Toridashi (Pork and chicken stock)
This deeply flavoured Japanese stock made from chicken wings and pork bones is perfect for ramen. It gets its unmistakeable flavour from dried seaweed and flakes of dried fermented tuna.
Equipment and preparation: you will need a sheet of clean muslin or a jay cloth.
Ingredients
- 1.5kg/3lb 5oz chicken wings
- 1.5kg/3lb 5oz pork bones (rib bones are good for this)
- 10g piece dried kombu
- 2 thick slices fresh root ginger
- 250ml/9fl oz sake
- 1 medium onion, cut in half
- 30g/1oz bonito flakes (katsuobushi)
- 6 dried shiitake mushrooms
Method
Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.
Place the chicken wings and pork bones in a roasting tin and into the preheated oven.
Roast for 30-40 minutes, turning them half way through until golden-brown. Alternatively you can fry the bones until browned if you don’t have an oven.
When cooked, strain the wings and bones in a colander or large sieve and then pour a kettle of boiling water over them to remove excess grease.
While the chicken is in the oven, rinse the dried kombu under cold running water. Soak the kombu in a large stock pot for 30 minutes in 2.5 litres/4½ pints cold water. The kombu will triple in size.
Remove the kombu from the water and cut into three long strips. Return to the stockpot and bring up to a simmer. Remove from the heat and discard the kombu - do not boil the kombu in the water for a long time or the dashi will become bitter.
Add the roasted and rinsed wings and bones along with all the remaining ingredients to the kombu water. Bring up to the boil, reduce the heat, put a lid on and simmer for two hours. Do not let the stock boil as it will become cloudy.
After two hours, strain the stock carefully through some clean muslin or a jay cloth. Leave to drain gently for 10 minutes, cool and refrigerate until required.
