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Big in Japan: 5 ways to spice up your Cup Noodles
I love ramen.For some, it's the heady aroma and subtle flavor of a finely aged cheese. For others, it's the enticing sizzle and juicy goodness of a T-bone steak.
For me, it's gotta be ramen, nature's most perfect food.
Now, while there really is no substitute for handmade ramen noodles floating in zen-like harmony in a steaming bowl of rich and creamy miso broth, sometimes you have to settle for Cup Noodles.
An old standby that's as cheap as it is nourishing, Cup Noodles can be enjoyed beyond your college years, especially if you know how to spice it up. On that note, if you're an aspiring gourmand, or you're just too poor to treat yourself to a proper meal, then today's posting is for you.
Here are 5 ways to make a real meal out of Cup Noodles:
5) Seafood Bisque Here in Japan, the latest craze is to add steaming hot milk to seafood flavored Cup Noodles, which makes a hearty cream soup that is surprisingly filling. This is a great way to stretch your budget as milk fills the belly much better than mere water. And, if you close your eyes and savor the aroma, you can almost convince yourself that you're dining on seafood bisque in an expensive restaurant somewhere by the sea.
Keep reading as the list goes on...
4) Curry Noodles While Cup Noodles around the world come in a variety of flavors, in North America it can be difficult to find one beyond your standard chicken, beef and shrimp. Fret not however as all it takes is a bit of curry powder, turmeric and some garam masala to really spice up your standard Cup Noodles. If you can handle the heat, some crushed red pepper really takes things up a notch.3) Kimchi Stew While real ramen is something akin to fresh, handmade pasta, Cup Noodles often tastes stale and processed. However, you can get some much-needed fiber in your diet by simply adding kimchi to your noodles. This spicy Korean cabbage soaks up oils and softens in water, and gives you the feeling that you're actually eating something healthy for a change.
2) Vietnamese Pho Processed ramen lacks the delicacy of rice noodles, though a squirt of lime, a dash of plum sauce and some fresh chili peppers can really mask the chemical flavors in Cup Noodles. To really liven this dish up, add some thin slices of beef, preferably tender cuts of sirloin or filet. And of course, top it all off with raw bean sprouts, Asian basil and perhaps some rocket or arugula.
1) Hot Chocolate Ramen I know, I know. This sounds completely gross and entirely inedible, but I can assure you that it's delicious if made properly. Instead of adding the spice packet to your Cup Noodles, add a similar amount of hot chocolate or sweetened cocoa powder, and top it off with hot and foamy milk. The result is a steaming cup of chocolate soup that strangely satisfies the urge for both something salty and something sweet.
Have any tips for spicing up Cup Noodles? Leave a comment, and show off your culinary skills!
** All images are courtesy of the WikiCommons Media Project **
Filed under: Asia, Japan, Big in Japan
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Justin McElroy Sep 15th 2008 12:04PM
I like Asian chili paste in mine. Just a few drops though. Also, try draining the liquid after they're cooked and heat them in a wok with teriyaki and diced greed onions.
JPN Sep 15th 2008 12:47PM
I never actually make the "soup"...I sprinkle half the packet on the somewhat-wet noodles and mix. More of a noodle dish as opposed to a soup with noodles. Too little water though and they're very dry, too much and they're too soggy :)
Ron Garcia Sep 16th 2008 9:24PM
Though i must admit to salivating at the though of trying many of these i feel obligated to be the stick in the mud. While Fresh Ramen is pretty nutritious and filling the Freeze dried stuff is pretty terrible for you. Cup Noodles are Super high in saturated fat is very high in calories and has enough salt to dissolve thousands of slugs. In fact gram for gram Cup Noodles are far worse for you than a Big M. So much like a Big Mac Cup Noodles are very Delicious but enjoy in moderation.
(noodle info) Ihttp://www.calorie-count.com/calories/item/6582.html
(Big Mac Info)
http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/item/21111.html
Matthew Firestone Sep 16th 2008 9:29PM
Thanks for the comment Ron - you know, I guess the real question in all of this is what would happen if we took the flavor packets from Cup o'Noodles and started sprinkling them on slugs. I'm guessing the result would be something along the lines of invertebrate genocide, which would probably be simultaneously cruel and unusual punishment, as well as confirmatory of your stated hypothesis.
On that note, I'll let you know the next time in NJ - best to start stocking up now on Cup o'Noodles from Sam's Club.
dongle Sep 17th 2008 1:07PM
Mmm.... I love when the topic goes Ramen.
My favorite thing to do is boil the noodles, drain the water, add a touch of sesame seed oil, chopped garlic, baby corn, chopped scallions and soy sauce. Usually one ramen pack plus the above stuff is good for a snack. However, if this was my dinner, I would add a few pieces of thinly sliced beef to the mix.
JEANETTE TUCKER Oct 27th 2008 6:50AM
Regarding noodles with chocolate - if you have to eat them, it would be much healthier with a healthy high antioxidant chocolate that is made from Dark Belgian Chocolate! It doesn't contain any of the bad things that ordinary chocolate has in it!
Dan Sep 19th 2008 5:47PM
Ramen noodles, I feel as if I am an expert. After being locked up for a couple of yrs and having noodles or chow hall food to choose from. many a nights I choose Ramen. I think dehidrated refried beans, honey, onion dip and some hot chips make a Top Ramen really taste top notch.
PRithvi Oct 8th 2008 4:32AM
Great article. Something I've been looking for a while now as I've been living on a Ramen diet for a couple of months now.
My favorite add-ons are usually, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, mustard sauce and soy sauce as required or desired. Its almost like mixing a drink with various permutations to help one get another bowl of Ramen down your throat without retching. I also recommend that people try to add Chilli flakes and Oregano that are cheap and readily available at most stores. You could try to add some good old fashioned ketchup to it also to increase consistency and make it a richer meal but I'm not personally fond of that combination.
Sydney c Apr 20th 2011 9:17PM
My fav: make the.soup, add a small amoumt of grated sharp cheddar, som frozen peas, rice vinegar, chili sauce, lime juice, and a touch of hidden valley ranch. My guilty pleasure;)