Tantanmen (Japanese noodle soup)

To cook the tantanemen recipe, heat the sesame oil in a deep pan or pot and add the minced pork. Fry well before adding the garlic and ginger. A little tip: make sure that the mince is really crispy, as this gives the dish that special crunch at the end.

Then add the soy sauce, sake and chili paste. Cook until the alcohol has evaporated. Stirring vigorously helps to mix all the flavors together well.

Pour in the chicken stock. This should be done with care to prevent the stock from getting too hot and boiling over. Stir the soup well and then bring to the boil.

Reduce the heat and add the sesame paste. Stir until the paste has completely dissolved in the soup. Taste and add a little more salt if necessary.

In the meantime, cook the ramen noodles in a separate pan according to the packet instructions. It is important that the noodles are not overcooked - they should still have a little bite to them.

Divide the noodles into four bowls and pour the Japanese tantanemen soup over them. Top each bowl with the minced pork, spring onions, boiled eggs and mung bean sprouts. Serve the soup immediately.