ramen is unhealthy, the reality is that if you skip the packaged seasonings and eat it in moderation, it’s a wholesome and delightful dish.

Perfect for cold nights when you just want something warm and filling!

Looking for more vegan dishes? Try this Easy Vegan Mung Bean Egg Recipe with (Egg Free) Just Egg

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