If you’re anything like us, your house is stocked full of Instant Noodles, aka Maggi noodles, aka Knorr Noodles. While it may be the fastest meal you can make, it ends up tasting pretty bland but we’ve got some tried and tested ways for you to amp up your instant noodles with barely any efforts:
Make Your Own Broth
Ditch the salty packet of MSG and use your own broth, whatever kind you prefer.We like to use either vegetable or chicken flavored broth mixed with spices like red chilli, lemon juice, pepper and some minced garlic.
TIP: The easiest way to make chicken broth is to dissolve a chicken stock cube in boiling water!
Add Fresh Aromas
Fresh ingredients are always a good idea, especially if they give off a beautiful aroma and add an extra oomph to your meal. Add fresh garlic, ginger, or green onion to make your noodles smell and taste heavenly.
TIP: Mince the garlic and grate the ginger. Sauté both in a little oil for a minute or so before adding your broth to the pot. The green onion can either be sprinkled over top at the end, sautéed with the ginger and garlic, or both!
Sauce It Up
If you’re like us, you have no less than 6 half-used bottles of sauces in your fridge. Instant noodles are a great way to use up some of those sauces. You can stir sambal, chili garlic sauce, sriracha, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, or any number of other sauces into your broth for more flavor. Or add them to the finished bowl as a sort of table seasoning.
TIP: Adding sauces usually comes with added salt, so keep this in mind when choosing your broth.
Add Veggies
Who wouldn’t love a bowl of instant noodles packed full of vegetables? Browse your fridge for any vegetable that might need to be used up, like carrots, bell peppers, mushrooms, cabbage, and more. You can also toss in frozen vegetables, like broccoli florets, peas, or corn.
Add A Protein
The most popular protein to add in instant noodles is an egg because it’s easily available. But there are so many more options! Tofu cubes, rotisserie chicken, qeema, shrimp, you name it!
TIP: You can crack a raw egg straight into your simmering broth and let it cook for about 6 minutes. Make sure the broth is not vigorously boiling or the egg will break apart into a million pieces and just make the broth cloudy.
Top It Off
Top off your ramen with lots of fun goodies to give your bowl flavor, color, and texture. Here are some fun ideas: sriracha, kimchi, sesame seeds, fresh herbs (cilantro, Thai basil, chives), a drizzle of toasted sesame oil, crushed chiles, or a wedge of lime.