Upgrade Your Instant Noodles
Instant ramen has an unfortunate reputation as the meal of struggling college students. It's quick, it's cheap, it can be eaten while cramming for finals. Instant ramen may be high in sodium and preservatives, but with a few simple upgrades you probably have in your pantry, you can elevate this struggle meal to a more balanced dish.
1. Egg
Eggs are one of the easiest ways to add some protein and flavor to your instant noodle. Add a jammy, soft-boiled egg just like at a ramen restaurant, or top with a crispy fried egg after cooking. You can also crack an egg directly into the broth and let it poach as the noodles soften.
2. American Cheese
Like Cheez Whiz, American cheese really asks its consumers to expand their definitions of what cheese is. These oily, individually wrapped slices make for an underwhelming grilled cheese, but they absolutely shine in ramen. If you like your noodles with more broth, a cheese slice will turn the broth silky smooth.
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3. Green Onions
We always feel less guilty about eating junk food if there's a pop of green involved, and instant ramen is no exception. Scallions are a go-to garnish in East Asian cuisine, adding a freshness to every bite.
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4. Spam
In a lot of instant ramen upgrade videos, the creator will conveniently have leftover steak or pork belly in their fridge that they add for a restaurant-quality bowl. That's simply not realistic for a lot of people. Like ramen, spam is often viewed as an unhealthy poverty food, but frying it in brown sugar and sriracha will bring out as rich a flavor as any pork belly: sweet, salty, and spicy all in one.
5. Seaweed Snacks
Nori, or dried seaweed, can typically be purchased in one of two forms: long sheets for sushi, and individual packs for snacking. Both options will be a delicious addition to your bowl of ramen. Make sure to add your seaweed last as it will soften up quickly.
6. Fish Cakes
Fish cakes can be found at Asian grocery marts or the international aisle of your local store. Typically packaged frozen and pre-cooked, they can cook alongside your noodles for a subtle, slightly briny taste. Skewer your fish cakes and dip into the cooked broth if you really want to be fancy.
7. Frozen Veggies
Give that neglected bag of peas or spinach at the back of your freezer a new life as a ramen topping. The texture of a plain bowl of instant ramen can grow a little monotonous, but not with added veg. Adding to your meals rather than subtracting is one of the keys to a balanced diet.
8. Miso Paste
Miso is one of the most popular and accessible ramen flavors worldwide. Miso paste can be easily purchased at the grocery store in either light (sweet and mild) or dark (salty and robust) varieties. Miso plays well with other flavors and toppings.
9. Baby Bok Choy
If spinach and cabbage had a baby, it would be bok choy. Baby bok choy is sweet and subtle, with an almost peppery undertone. These delicate greens will wilt when they touch the broth—which is exactly what we want for a full-flavored bowl.
10. Corn
Corn and beansprouts are two popular toppings in northern Japan. Sweet corn adds some vibrant color to your bowl with a mild flavor. For a bowl that will keep you warm on a long winter night, try creamed corn for some of that Hokkaido flavor.
11. Mushroom
Wood-ear mushrooms are among the most common toppings offered at ramen restaurants, but feel free to use whatever type you like best. Enoki mushrooms have a delicate, almost sweet flavor; shiitake mushrooms are rich in umami with an earthy, savory flavor. New vegetarians or vegans may want to try king oyster mushrooms, which have a woody, slightly nutty taste that's great as a meat substitite.
12. Chili Crisp
Some people make their own chili crisp from scratch—you'd be surprised by how easy it is—others swear by established brands such as Lao Gan Ma. Either way, chili crisp can add depth to the simple flavors of the ramen seasoning packet. Varieties with peanuts will add an extra crunch of protein with every bite.
13. Rice Cakes
No, not the disc-shaped puffed rice beloved by dieters in the 1980s. Korean rice cakes are made with non-glutinous rice flour and shaped into diagonally-cut fingers that lap up flavor. Spicy rice cakes or teokbokki are a popular street food that you can pop into your ramen for a spicy, savory indulgence.
14. Gochujang
This popular red pepper paste is one of the anchors of Korean cooking, but that doesn't mean you can use it for other Asian dishes. Gochujang can transform even the weakest of broths into a symphony of flavor. Combine with a little rice vinegar and stir to break up clumps before adding to your bowl.
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15. Pickled Ginger
Raw ginger can be way too much for your typical ramen bowl. For a more soothing kick that will clean out your sinuses without being too overpowering, pickled ginger is the way to go. Just don't mix it up with sushi ginger, which is meant as palate cleanser between bites.
16. Hot Dogs
Like spam, hot dogs have been unfairly maligned. The snap of the outside casing combined with the meaty inside is quintessentially comforting. Either chop or throw in whole, and your franks will soak up the broth as they cook.
17. Sausage
If you think you're too good for hot dogs (none of us are, truly), then you can substitute good ol' frankfurters for whatever sausage you have on hand. Andouille sausage minus the fat can make for an east-meets-west bowl of gumbo-style ramen. Cured sausage such as Spanish chorizo can be scattered on top before you eat.
18. Furikake
Furikake is a one-of-a-kind Japanese seasoning that is most often used on rice. Shakers normally include a mixture of sesame seeds, sugar, msg, seaweed, salt, and fish flakes. Combined, you get all five elements of taste in every slurp.
19. Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds are a good addition to anything, but they work especially well on noodles. Some people prefer a more broth-based ramen, while others like to drain the liquid and focus on the noodles for a more concentrated flavor. If you're in the latter group, sesame seeds are an easy and crunchy enhancement to your bowl.
20. Canned Soup
Not so much a topping as it is an additive, canned soups are a great way to bulk up a broth. Chicken or beef are classic choices that will enhance the seasoning packets. Creamy varieties such as msuhroom or onion will make the flavor richer and more complex.
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