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This Instant Ramen Recipe is my favorite way of making ramen noodles. If you’re looking for ways to elevate your instant ramen game, you only need a few ingredients to add more flavor and a spicy kick to it!
Instant ramen has always been one of my favorite foods to eat. Not only because it’s good, but it is one of the ultimate broke boyz food. I remember when I was growing up, there would be four of us friends with only two packets of noodles and we make it work by mixing it with rice. So good!
I know for sure it may not be the healthiest food out there, but we cannot deny that for its price and a few add-ons, you can make a meal from it. At the end of the day, this simple and cheap food can and has brought warmth and comfort to all of us.
How to Upgrade Instant Ramen?
#1 Perfect Water-to-Noodle Ratio
One of the ways to upgrade your instant ramen is by using broth instead of water. Sometimes I use oxtail broth and that definitely gives depth to the flavor of the soup. However, using water can be just as good since the soup powder is usually already very tasty.
The key thing when cooking this is to follow the package instructions to know how much water is needed. It’s quite essential since it would affect how the soup would end up tasting. Putting less water can make it salty. Putting in a lot of water can make it bland. For Shin, two cups for one pack is the perfect amount.
One thing you need to consider though is the strength of your stove. Some stoves tend to be stronger in high heat so that would quickly evaporate the water and might affect the result of your ramen. Pro-tip is to just keep an eye on it, and see if you have enough water before putting in your seasoning!
#2 Add Aromatics and Seasonings
This recipe is inspired mainly by one of my friends in elementary school, Doyon. One time, we went to his house to hang out, and I remember him teaching me his way of cooking instant noodles. Years passed and I mixed it up and experimented and came up with the best recipe ever!
You’ll only be needing garlic, gochugaru, pepper, and an egg. Be warned, this is spicy! If you’re using Shin, Samyang, or Jin ramen which are all spicy already, these seasonings will take it up a notch! Despite that, the garlic and pepper will cut through the savor of the soup so it complements really well.
While using this recipe is already perfect for me, there are still other things you can add to make your ramen better. If you want it more savory, add a tablespoon of soy sauce. If you want it more creamy, add cheese, mayo, or peanut butter. People have been very creative in putting a twist on their noodles and I’m just here for it!
#3 Add Protein
I mentioned that I add an egg to my noodles, mainly because it’s a quick and easy protein. I also like to swirl it around so that I get eggs in every bite!
Aside from that, ramen can become a complete meal just by adding any protein you like. You can essentially add fishcake, dumplings, slices of chicken, pork, beef, etc. You can also make it healthier simply by adding vegetables. Any leafy greens are a perfect add-on to the soup!
How to Cook Instant Ramen?
Noodles or Soup Base First?
One of the things that often gets debated is whether you put the noodles first or the soup base first. Some say noodles first because that’s what the package instruction says. Some say, soup base first because then the flavor of the soup would be soaked up.
To some extent, some people say they put the soup base in the bowl and that’s where they mix the noodles. Or they completely drain the water and make dry ramen altogether.
One thing about this conversation though, is that people stand by what they believe should be first! Kakaka~ As for me, it’s noodles first! That’s just how I do it!
The Perfect Timing
Follow package instructions for the time to cook. It’s always either 4 minutes to 4.5 minutes until it’s the perfect texture where it is soft but not soggy. And no, never overcook your noodles fam! We don’t want soggy noodles!
Additional tip: Let your noodles breathe. By breathing I mean picking it up with a fork or chopsticks while cooking to give them some air. This will make the noodles perfectly chewy but still soft.
What to Serve with Instant Ramen?
For this recipe, it’s always one bite of the noodles and kimchi right after, it just goes really well together! Other great pairs with instant ramen are steamed eggs or Korean BBQ.
I’ve uploaded this recipe for quite some time and many people have shared their own takes on ramen, and honestly, I’ve read some awesome takes. But maybe you can also try my recipe and let me know how you like it!
Other Korean-style noodles you might like:
Make sure to leave a rating, a comment, or tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Tiktok when you chop them up! Yeobosayo!
Chef Chris Cho-style Instant Ramen Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Water
- 1 pack Shin Ramen
- 1/2 tbsp Garlic
- 1/2-1 tbsp Korean Pepper Powder or Gochugaru
- Black Pepper To taste
- 1 pc Egg
Instructions
- Boil two cups of water.
- Once the water is boiling, put the noodles and vegetable packet in.
- Let your noodles breathe while cooking by mixing them and picking them up with chopsticks to give them air.
- Once the noodles are separated from each other, make sure to check if you have enough water, then add soup base, garlic, gochugaru, and pepper.
- When it’s almost done, add the egg. To let it cook or to mix it with the noodles is up to you.
- Serve it super hot, with a side of kimchi, steamed eggs, or Korean BBQ.
- Halfway through eating, get a bowl of rice and mix it with the soup. Enjoy!
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