Ramen, What do you do to make it a little more like real food?

[stell4]

At 10 to 15 cents a pack it's a tempting choice between checks

Fettuccine Alframen

• Cook noodles without flavor packet
  
• Drain noodles
  
• Add 1 heaping scoop of cream cheese (2 scoops if you can afford extra creamy, or lofat too make yourself feel like you're eating healthy)
  
• Add all or part of the flavor packet, to taste
  
• Stir up and enjoy!
  

[TropicalCharlie]

I love ramen! I add cabbage, mushroom, whatever protein I have (usually egg, tofu or lunch meat), and a spoonful of rooster brand chili paste or sriracha.

[Behavioral]

I hardly ever eat ramen anymore, but when I was an undergrad, I'd always add a handful of baby spinach, a soft-boiled egg, sambal (garlic chili paste), and some type of light protein (typically shredded chicken, tofu, etc.) or some mushrooms (enoki are great as a meaty garnish added late in the soup).

If you have your own broth, then even better. All you need is water and mirepoix (carrots, onions, celery) and anything else you want to help flavor the soup (pork/beef/chicken bones for meat broth; shrimp shells for a shrimp broth; mushrooms [particularly the stems], etc.). You control the amount of salt instead of relying on the overpowering flavor powder/bouillon included in the packets.

Likewise, ramen can be use to make yakiramen (a la yakisoba). Toss it in a very thin pan (woks work great) with vegetable oil (olive tends to burn) with as high a flame you can get and saute your vegetables/meats/ramen. If you use too low a heat, your ingredients won't saute and will instead steam and get gross. Add your favorite sauce (teriyaki, oyster, hoisin, etc.) and get a little bit of a char (optional if you're worried of carcinogens) if you want to get a really nice caramelized taste and texture on your stir fry.

[CarlieE]

I love ramen too!!

1. Drain water and keep on the burner - turned low

2. Add a dash of nam pla (fish sauce)

3. Add a dash of sweet soy sauce (its like molasses-ed soy)

4. Add dried chives, some minced garlic

5. Top with fried egg and diced raw jalapenos.

YUM!

[psychgurl]

you all are so savvy! will have to try stir fry with just the noodles.

[CarlieE]

I hardly ever eat ramen anymore, but when I was an undergrad, I'd always add a handful of baby spinach, a soft-boiled egg, sambal (garlic chili paste), and some type of light protein (typically shredded chicken, tofu, etc.) or some mushrooms (enoki are great as a meaty garnish added late in the soup).

Sambal? Sambal belacan??? Where?? Aiiiiiii!! Where did you find this? I know there is sambal oelek - the Thai variety - but I really miss Malaysian sambal belacan.. And it's hard to find....Sigh.. this thread is making me hungry...

Edited April 13, 2012 by anthroDork

[Behavioral]

Sambal? Sambal belacan??? Where?? Aiiiiiii!! Where did you find this? I know there is sambal oelek - the Thai variety - but I really miss Malaysian sambal belacan.. And it's hard to find....Sigh.. this thread is making me hungry...

I usually just have oelek on hand since it's cheaper. You can probably find belacan if you live near a Chinese/Asian supermarket (which are found in all the big cities in the US).

[mandarin.orange]

I saw this today at Urban Outfitters!

Product description at amazon.

Edited to add: My favorite application of Ramen is to break the uncooked noodle block into chunks and add it to slaw. The oils/sauce you use to make the slaw will soften them in a couple hours. I got the idea from various Asian/Chinese cabbage cole slaw recipes.

Edited April 17, 2012 by mandarin.orange

[Hank Scorpio]

If you want to enjoy Ramen, just eat Ramen like a boss by following these steps:

1. Boil some water

2. Eat raw noodles

3. Drink boiling water

4. Snort flavoured poweder

Juuuuust kidding. Flying them up with some veggies is delicious though. I find that cooking them up with sesame oil is key...really adds a nice flavour.

[wildviolet]

I love ramen too!!

1. Drain water and keep on the burner - turned low

2. Add a dash of nam pla (fish sauce)

3. Add a dash of sweet soy sauce (its like molasses-ed soy)

4. Add dried chives, some minced garlic

5. Top with fried egg and diced raw jalapenos.

YUM!

Yummy! This is how I like to make mine, too. Plus, you can add any veggies, meat, herbs, spices that you want.

[UnlikelyGrad]

Protein source (beef or chicken), veggies (frozen if I'm feeling lazy), and a smidge of hoisin sauce and sesame oil.

[Andsowego]

Is it apple pie? No way. It's RAMEN!!!

1) Cook ramen as usual - DO NOT add spice packet (save packet for later use in a veggie stir fry, as seasoning for grilled chicken, or use to season homemade soup)

2) Add 1 peeled, chopped fresh apple; a handful of raisins, 1/2 tsp butter or marg, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp brown sugar

3) Toss all together

4) Eat while imagining pie

OR

you could eat ramen as usual, and make a baked apple with the rest. lol

Edited April 20, 2012 by Andsowego

[CarlieE]

I usually just have oelek on hand since it's cheaper. You can probably find belacan if you live near a Chinese/Asian supermarket (which are found in all the big cities in the US).

Thank you!!! Unfortunately I am in the boonies... finding decent soy sauce around here is already tough work LOL

[UnlikelyGrad]

Is it apple pie? No way. It's RAMEN!!!

1) Cook ramen as usual - DO NOT add spice packet (save packet for later use in a veggie stir fry, as seasoning for grilled chicken, or use to season homemade soup)

2) Add 1 peeled, chopped fresh apple; a handful of raisins, 1/2 tsp butter or marg, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp brown sugar

3) Toss all together

4) Eat while imagining pie

OR

you could eat ramen as usual, and make a baked apple with the rest. lol

Sounds good! But I usually just make pie. It's one of the few things I spend effort on nowadays.

[antanon82]

I used to boil the noodles, stir-fried them with garlic-chilli oil, and then added left-over chicken, eggs, veggies... A bit of soya sauce - done...

[mandarin.orange]

I will also add "Foul Bachelor Frog's" advice to this thread:

[constantSun]

it sounds gross but i add tuna to mine