Kikurage, wood ear mushroom, is a common topping on Japanese ramen. This is because it adds a chewy texture and absorbs the flavors of the ramen noodles and of the ramen broth. It is called wood ear mushroom because its shape resembles that of an ear. Aside from the ramen flavor enhancement it provides, kikurage is also known for its rich nutritional value, containing a lot of fiber and iron.
Preparing kikurage is easy! All that is needed is to soak the dried mushrooms in cold water for a couple of hours or even overnight. This helps soften and rehydrate the kikurage into a more gelatinous texture, which is what helps absorb flavor.
In this recipe, we marinated kikurage to create Ajitsuke Kikurage. It pairs perfectly with our Signature Tonkotsu Ramen!