A meal of instant ramen is as easy to make as boiling water. So why would you want to expend any extra effort when you're looking for the simplest of dishes? Well, of course, wisdom has it that a watched pot never boils. Instead, turn your eye to these pantry-item flavourings that are as fast to prep as, well, boiling water.
EASY DOES IT
Kimchi
Chopped, seasoned, fermented: someone's done the work for you! A dollop on top of your dished noodles is just delish.
Sriracha
Make it spicy with a bit of sweetness. Sriracha goes great with chopped egg if you have some hard-boiled on hand.
Mushroom seasoning
After a road trip to Buffalo NY, a bottle of Trader Joe's Mushroom & Company Multipurpose Umami Seasoning Blend came home in my suitcase. I haven't tried it yet. But Mushrooms & Company will be invited to lunch soon.
MAKE IT A COMBO
Fresh lime and coconut milk
A taste of the tropics. Stir in a spoonful of canned coconut milk into the noodles and squeeze half of a fresh lime over top.
Sesame oil and chili flakes
Just a drizzle and a dash: a little goes a long way!
Miso and scallions
Stir the miso into the noodles and chop and top with scallions. No miso? Give it a splash of soy sauce.
Pickled ginger and wasabi
Stir wasabi into the broth and top with a bottled pickled ginger and for a sushi-inspired combo.
Fresh cilantro and ginger
Love it or hate it! I'm definitely in the former cilantro camp. A few sprigs add a lovely flourish. With finely julienned or minced fresh ginger root, they make a flavourful punch.
VEG OUT
Canned vegetables
Canned corn, canned mushrooms, canned peas. A spoonful of each? Yes, you can! Add to the last minute of cooking.
Spinach
Add fresh leaves to the boiling water to wilt. Of course, chopped greens of many kinds will work.
Frozen mixed vegetables
Choose from mixed diced veg or an Asian-inspired medley. I'm inclined to cook them in the microwave rather than cool the boiling noodle water. At minimum, run them under hot water to thaw first.
PACK IN SOME PROTEIN
Sliced cheese
An online trend is to melt a slice on top. You could. I refuse. Tell me I'm wrong.
Leftovers
Did last night's dinner leave you with extra veg or cooked protein on hand? Zap them in the microwave and serve over the noodles for a complete meal. I wouldn't be against some diced frittata.
Bean salad
A tub of chick-pea salad from the grocers or your favourite bean salad goes great spooned over the cooked noodles. The vinegary dressing adds a lovely acidic contrast.
What are your favourite toppings for ramen noodles? Share below in the comments!
Photo by Matthew Henry.
2 comments
Shirley, thank you so much for your kind compliments! I predict there is a snack in your (very near) future. :)
These are great suggestions! And the bowls are beautiful. Feeling hungry now…