It’s time for me to fess up: there are moments when instant ramen sounds good. You know, the 30 cent packages of salty instant noodles? I probably only have instant noodles once a year, but when I get a hunger I don’t think twice about opening a packet and digging in.
Through trial and error, I’ve figured out six simple methods to make instant ramen seem more like a proper dinner and make use of other kitchen scraps at the same time. I’m going to tell you about them now because sharing them benefits both of us.
While it’s true that eating actual ramen (at a restaurant or with high-quality noodles from an Asian grocery shop) is the best method to improve upon instant ramen, that’s not the topic at hand today.
We’re talking about those times when the cheap little ramen packets you can purchase at just about any grocery or convenience storea are your only alternative, or even your preferred option. Here’s how to improve your bowl of ramen when that’s all you have on hand.
Choosing Toppings for Ramen:
Since instant ramen is essentially a blank canvas, you can go crazy adding whatever you want to your bowl. Here is a rundown of some of the toppings I like to use to elevate a bowl of instant ramen:
Broth: Try out several broths (vegetable, coconut, curry, prawn base, etc.) and make your own!
Aromatics: The flavour of your broth can be greatly enhanced by the addition of a few fresh aromatics, such as garlic, ginger, or scallions.
Sauces: Sauces like sriracha, chilli crisp, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, and even peanut butter can be mixed in at this point.
Vegetables: Vegetable scraps from the fridge can be used to great effect in instant ramen. They liven up the dish and make each bite more interesting.
Protein: Add some rotisserie chicken, sautéed prawns, a soft-boiled egg or tofu to your bowl to give it more substance.
Toppers: Whether it’s a textural component, like sesame seeds or furikake, or a flavorful one, like cilantro, I always want to add a little something extra at the end. It’s a finishing touch that really elevates the flavour of the ramen.
A Step by Step Guide to Improving Upon Instant Ramen
Step 1: Brew your Own Soup
Throw away the seasoning packet and use the broth of your choice instead. You could use homemade bone broth, dashi, or even just some miso combined with water; however, I prefer to use Better Than Bouillon in either vegetable or chicken flavour (I use half broth, half water to keep the salt down). greater flavour options are available, and you have greater say over the salt and other components.
Step 2: Increase the Aroma
Adding fresh aromatics to your broth is the first step in elevating your instant ramen to gourmet status. Fresh garlic, ginger, and green onion are some of my favourite additions. All three of these are standard pantry staples for me (although I do put my ginger in the freezer), so it’s an easy decision. In addition, the therapeutic flavour of fresh ginger makes this soup perfect for a sick day.
Step 3: Add Some sauce to it
There are at least 20 partially used bottles of sauce in my fridge; I know I’m not alone. Now you can put those leftover sauces to good use by adding them to your instant ramen.
Many different kinds of sauces can be added to broth to enhance its flavour, including sambal, chilli garlic sauce, sriracha, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, gochujang, soy sauce, and many others. You could also use them as a table spice by adding them to the completed bowl.
Step 4: Add Some Vegetables:
I really enjoy my veggie-filled ramen. At this point, things become both entertaining and practical. Look in the fridge for any veggies that are getting close to expiration, such as carrots, bell peppers, mushrooms, cabbage, and so on. Frozen veggies such as broccoli florets, peas and maize can also be added.
Step 5: Add the Protein:
Soft boiled eggs or hard boiled eggs are my go-to protein addition to ramen because they are quick and easy to prepare and I always have them on hand. But now you have a lot more choices! Cubes of tofu, slices of tempeh, roasted chicken, browned ground pork, shelled edamame, pulled pork, shrimp, and just about anything else you can think of!
Step 6: Top it off
Okay, now let your freak flag fly! Add a wide variety of toppings to your bowl of ramen to enhance its flavour, appearance, and mouthfeel. Some tasty toppings for ramen include:
- Sesame seeds
- Crumbled bacon
- Nori (dried seaweed)
- Fresh herbs (cilantro, Thai basil, chives)
- Sesame oil
- Crushed chiles
- Furikake
- Fresh lime
Finally, the end! What started as a pitiful little packet of instant noodles became a dish I would gladly pay at least $8 for at a restaurant.
