10 Ingredients to Elevate Your Instant Ramen
Photo by Fernando Andrade/Unsplash Food Lists instant ramen
Whether you have an especially tight grocery budget this month or for whatever reason just can’t be bothered to gather a bunch of ingredients to make something from scratch, it can be useful to have some instant ramen on hand. Is it the most nutritious food out there? No. But when you’re hungry and you want something you know is going to taste good (and that costs less than a dollar), those plastic-wrapped packets of ramen are sure to get the job done.
But just because you’ve resigned yourself to a night of Maruchan doesn’t mean you have to eat nothing but noodles. By adding a few ingredients to your packet of instant ramen, you can elevate a sad snack into something that vaguely resembles a nutritious, enjoyable meal. Here are ten of the best, easiest and tastiest ingredients you can use to elevate your bowl of instant ramen.
1. Eggs
Eggs are a classic ramen addition that can be used in a variety of ways. My personal favorite is a soft-boiled egg, which, when cooked properly, can yield a gooey, fatty pocket of yolk that can add a ton of flavor to your noodles. If you’re not a fan of soft-boiled eggs, you can always just break an egg into the broth to create a kind of poached egg situation. Planning on eating your ramen without the broth? Fry up an egg until its edges are crispy and place on top of your noodles for some added texture and protein.
2. Spam
I always have some Spam sitting around in the back of my cabinet, ready for me to use whenever I’m craving something salty. Instant ramen doesn’t exactly need more salt, but the fatty, undeniably enjoyable processed meat can make a flavorful addition to an otherwise simple soup. I prefer frying mine before adding it to the noodles, but you can just slice it and place it in the broth if you don’t want to deal with an extra step.
3. American cheese
Koreans will sometimes put American cheese on top of their ramen. If you’ve never tried it before, you have to give it a shot. The creaminess of the cheese creates some balance in an otherwise brothy, salty dish, and since American cheese melts so easily, you can mix the cheese in with the rest of the soup. I genuinely think this is the very best way to use a Kraft single.
4. Scallions
Scallions are a magical ingredient—they automatically add a ton of flavor and texture to any dish they touch, and instant ramen is no exception. The bright, fresh flavor of scallions works especially well in soups. While your noodles are boiling, slice up a scallion diagonally, then add it to your bowl once the soup has finished cooking.
5. Mushrooms
If you want to feel like you’re getting some nutrition in your bowl of instant ramen, mushrooms can be a great addition. Enoki and oyster mushrooms are my favorite, but don’t be afraid to use whatever mushrooms you happen to have on hand. Just make sure you boil them for long enough for them to lose their rubbery texture.
6. Tofu
Tofu can give you instant ramen a boost of protein, which is why it’s such a great addition to your soup. Fry up some firm tofu ahead of time, or just add some uncooked cubes to the broth. If you want to make sure the tofu is as flavorful as possible, you might want to look into buying the smoked stuff.
7. Quality broth
Yes, you’ll get a little packet of bouillon with your instant ramen, but if you want a slightly different flavor profile, you may want to try a different type of broth or bouillon. Use veggie broth for a lighter, fresher flavor or beef broth for a heavier, more intense profile.
8. Heavy cream
Instant ramen is known for its brothy base, but you can make the broth creamier simply by adding some heavy cream. This may not exactly make your bowl of ramen healthier, but it’ll definitely feel more substantial (even if you only use a little bit). Combine heavy cream with some additional American cheese for maximum creaminess.
9. Frozen vegetables
If you’ve decided to make ramen, you’re probably not feeling like you want to spend a ton of time in the kitchen chopping up other ingredients. That’s where frozen veggies come in. All you have to do is add them to the pot so they cook along with your noodles. Broccoli and edamame are my favorites for ramen, but basically any frozen veggie you have in your freezer will do.
10. Pork
Sure, this takes some extra time, but if you happen to have some bacon, pork chops or ham on hand, they can make an excellent addition to your bowl of ramen. Make sure to cook your pork thoroughly before adding it to the finished dish.
Samantha Maxwell is a food writer and editor based in Boston. Follow her on Twitter at @samseating.