Salty or Umami Flavor
A flavorful broth always has a salt or umami flavor – or, preferably, both. (Salty is not the same as umami, but American palates often conflate the two. Read more about umami flavors here.)
- Nori (seaweed)
- Soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Fish sauce
- Oyster sauce
- Miso paste
- White fish paste
- Black garlic oil
- Red pepper paste
Add a few of these crunchy toppings to your hot noodle soup, or feel free to add your own and let me know what you think!
- Sesame seeds
- Fresh green onions
- Bonito Flakes
- Crispy fried onions
- Sambal Crunchy Fried Shrimp
- Chopped peanuts
The simplest and fastest method to elevate your ramen is to substitute broth for water. Be cautious because commercial broths, even those with low sodium content, usually contain a lot of salt. Choose homemade broths whenever possible. Choose a homemade ramen seasoning instead of the packet, which is also loaded with sodium, by combining ingredients from the lists below.
- Vegetable Broth (or Mushroom Broth)
- Chicken broth
- Beef broth
- Seafood broth
Truthfully, creamy isnt really the goal of ramen noodle bowls. But since there are a growing number of creamy ramen recipes on the internet and social media, I thought I’d include a few here, if that’s what you’re looking for. You can find of the best recipes here.
- Peanut butter
- Coconut Milk
- Tahini sauce (in Japanese style bowls)
- Kewpie Mayo
Serve this with eggs, meat, or plant-based protein to make it a hearty meal. A little goes a long way!.
- Beautiful Narutomaki (Fish paste)
- Crab sticks (also made from fish paste)
- Soft-boiled egg (4-5 minutes)
- Hard-boiled egg (up to 10 minutes)
- Poached, scrambled, or fried egg
- Pork belly
- Chicken breast / Chicken thigh
- Shrimp
- Tofu
- Black lentils
- Mongolian beef
- Ground beef, turkey, or pork
- Chicken – thinly sliced breasts or grilled thighs
Step One: Hit the Notes
You only need to hit a note in each of the following four categories to make your noodle bowl better: spicy, sweet, sour (and/or acidic), and salty (and/or umami). You definitely have some of the options in your pantry! I’ve included a ton of options in each category below!
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.
