10 ways to upgrade your instant noodles

Instant noodles are a store cupboard staple, offering an easy, tasty meal in just minutes. You may recall this as your favourite uni student snack, or a much love past time that you still enjoy today. Either way, whether you are still an avid instant noodle fan or not, it’s time to explore the endless possibilities that these simple, tasty noodles offer. Here are just 10 ways that you can upgrade your instant noodles to make them a taste sensation:

1. Add peanut butter

Adding peanut butter is a great flavour option, particularly when added to our ramen instant noodles. This offers a Thai flavouring of a satay with a creamy indulgence and makes a noodle meal twice as satisfying! Just a tablespoon or two mixed into the hot liquid during cooking will certainly upgrade the flavour. Crunchy peanut butter is most recommended, and this meal will leave you feeling fuller for longer due to the rich protein contents of the peanut butter.

2. Add a ramen egg

A ramen egg is a little like a soft boiled egg, but having been marinated in a soy and mirin sauce for a period of time they are quite unique. These are simply made by soft boiling eggs, refrigerating until cold, peeling and soaking the eggs for a few hours or over night. Cut the egg in half and place it on to of your cooked ramen noodles for a truly authentic dish.

3. Make it a vegetable stir fry

To make your instant noodles into a more substantial meal, why not add some stir-fry vegetables? These can be fried in a wok with a dash of seasoning and oil as the noodles cook, then simply add the cooked noodles into the pan and mix together for a few minutes for a vibrant and healthy option.

4. Add coconut milk

The addition of coconut milk to your noodles will often give them a curry-like flavouring, particularly if added to any curry flavour sachet options! This creamy addition will give a sense of indulgence without adding anything unhealthy as well as offering more of a sauce to accompany your noodles. You can also add other spices and flavours to the coconut milk if you are feeling brave, the noodles can be cooked in this milk broth and will give added flavour to the noodles as well as creating a sauce.

5. Add extra meat

Upgrading your noodles with the addition of meat is a great idea. Take your pick from Char Siu pork, grilled chicken, fried beef or even tofu to add depth to the flavour and make it an altogether more substantial meal. The variety in textures will make it a meal to remember and the combinations you can try are almost endless!

6. Make ramac

If you haven’t yet tried ramac then you are certainly missing out; this is the combination of macaroni cheese sauce with ramen noodles. To create this delicacy, you make a simple cheese sauce from milk, your choice of cheese and a dash of flour for thickness, then pour mix the sauce into your ramen noodles, top with more cheese and pop under the grill for a few minutes and voila! An indulgent and delicious treat in no time.

7. Deep fried noodles

Instant noodles are surprisingly versatile, over the years they have been baked, microwaved and boiled but one of the most delicious ways to eat them is fried. The noodles can either be deep fried from their dried form, or cooked and shallow fried in oil. When deep fried, the texture is light and crispy; a great topping for a steaming bowl of ramen!

8. Ramnuts (Ramen doughnuts)

Ramnuts are a trend that has swept the nation over the past few years, and is one of the few noodle recipes that offer a sweet treat. Ramnuts are essentially doughnuts made from noodles, filled with a delicious filling such as jam and topped with a sweet, sugary icing. If you don’t believe us, then check out YouTube and make them for yourself!

9. Breakfast ramen

Instant noodles aren’t just for dinner; they can be sufficient for any meal. Breakfast ramen is a wonderful treat, so cook up your steaming bowl of ramen and top with a runny-yolked egg and some crispy fried bacon to enhance the taste and make this the breakfast of kings! The richness of the egg yolk, protein properties of the bacon and carbohydrates from the noodles will fuel you until lunchtime, no matter how taxing your morning tasks are!

10. Crunchy cold salad

Have you ever eaten dried noodles without cooking them first? It may sound unusual but dried noodles can add a great texture to many meals. If you are making a salad, then try breaking up some dried noodles over the top. These will essentially act a little like croutons and have you feeling like your salad is much more indulgent than it really is!

You can mix any of these flavour combinations together, the more daring the better. Have you upgraded your instant noodles in any other creative ways? Let us know on our social media channels.