What to Add to Ramen
These are a few of my favorite toppings for ramen, many of which are common pantry items. To make your bowl of ramen more sophisticated, try mixing two or three of these!
- Green Onions: Fresh, flavorful, and incredibly simple to use, sliced green onions are one of the simplest and most satisfying additions you can make to ramen. They also significantly improve the appearance of your ramen bowl.
- Soy Sauce: It’s very easy to add umami and salt to ramen by adding a small amount of soy sauce. This might not be the best choice if your seasoning packet is already salty, but if you’re using fresh or dried ramen noodles, it can add the perfect amount of salt to your bowl of ramen.
- Homemade Ramen Seasoning: This is my all-time favorite way to season ramen, and I always have it in my spice cabinet.
- Try using black or roasted sesame seeds for a beautiful pop of color and texture.
- Peanut Butter: The creamiest ramen is made with a tablespoon or two of peanut butter!
- Fish sauce is a flavorful punch that can provide you with an immediate sense of umami. Add in a teaspoon to start.
- Sesame Oil: Toasted sesame oil can be used as a ramen finishing oil. Its rich and nutty flavor will elevate your noodles.
- Chili Oil: Use a couple of spoons of chili oil or chili crunch if you enjoy a little heat.
- Thick, rich oyster sauce will add a ton of savory flavors. Use it sparingly as it is potent.
- Rice Vinegar: If you’re using any fatty meat or oil, add a teaspoon or so of rice wine vinegar to your bowl to give it some acidity.
- Lime Juice: Like vinegar, lime juice provides wonderful citrus flavors along with much-needed acidity.
- Hoisin Sauce: A tiny dab of hoisin will give your ramen a really savory, slightly sweet taste. Its a little like barbecue sauce, but richer and saltier.
- Brown Sugar: To give your noodles a caramel-like sweetness, mix in a teaspoon or two of brown sugar.
- Miso paste is one of the traditional additions to ramen. Its richly flavorful, savory, and salty-sweet.
- Dashi: To give your ramen a taste of fish stock, use some instant dashi. Its nice and salty.
- Raw Egg: Add a raw egg to your steaming noodles to make them creamy and just cooked.
- Soft Boiled Egg: Ramen and soft-boiled eggs go together like clockwork. After six minutes of soft boiling, split the egg and place it in your bowl.
- Hot Sauce: Toss in a couple of tsp of vinegar-based hot sauce, such as Franks or a traditional Sriracha.
- Curry Powder – Curry powder is the ultimate spice blend. Add some for a little heat and richly, deep flavors.
- Chili Pepper: Cut up a red or green chili pepper to add a pop of fiery flavor.
- Cheese: Adding pieces of American cheese to your ramen is one of the most well-liked ramen “hacks.” You must try this if you enjoy mac and cheese.
- Leafy Greens: Any type of leafy green, such as spinach, arugula, or microgreens, can make a delectable and nutritious addition to ramen. It balances and gives your bowl of noodles some freshness.
- Red Pepper Paste: For a little kick of heat, add a dollop of red pepper paste or red chili paste (like Gochujang).
- Raw Ginger: Season the water or broth in your ramen by adding a few slivers of peeled, raw ginger. Id recommend removing it before serving.
- Butter: If you’ve ever tried Kylie Jenner’s ramen recipe, which went viral, you already know how delicious and creamy butter can be when added to ramen!
- Fresh Vegetables: Ramen is a great way to incorporate veggies like mushrooms, sliced bell pepper, and broccoli florets. Use whatever you have available in your refrigerator!.
- Seasoned bamboo, known as “menma” in Japanese, makes a delicious and subtly sweet garnish for ramen.
- Chicken Broth: To get deeper flavors, replace your water with some chicken broth or stock.
- Milk: To make your ramen creamier, replace half of the water with milk.
- Bok Choy: During the final minute or two of cooking, slice a few pieces of baby boy choy and add them to your ramen.
- Pork Belly: A traditional ramen combination is pork belly (chashu). Its rich and fatty flavor enhances the broth and goes well with the noodles.
Finally, some American cheese rounds round out this list of ramen hacks. That’s right, you can add some extra flavor to your ramen by adding the supermarket treat you may remember from your childhood grilled cheese sandwiches. Just place one slice of cheese on top of your bowl of ramen and stir. The cheese should melt and give your broth a nice creamy flavor, adding a distinct cheesy flavor and providing an extra energy boost for your activities the following day.
If you’re looking for a different kind of heat boost, Sriracha is your go-to brand! Originally from Thailand, Sriracha has gained popularity across the globe as a result of its adaptability to a wide range of dishes. Red chili powder and garlic are a tried-and-true combination for a flavor that pops.
This might be the solution for you if you find it difficult to appreciate the flavor of the seasoning packets from instant ramen brands. You may already be aware of the type of flavor that miso paste can add to your ramen if you’ve had miso soup. Replace the prepackaged seasoning with a few tablespoons of miso paste and bring your water to a boil. By using miso paste, you can create a broth with a savory flavor that isn’t overly strong. Furthermore, because miso paste needs to be refrigerated after opening, it is best used when car camping in an area with a cooler.
Kimchi is a traditional Korean side dish made with pickled vegetables and a blend of spices. Although cabbage is the vegetable that is most frequently used to make kimchi, other vegetables can also be used, and the degree of spice can also change. Kimchi, which is frequently used in Korean soups and stews, goes well with ramen and can give your evening meal a gratifying crunch. Kimchi can be made at home by anyone with a little practice, but it’s also available in many grocery stores and local Korean markets.
Don’t let this list stop you from trying different kinds of ramen if it’s nothing new to you. A highly appealing aspect of ramen is its adaptability. Visit a nearby Japanese or global market and inquire about advice or recommendations. Whatever your interests may be, coming up with inventive ways to spice up your camping food is a tried-and-true method to make the most of your time spent outside.
