Spin-off: How do you prepare Ramen?

[Rhie]

The conversation about eggs made me wonder how other people prepare an equally common food: Ramen.

I mash up the noodles while they are still in the package, and boil them like the directions say. I use my own spices rather than the package that comes in the noodles. That's way too salty for me. If I am feeling fancy, I add soy sauce and scrambled egg and scallions. Sometimes I stirfry the cooked noodles with beef or chicken in a pan for a sort of college kid lo-mein. Its far cheaper than ordering out!

How bout you?

 

[bcla]

What do you mean by "ramen"? Most think instant noodles, but there's really good stuff that's not instant noodles.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I'm super weird...
I boil the noodles as directed but I drain them and add a little butter and about a 1/4 package of seasoning.

 

[PollyannaMom]

The conversation about eggs made me wonder how other people prepare an equally common food: Ramen.

I mash up the noodles while they are still in the package, and boil them like the directions say. I use my own spices rather than the package that comes in the noodles. That's way too salty for me. If I am feeling fancy, I add soy sauce and scrambled egg and scallions. Sometimes I stirfry the cooked noodles with beef or chicken in a pan for a sort of college kid lo-mein. Its far cheaper than ordering out!

How bout you?

Like you, I break them up while they're still in the package. I boil (or microwave) them and drain off all the water (instead of making them as soup). I only use half the seasoning packet, for the same reason you said - too much salt.

But next time I'm going to try some of your ideas!

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'm super weird...
I boil the noodles as directed but I drain them and add a little butter and about a 1/4 package of seasoning.

Not weird at all! We were posting almost the same thing at the same time!

 

[Disneylover99]

I never break them up. I like them long and stringy.

I just boil them, add the seasoning package and a few hot chili flakes for extra zing and eat.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

If we're talking about the 6 for a dollar instant kind and not the legit ramen that requires actual prep, then it's:
Dump noodles (why would you purposely break them?!) into microwave container, add seasoning, cover with varying amount of water depending on how much broth I'm in the mood for, nuke for 5 1/2 minutes, let stand for at least 30. I like them extra soft.
I watched a friend make ramen once. Instead of dumping the contents of the package into the cooking container, he pulled the block of noodles out and then discarded all the broken pieces that were left behind. Made me irate.

 

[dotfurio]

I don't eat them, but my kids break them apart in the package, sprinkle them with the seasoning, and eat them out of the bag.

 

[WorldWacky]

I leave the whole block intact. Add water until JUST covered, microwave for 3 min, let them sit for another min or so, add the whole salty packet and enjoy. I only eat the chicken flavor.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

If I'm eating the chicken flavor I also add lemon. ANYTHING with chicken broth/flavoring gets the lemon treatment

 

[cjbcam]

My kids like them cooked, drained, then put on the spice.

 

[wenrob]

My husband drains most of the water after over cooking (IMO) and then adds the seasoning packet, doesn't look appealing to me at all. I add the seasoning packet to boiling water, toss whole brick in, cook just until it's not a brick anymore. Eat with broth immediately. If it gets even a hint soft I won't touch it. When I was a kid I would stir mustard into it. I rarely eat it anymore because it's a sodium bomb but usually when I do, I cook it like above then scramble eggs, add veggies and green onions, toss the drained noodles in and fry it all up together.

 

[wenrob]

I don't eat them, but my kids break them apart in the package, sprinkle them with the seasoning, and eat them out of the bag.

My niece eats it like this.

 

[mom2rtk]

If we're talking about the 6 for a dollar instant kind and not the legit ramen that requires actual prep, then it's:
Dump noodles (why would you purposely break them?!) into microwave container, add seasoning, cover with varying amount of water depending on how much broth I'm in the mood for, nuke for 5 1/2 minutes, let stand for at least 30. I like them extra soft.
I watched a friend make ramen once. Instead of dumping the contents of the package into the cooking container, he pulled the block of noodles out and then discarded all the broken pieces that were left behind. Made me irate.

I break the block into 4 sections, so some strings are still intact without being crazy long. The reason for breaking it is so that you can eat it with a soup spoon without slopping broth down the front of your chin.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I break the block into 4 sections, so some strings are still intact without being crazy long. The reason for breaking it is so that you can eat it with a soup spoon without slopping broth down the front of your chin.

Wait, you're supposed to eat it with a spoon?

 

[mom2rtk]

Wait, you're supposed to eat it with a spoon?

Yes, only with a spoon. Preferably from fine china with a linen napkin in your lap. And your pinky finger must be perfectly extended.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Yes, only with a spoon. Preferably from fine china with a linen napkin in your lap. And your pinky finger must be perfectly extended.

I've been doing it wrong. I eat it on the couch with a fork or chop sticks from pasta-sauce-stained Tupperware and wipe my fingers on my shirt. Because I'm klassy.

 

[Meriweather]

I don't eat it at all.

 

[mom2rtk]

We actually had my favorite Ramen dish this week. 4 packages of Ramen noodles, strips of chicken breast, broccoli and red bell pepper, with a bit of soy sauce and crushed red pepper flake. It's really easy and tasty!

 

[ronandannette]

I don't eat it at all.

I have literally not eaten instant ramen for at least 10 years; I haven't even had it in the house since DS "got over" liking it 3 or 4 years ago. Weird thing is how freakin' much this thread has made me crave it...