Instant noodles have long been branded a ‘global food’ due to their worldwide popularity. In fact, the World Instant Noodles Association (yes, it actually exists!) has recorded over 106 billion servings of instant ramen just last year. That’s around 13 servings for every person in the world!
In the instant noodle consumption race, Korea wins by a landslide. The culture’s love for instant ramen is so strong that they even serve it in restaurants and hotels. However, we’re sure they serve it in a much more dignified fashion than a quick boil and plop. To honor this immense love for ramen, we’ve found five delicious ramen recipes that even Koreans would approve of!
1. Ram-Don
No one in Korea is a stranger to the delicious Ram-don noodle mix. However, this combination has gained worldwide recognition after being featured in the Oscar-winning movie, Parasite. The film featured the delicious ramen dish with an exciting twist!
Ram-don is made with a mixture of two kinds of noodles. Chapaghetti, which are black bean flavored instant noodles and Neoguri udon noodles. Ramen mixing is a popular trend in Korea, which you most definitely should try out.
To create this on-trend dish, add both noodles blocks into a boiling pot. Save the seasoning for when the noodles start to boil. Drain half the water and put the pot on a low simmer. While the noodles simmer, pour in your flavor packets.
Once all the water has evaporated, mix your noodles until all of them are properly coated in a thick sauce. Sprinkle some green onions for a pop of color, and you have yourself a yummy bowl of Ram-don. You could have it as is, or add sirloin steak if you feel fancy like the Park family! Either way, you’ll be incredibly satisfied with your delicious mixture.
2. Shin Ramyun Bowl
You can’t honor Korea’s love of noodles without trying out one of their most beloved ramen brands, Shin Ramyun. It’s been labeled the bestselling noodle brand in Korea, and we’ve found the most delicious way for you to prepare it!
Eating ramen plain is pretty standard, but with a few additions, you can turn it into a fancy meal that’s worthy of a dinner table! All you need is a pack of Shin Ramyun ramen, eggs, and shrimp to prepare your meal.
Boil your noodles in half a cup of water in a pot along with the flavor packet. We recommend using less water since it makes for a thicker, more delectable sauce. Make sure you keep stirring to give your noodles an even coating of the sauce.
Once you feel like your ramen is a minute away from being done, crack in your eggs. If you’re planning on adding prawns, make sure you add them a minute before the egg. Once your eggs are ready, and your prawns turn pink, transfer all of your food into a bowl.
It’s simple to cook, yet filling and delicious. You can adjust the ingredients according to how many people you would be feeding (or how many second helpings you would like!)
3. Spicy Cheesy Ramen
The Fire Noodle Challenge took the internet by storm last year. Thousands of people recorded themselves painstakingly scarfing down bright red spicy ramen. And while it was fun for a challenge, we’ve found a less painful way for you to enjoy your spicy noodles!
We won’t sugarcoat it; spicy noodles are spicy. So, this recipe isn’t for the faint-hearted. However, with the right ingredients, you can add more flavor and dial down your ramen’s spiciness significantly.
Firstly, you need the star of the show, Samyang Spicy Hot Chicken Ramen. Place the ramen block in a boiling pot of water until the noodles soften up. When ready, pour out most of the water until just a bit is left. Now, add your choice of cheese to the mixture. We recommend cream cheese, but you can add whatever you prefer. The warmth of the noodles will warm up your cheese splendidly.
If you prefer ramen with broth, you could add rice cakes as well! The extra ingredients add flavor and take away some of the spiciness to make it a more enjoyable meal.
4. Peanut Butter & Ramen
This may sound a little controversial, but the only way to discover delicious new dishes is by having an open mind! If you don’t want to go all out with your ramen, a quick and tasty hack is mixing peanut butter in noodles.
The recipe is pretty straightforward. Boil your pack of noodles, ditch the flavor packets and mix in a dollop of peanut butter. You can also add some sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and soy sauce to elevate the taste if just peanut butter seems a bit too crazy for you. Whatever you choose, in the end, you’ll have a delicious bowl of ramen for lunch!
5. Tex Mex Ramen
The best thing about prepping meals at home is that the world is your oyster! You can let various cuisines mingle on the stove and add all the flavors you need to make your ramen stand out. Which is why our last ramen recipe is a fusion between Korean, Mexican and Texan cuisine!
For starters, you need beef flavored ramen! Our top choice is the Nongshim Bowl Noodle Soup, since it has an extra kick of spice which is perfect for the Mexican side of this dish. Once you boil your ramen with its flavor packet and it’s ready, you can top the dish with ground beef, sour cream, shredded cheese, avocado and the works! And there you have it, your very own tex mex ramen bowl!
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