Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 yellow onion, coarsely chopped
  • 1 large leek, trimmed and roughly chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
  • 1 ounce dried shiitake mushrooms
  • 2 sweet potatoes (about 1 pound), peeled and cut into small cubes
  • 1 head of garlic
  • 1 pound fresh shiitake mushrooms, brushed clean and sliced
  • Low-sodium soy sauce or tamari, for seasoning
  • 1 1/2 pounds fresh ramen noodles
  • 1/4 cup white or yellow miso
  • About 4 green onions, white and pale green parts, finely chopped

Method

  • In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, warm 2 tablespoons of the oil.
  • Add the yellow onion, sprinkle with salt, and sear, without stirring, until browned, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the leek, garlic, ginger, dried mushrooms, and 6 cups water and deglaze the pan, stirring and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low, partially cover the pan and simmer until fragrant, about 1 hour.
  • Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and discard the solids.
  • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Add the sweet potatoes to a baking sheet and drizzle with a little oil; toss and spread into an even layer.
  • Cut the top quarter of the head of garlic off and discard.
  • Drizzle the cut side of the garlic head with a little oil and wrap with foil.
  • Add to the sheet pan.
  • Roast, stirring the potatoes occasionally, until tender and tinged with brown, and the garlic is very tender.
  • Remove from the oven.
  • Squeeze the garlic cloves into a blender and add 1/3 cup of the roasted sweet potatoes with 1/2 cup broth.
  • Puree until smooth and add to the broth.
  • In the saucepan over medium heat, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil.
  • Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring, until tender.
  • Add the broth and season to taste with soy sauce.
  • Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover partially, and simmer until warmed through.
  • Whisk in the miso.
  • Divide the noodles evenly among individual bowls.
  • Ladle the broth over the noodles, dividing them evenly, then top with the roasted sweet potatoes.
  • Sprinkle with the green onions and serve.