Chicken Ramen

Notes: Kombu is edible kelp used in Japanese cooking. It can be found dried and packaged in your local Asian market.
I found that bringing the stock to an initial boil, straining, and then boiling again eliminated the need to skim impurities from the stock as it simmered, but this may be omitted and you can start with the chicken parts and the vegetables in step 1. There wasn't an obvious difference in color or flavor.
You need to simmer for at least six hours (eight is preferred) to achieve a stock with the fullest body. The bones will easily break apart when the stock is ready.
For the chicken bouillon cubes, it's only suggested if a more "in your face" chicken flavor is desired (see related story). I personally suggest simply salting the stock (around 1/4 teaspoon salt per cup stock) to let the natural chicken flavor shine, but if a more "chicken-y" experience is what you're after, you can try seasoning with 1/8 teaspoon of bouillon per cup stock.
This recipe is for a rich, full-bodied broth. If a lighter flavor is preferred, add hot water to the resulting stock. Wasabi paste will add heat.

Special equipment: large stockpot

Ingredients

serves serves 6, active time 9 hours, total time 9 hours

• 4 pounds chicken wings
• 1 pound chicken feet
• 2 (12-inch) pieces kombu (see note above)
• 2 leeks, trimmed and sliced 1-inch thick
• 8 cloves garlic
• 2 bunches scallions, whites reserved, greens thinly sliced, divided
• 1 onion, skin-on, halved
• 6 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, washed and trimmed
• 2-inch piece ginger, sliced
• Kosher salt
• 6 shallots, peeled and sliced thin
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• Chicken bouillon cubes (optional, see note above)
• 6 servings of fresh, dried, or frozen ramen noodles
• Toasted white and black sesame seeds, coarse ground
• Sesame oil
• Marinated soft boiled eggs
• Wasabi paste (optional)

Procedures

1. Place the chicken wings and chicken feet in a large stockpot and cover with cold water. Heat over high heat and bring to the boil. Remove from heat as soon as boil is reached, carefully strain, gently rinse, and return chicken to pot (see note above).
   
2. Add kombu, leeks, garlic, scallion whites, onion (skin side up), mushrooms, and ginger to chicken. Cover with cold water (about 16 cups) and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer.
   
3. Skim impurities (but not the fat) from the stock as it simmers and remove kombu after 30 minutes. Continue to simmer stock uncovered (adding hot water to keep bones submerged) for 8 hours (see note above). Remove from heat and carefully strain through a fine mesh strainer. Do not skim fat (see note above). You should have about 10 cups stock.
   
4. To make fried shallots, place oil and shallots in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until shallots are crispy and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove shallots with slotted spoon and transfer to plate. Reserve oil for another use.
   
5. To serve, season broth with a generous amount of salt (see note). Serve with cooked ramen noodles, sesame seeds, sesame oil, fried shallots, thinly sliced green scallions, marinated egg, and optional wasabi paste.