Hawaiian Kanpachi Fennel Shio Ramen

SERVES 15                                                   TIME: 30 MINUTES PREP, 4 HOURS 30 MINUTES TOTAL

HAWAIIAN KANPACHI FENNEL SHIO RAMEN 

BY CHEF YUJI HARAGUCHI 

HAWAIIAN KANPACHI FENNEL SHIO RAMEN 

Part: Heads and Bones 

INGREDIENTS:

• 5 pounds Hawaiian Kanpachi heads and bones, gills removed
• 5 pounds bone in chicken legs
• 1 large fennel bulb, coarsely chopped, plus 1small fennel bulb, finely chopped, fronds picked and reserved for garnish
• 1 whole leak, cut in half lengthwise, washed and sliced into ½ inch half moons
• 1 pound ginger root, sliced thin
• 500g (2 cups) Junmai dry sake
• White soy sauce
• 60 grams (2 ounces) per person, (about 1 kilo, 2.2 pounds total) Hawaiian Kanpachi filet, skin and center bones removed.
• Dry kelp seaweed
• 130 gram (4 ounces) per person (about 2 kilos, 4 pounds total) thin, straight fresh ramen noodles
• 1 bunch scallion, finely sliced
• 1 small bottle Sansho powder
• Fresh Ogo seaweed (optional)

PREPARATION 

To make the ramen broth:

Preheat the oven to 450F. Place kanpachi heads and bones on a sheet tray and roast until they are golden brown, about 10 minutes.

When done, transfer the roasted heads and bones into an eight or ten-quart stock pot. Add in the chicken legs followed by cold water, enough to cover the chicken legs and kanpachi bones, approximately 5 quarts (20 cups) water.

Add the sake, the coarsely chopped fennel, leeks and sliced ginger into the pot. Turn the burner on medium and slowly heat the broth until it reaches 200F, just below the point of simmering. Keep at this temperature for four hours, stirring occasionally. Be sure the liquid never simmers or boils. Other than natural evaporation, the volume of liquid needs to stay constant.

When done, strain the broth, discard all the solids and cool the broth in an ice bath. When cold, skim off all the fat and reserve separately for finishing ramen. You can also make the broth in advance and refrigerate overnight. It will make it easier to skim off the fat.

To prepare Hawaiian Kanpachi Sashimi

While the broth is cooking, slice Kanpachi sashimi style, about quarter inch thick. Lay the slices single layer on a sheet of kelp and place into refrigerator to cure for 2 to 3 hours.

To cook the noodles and serve ramen:

Bring a pot of water to a boil over high heat. Also, heat the ramen broth slowly over low heat making sure not to boil it. Season the broth with white soy sauce to taste. Cook the fresh noodles in batches till done, about 3 minutes per batch. Separate noodles into bowls. Pour in about a cup and a half or ramen broth into each bowl over noodles. Using a pair of chopsticks, gently lift out the noodles then place them back into bowls. Do this twice more to ensure each noodle strand gets coated with the broth. Garnish, each bowl with generous spoonful of finely chopped fennel, followed by sliced scallion. Place couple of slices of fish on top, sprinkle a tiny bit of sansho powder all over, pour a spoonful of reserved chicken fat from the broth, garnish with a bit of ogo and couple of fennel fronds then serve right away.