Ramen, why can't I quit you?

 

Ramen, why can’t I quit you?

It was years since I had any  in my house. It seems those dry blocks of curly noodles have risen in price since my college days. They’re still pretty cheap.

But now there are new options. They include some with oils and sauces and pictures of the Saja Boys, that cute boy band from “K-Pop Demon Hunters.” My friend has shared some with me and they are easy and fun. They could introduce young folk to cooking.

Back in the day I’d love to jazz them up by adding broccoli and topping them with nuts. It’s more satisfying and marginally more healthy that way. Ingredient label readers may get a shock by studying packaged ramen. I’ll be homemade is better for you.

Pro tip: I try to season with just half the packet of the basic brands. Less sodium, I hope.

               Someone in the house got sick a while back and that’s how the ramen got back into the house. Instead of cans of chicken noodle soup, this became the comfort food of choice. Now there is a small wall of noodle blocks on a back shelf.

               A few decades after my initial love affair with ramen noodles, I’m sharing a new list of add-ins. If you have more drop me a note to share with readers.

 

Ramen Noodle Extras:

Make your little package of basic ramen noodles go the extra mile with some of these ideas to add in or make a variation:

·       Black beans. Open a can and rinse some off to drop in your soup.

·       Shredded cabbage

·       Crack in an egg and stir.

·       Canned chicken

·       Use fish sauce instead of the included packet

·       Serve the noodles strained and with your favorite cheese melted onto the top.

·       Green onions, white onions, purple onions

·       Strain them and serve over lettuce or salad of your choice.

·       Sliced Brussel sprouts

·       Top soup or noodles with bean sprouts.

·       Hot chili oil at any stage of serving