I made Jiro Ramen! Homemade char siu (pork) excess and the Seven-Eleven ramen set

Once you taste it, you won't forget the deliciousness of Jiro-style ramen. I feel an irresistible urge to eat it at least once a week. As a Jiro fan, I took on the challenge of maximizing the use of Jiro-style reproduction items available at Seven-Eleven for my home Jiro project.

Can you eat that Jiro-style ramen at home!?

If you like Jiro-style ramen, there must be moments when you are irresistibly driven by that "exquisite impulse woven by garlic and back fat." It would be nice if you could go out to eat, but for some reason, those cravings often peak in the middle of the night when the stores are closed or during camping trips where the distance feels hopeless...

“What if I could eat that Jiro-style ramen whenever I want, wherever I want...?” (At home). This is surely a dream many Jiro-style fans, not just the author, have cherished for years. At such a time, what I discovered at 7-Eleven was the lineup in the image above. With these, you might be able to enjoy Jiro-style ramen anytime! However, given the high expectations, the reproduction level is a point of concern.

Product Name / Pork Ramen Soup 1 serving
Price / 159 yen

Product Name / Extra Thick Noodles 1 serving
Price / 127 yen

Product Name / This is Pork! 2 slices
Price / 321 yen

Product name: Fat and Meat! 100g
Price: 289 yen

Prepare homemade char siu in a mess tin

Since it's a special occasion, I will make char siu (pork) that has been well-received by my family. The ingredients prepared this time are as follows.

・Pork belly block…about 200g (enough to fit)
・Soy sauce…1.5 tablespoons
・Sugar…1 teaspoon
・Sake…2 tablespoons
・Water…100ml (enough to submerge the pork belly block)

The cooking equipment used is the mess tin, a staple gear for camping. Because it has excellent airtightness, it can evenly infuse flavor even with a small amount of seasoning, making it great for when you want to easily make char siu. Additionally, since I wanted to add more vegetables, I prepared a bag of bean sprouts.

First, sear the surface of the pork belly block. This not only helps to trap the umami but also prevents it from falling apart during cooking.

Once all the seasonings are added, let's simmer on low heat until the cooking liquid reduces by half.

The key is to occasionally open the lid of the mess tin, flip it over, and pour the broth over it with a spoon to let the flavors soak in. To deepen the flavor, the author lets it marinate in this state for about half a day.

How serious is Seven-Eleven about this?

Once the chashu is ready, it's time to boil the noodles sold at Seven-Eleven. These thick noodles create a unique chewy texture that is different from the usual instant ramen you find at home, typical of Jiro-style ramen.

While the noodles are boiling, prepare the soup. Just pour the sauce into a bowl, then add hot water. It can be prepared in no time, so it seems easy to enjoy even while camping.

The finishing touch is a rich soup with the boiled chewy noodles, crunchy boiled bean sprouts (yasai), homemade chashu (buta), and generously topped with additional fat, and it's complete. The fact that you can lavishly top it with such a large amount of chashu is all thanks to making it yourself! The aroma that wafts up with the steam is surprisingly authentic, but how does it taste?

First, let's enjoy the char siu coated in fat and bean sprouts.

The moment it enters my mouth, the rich flavor of back fat explodes! Ah... this is the taste I’ve been seeking. Moreover, the broth supporting that umami also has a rich depth that makes me want to gaze up at the heavens in sheer delight. The homemade char siu stands out with its meatiness, and the char siu I bought at Seven-Eleven is so tender it melts in my mouth.

I am captivated by the blissful sense of guilt brought by the toppings and broth, and at this point, my chopsticks cannot be put down.

To be able to recreate Jiro-style ramen at home is the ultimate luxury

No, no, what’s important in ramen is the noodles. Shaking off the temptation of the toppings, I try the star of the show, the thick noodles. Oh... not only can I enjoy that unique Jiro-style chewiness, but the rich wheat flavor also spreads. This level of perfection is so impressive that it wouldn’t be out of place even at a specialty shop.

To be able to recreate such delicious Jiro-style ramen at home can truly be called the ultimate luxury. Moreover, the process is surprisingly simple! With this reproduction set, not only can I enjoy Jiro-style ramen whenever I want, but it also warms the body, making it perfect for scenes like winter camping.

If there’s a Seven-Eleven nearby, be sure to search for the ingredients, make it, and enjoy it!

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