As it literally translates to “salt sauce,” one could say that shio tare is the secret sauce that gives shio ramen the rich, salty flavor that it’s known for. In addition to providing shio ramen with its defining flavor, the shio tare also gives ramen chefs the ability to tailor their ramen to achieve the specific flavor or balance of flavors they are looking for.
In this article we will walk you through what shio ramen is and how to make authentic shio tare step-by-step.
Table of Contents
What is Shio Tare?
The tare, which translates to “sauce” in Japanese, is one of the five components of a ramen dish. The other components to a ramen dish are the broth, aromatic oil, noodles and toppings. Shio tare is the sauce that gives shio ramen, one of the four main types of ramen, its main flavor.
Often one type of broth is used for more than one type of ramen. It is the shio tare that is added to the broth that makes the ramen a shio ramen.
For an authentic shio ramen recipe and video that uses this shio tare recipe, check out the following article: Savory Shio Ramen Recipe
How is Shio Tare Used?
When used in ramen, shio tare is added to the broth to provide a rich salt flavor. As mentioned above, the tare is a primary component of ramen and is largely responsible for giving the ramen the flavor that distinguishes it. The tare is used to balance out the flavors of the broth and all the other components of the ramen dish. This being the case, many ramen chefs spend a lot of time fine tuning their shio tares to extract the flavors they are looking for in their shio ramen.
When making ramen, I like to add all the components separately to each bowl as I think it lets you better control the flavors. As such, I typically add two tablespoons of shio tare to the hot broth in the bowl immediately before adding the aromatic oils, noodles and toppings. However, always remember to start by adding less shio tare than you think you will need and slowly add more, tasting as you go, until you are happy with the finished product.
While ramen is the most popular use for shio tare, it can also be used to flavor other soup bases as well. In addition, it makes for a great marinade or component of a marinade for a wide range of meats.
How do you Make Shio Tare?
Shio tare is very simple to make. The primary ingredients are dashi, mirin, sake, salt, sugar, and rice vinegar. Below are step-by-step instructions along with a recipe and video:
1. Combine all the shio tare ingredients in a sauce pan and slowly bring to a simmer over medium-low heat.
2. While waiting for the mixture to simmer, stir to make sure salt is dissolved. Also, stir the mix occasionally after the salt is dissolved.
3. Once mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. After 5 minutes remove from heat and let cool. Each bowl of ramen typically only takes a couple of tablespoons of tare. I like to add the tare to each bowl of broth rather than adding a larger amount to a pot of broth. This approach helps to better control the overall flavor of each bowl of ramen.
Shio Tare Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Sauce pot
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dashi
- 1/3 cup Mirin
- 1/4 cup Sake
- 1/3 cup Salt
- 1 Tbsp. Sugar
- 1 Tbsp. Rice vinegar
Instructions
- Combine all the shio tare ingredients in a sauce pan and slowly bring to a simmer over medium-low heat.
- While waiting for the mixture to simmer, stir to make sure salt is dissolved. Also, stir the mix occasionally after the salt is dissolved.
- Once mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes remove from heat and let cool. Each bowl of ramen typically only takes a couple of tablespoons of tare. I like to add the tare to each bowl of broth rather than adding a larger amount to a pot of broth. This approach helps to better control the overall flavor in each bowl of ramen.
Video
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
How is shio tare used?
The most widely used purpose for shio tare is to add flavor to ramen dishes. However, shio tare can also be used in other soups and marinades.
Is shio tare gluten-free?
Yes, all the ingredients in most shio tare recipes are naturally gluten-free. You just want to make sure you avoid any recipe that uses soy sauce.
Final Thoughts on Shio Tare
We hope that you have found this article informative and the recipe delicious. As you further venture into the world of ramen, we encourage you to customize this shio tare recipe to your specific tastes. Happy cooking!
Check out the below articles for more great recipes:
Chirashi Bowl (Chirashizushi) Recipe
Ikura Sushi: What it is and How to Make it
Authentic Chashu Pork: Step-by-Step Instructions
Also, for more great videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.