What Is in the Ramen Noodle Packet?
Depending on the brand you select, the ramen noodle packet may contain different ingredients. The simplest options include just one packet of seasonings to make the broth and one block of noodles.
Other packs of ramen come more fully loaded. Some have dried vegetables that get rehydrated upon cooking. Additionally, some come with multiple spice packets that you can use to add a variety of flavors to your soup. Typically, there will be one packet for dry seasoning and another for oils.
A ramen noodle packet is sort of a blank canvas. You can flavor your ramen in so many different ways. This dish’s popularity can be attributed in part to its simplicity!
But regardless of the type of ramen you’re eating, one thing is certain: it will almost certainly contain a lot of sodium. It’s undoubtedly not the healthiest option—some brands contain as much as 1,800 mg of sodium per pack!—which is why people have taken to these clever tips to slightly improve the health of this easy dish.
Are Some Types of Instant Ramen Healthier Than Others?
Like anything else, some varieties of instant noodles are better for you than others. The high sodium content of ramen, as indicated by the nutrition label, is one of the primary health concerns.
Consuming excessive amounts of sodium can worsen heart health and raise the risk of cardiovascular disease. Reduce your sodium consumption to prevent this rise in risk, particularly if you consume a lot of instant noodles. Check the nutrition label to find out how much sodium is in each packet of ramen when you purchase it.
The less sodium, the better. Once you’ve chosen your favorite ramen, you can cut down on sodium even more by using only half of the flavor packet that comes with it. This will usually still leave you with plenty of flavor.
Switch up Your Broth
The first thing is to change up your broth. When it comes to the overall flavor of the dish, the ramen broth is crucial, and there are plenty of ways to customize it.
First, you can lower the starch content of your broth, but don’t add the flavor packet just yet! First, bring some fresh water to a boil and then transfer it to a bowl before adding the packet mix. After cooking, strain the noodles and incorporate them into the broth. This technique will remove the excess starch from your broth and give it a light texture.
Adding some kewpie mayo to your ramen is another easy fix. This gives your broth a nice, creamy texture that tastes just like restaurant-quality tonkatsu ramen. Of course, you can always use real chicken or vegetable broth instead of the flavor packet, adding soy sauce and sesame oil to help add that umami flavor to a more basic base.
Including an egg in your ramen is a fantastic way to increase the amount of protein in your meal and balance out the dish’s saltiness. The yolk balances the flavors in the soup and lessens the ramen’s strong saltiness.
A common method is to add a soft-boiled egg. This makes the yolk runny, which allows it to combine with the broth to create an amazing creamy egginess.
To achieve a similar result, you can also just top your dish with an over-medium fried egg.
To quickly poach an egg while your noodles are boiling, try this easy method that won’t contaminate another dish: crack an egg into your noodles. These eggs will resemble and feel similar to egg drop soup.
