I have a confession to make: there are times when I genuinely enjoy instant ramen. You know, those inexpensive little packets of salty noodles that only cost 30¢? I don’t indulge in them frequently, maybe once a year, but when the craving hits, I have no shame in satisfying it by grabbing a packet of instant noodles and indulging myself. Throughout the years, I’ve discovered six simple ways to elevate instant ramen to the point where it could actually be considered a proper meal. Additionally, these methods allow me to utilize the leftover ingredients in my kitchen, making it a win-win situation. Today, I’ll be sharing these tricks with you.
Yes, that bowl in the photo above contains instant ramen. Moreover, those upgrades were quite affordable.
Today, we won’t be discussing the obvious choice of upgrading instant ramen by opting for authentic ramen from a restaurant or high-quality noodles available at Asian grocery stores.
Let’s discuss a scenario where your only choice, or perhaps your favorite choice, is the affordable ramen packets available at almost any grocery or convenience store. In such a situation, here’s a guide on how you can elevate your basic bowl of ramen and transform it into a gourmet meal!
What to Add to Ramen
Instant ramen provides a blank canvas to experiment with various flavors and ingredients, allowing you to enjoy a delightful customization experience. Below are some suggestions to elevate your bowl of instant ramen:
how to Make Instant Ramen Better – Step by Step
1. Use Your Own Broth
Instead of using the flavoring packet, opt for your preferred broth. I personally recommend using vegetable or chicken flavored Better Than Bouillon, diluted with equal parts water to reduce the sodium content. However, you can also experiment with homemade bone broth, dashi, or a miso-water mixture. By doing so, not only can you regulate the salt and other ingredients to your liking, but you also open up a wide range of flavor possibilities.
2. Add Aromatics
Enhancing instant ramen is primarily achieved through the incorporation of additional ingredients, and it all starts with infusing your broth with fresh aromatics to elevate the flavor. Personally, I prefer to include fresh garlic, ginger, and green onion. Fortunately, I typically have these three ingredients readily available (I store my ginger in the freezer), making it an effortless decision. Moreover, the addition of fresh ginger imparts a soothing medicinal essence to the soup, which is particularly delightful when you’re feeling unwell.
Suggestion: Don’t forget to mince the garlic and grate the ginger. Sauté them in a small amount of oil for about a minute before pouring your broth into the pot. You can choose to sprinkle the green onion over the dish at the end, sauté it alongside the ginger and garlic, or even do both!
3. Sauce it Up
If you’re anything like me, your refrigerator is probably stocked with at least 20 partially consumed bottles of sauces. Thankfully, instant ramen provides the perfect opportunity to put some of those sauces to good use. Whether it’s sambal, chili garlic sauce, sriracha, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, gochujang, soy sauce, or any other sauce you have on hand, simply stir them into your broth to enhance the flavors. Alternatively, you can sprinkle them over the completed bowl as a delightful table seasoning.
Remember to consider the additional salt content when selecting your broth by keeping in mind that sauces often contain added salt. This is why I prefer using a combination of half broth and half water as it allows me more flexibility to incorporate sauces at a later stage.
4. Add Vegetables
I absolutely adore my vegetable-packed bowl of ramen. This is where things become both enjoyable and practical. Take a look inside your fridge for any vegetables that are in need of being used up, such as carrots, bell peppers, mushrooms, cabbage, and more. Additionally, you can add frozen vegetables like broccoli florets, peas, or corn.
Tip: In case you lack vegetables at home, consider visiting the salad bar at your nearby grocery store. Pick a small handful or two of your preferred vegetables instead of purchasing a whole package of each. Additionally, you can add proteins like tofu or rotisserie chicken to enhance your salad.
5. Add a Protein
The egg is my go-to protein to enhance my ramen due to its simplicity and constant availability (whether soft-boiled or hard-boiled). However, there are numerous other choices to consider! From tofu cubes and sliced tempeh to rotisserie chicken, browned ground pork, shelled edamame, pulled pork, and shrimp – the options are endless!
Here’s an alternative phrasing:<br><br>Pro Tip: If you want to add a raw egg to your simmering broth, ensure that it gently simmers for approximately 6 minutes. Avoid rapid boiling, as it may cause the egg to disintegrate and make the broth appear cloudy. In the picture above, I opted to cook the egg separately using my simple 6-minute Soft Boiled Egg method before incorporating it into the final bowl.
6. Top it Off
Let’s unleash our creativity! Enhance your ramen by adding a variety of delightful toppings to infuse your bowl with exciting flavors, vibrant colors, and enticing textures. Consider incorporating these fantastic additions to your ramen:
And there you have it! Just by following these simple steps, you can transform a plain and ordinary packet of instant noodles into an absolutely amazing bowl of deliciousness that I would easily be willing to spend $8 or more on at a restaurant.
My Favorite Instant Ramen Recipe:
The photos of the instant ramen bowl showcased here epitomize the ultimate way to enhance ramen. However, on an average day, I tend to strike a balance between a simple preparation and the ultimate rendition. Allow me to share my preferred upgraded ramen recipe.
Furthermore, I may consider incorporating additional enjoyable ingredients from my kitchen, similar to those shown in the photos. If you’re interested in meal prepping, be sure to check out our Meal Prep Noodle Soup Jars!
Try These Other Instant Ramen Flavors:
What About You?
Please share your preferred methods of enhancing instant ramen in the comments section! I thoroughly enjoy discovering the distinct and imaginative combinations that people create for their ramen.
