How to make homemade ramen noodles step by step detailed instructions

Prepare the Alkaline Solution

• Dissolve the baked baking soda (or lye water) in warm water and stir well. This creates the alkaline solution that gives ramen noodles their unique texture and color.

Mix the Dough

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.
• Gradually pour the alkaline solution into the flour while stirring with a spoon, spatula, or chopsticks.
• Mix until the liquid is fully absorbed, then use your hands to squeeze the mixture into a rough dough.
• If the dough remains crumbly, add more water, one tablespoon at a time, until it comes together into a cohesive ball.

Rest the Dough

• Wrap the dough in plastic wrap or cover it with a damp towel to prevent it from drying out. Let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Knead the Dough

• After resting, knead the dough for 2-3 minutes to develop elasticity. You can knead by hand or use a rolling pin:
• If using a rolling pin, flatten the dough slightly, give it a few firm whacks, fold it into a ball, and repeat the process.

Roll the Dough with a Pasta Machine

• Divide the dough into two portions. Keep one half wrapped or covered to prevent drying.
• Flatten the other half as much as possible by hand or with a rolling pin.
• Set your pasta machine to the widest setting and feed the dough through.
• Fold the dough into thirds and pass it through the machine again. Repeat 5-6 times until the dough becomes smooth and forms a rectangular sheet.
• Once smooth, pass the sheet through the machine 2 more times without folding.

Adjust Thickness

• Gradually adjust your pasta machine to thinner settings, rolling the dough through 2 times per setting.
• Lightly dust the dough with cornstarch between passes to prevent sticking.
• Stop at your desired thickness. For ramen, 1.9mm (about 1/16 inch) is a good starting point.

Cut the Noodles

• If the rolled dough is too long, cut it in half.
• Dust both sides of the dough with cornstarch to prevent sticking, then pass it through the noodle cutter attachment on your pasta machine.
• Separate the noodles gently and dust with more cornstarch to ensure they don’t clump together.

Cook the Noodles

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Add the noodles and simmer for 1 minute. Thin noodles cook quickly, so avoid overcooking as they can become gummy.
• Drain the noodles and rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking process and remove excess starch.
• Your fresh ramen noodles are now ready to serve in your favorite broth or dish!