Budget Ramen

[someone]

Really simple way to turn those $.25 ramen packs into actual meals.

Ingredients:
Cheap sake (you can use mirin, but I personally think it's too sweet)
Scallions (I recommend 2-3)
Sliced mushrooms
Cabbage (napa is best in my opinion)
Tofu and/or choice of meat
Carrots (these also make the ramen a bit sweeter)
Water chestnuts (I recommend only a few)
Korean red chili pepper (if you like spice)

Basically just cook the ramen as usual (Top Ramen, Maruchan, or any other cheap brand), except add the ingredients in after you put the seasoning packets into the broth. I recommend putting the sake in quickly after the packets since you'll want to burn off the alcohol and leave the natural sweet flavors from the drink. If you use the Korean pepper, I'd season to taste since a lot of people love or hate spicy things. Other than that the ingredients/stepa are totally up to you. I added a list of cheap things I used to put in mine when i was a college student that should be pretty widely available. If you're feeling adventurous, I'd also highly recommend making ramen with Kimchi mixed in. Hope this helps anyone short on cash find a way to stay creative in the kitchen.

(Take a shot for every time I said "recommend")

[Kitsune]

Thank you for sharing! It sounds delicious.

I've made ramen like this, except I'd put in egg (scrambled and dropped into the boiling water), shredded carrot/frozen veggies, cut up meat, and a little soy or teriyaki sauce along with the noodles and seasoning.

[someone]

Most people I know don't like the egg but I agree it's a welcome addition. Thanks for the feedback! I usually dont put soy sauce because the seasoning is so salty but its definitely not a bad idea!

[Kitsune]

I usually put in half or less of the seasoning packet, as it's too salty for me.

I'll also make the ramen where I'll boil the noodles, drain the water and season it with a bit of the packet (that way, the seasoning sticks to the noodles) before adding all the fix-ins.

You can also use the ramen to make other noodle dishes. I also like the ramen noodles with a egg fried over easy and mix the yolk in with the noodles. You an use Alfredo sauce or marinara, etc.

There's a lot you can do with noodles.

[someone]

Sorry this is late but thanks for the Alfredo idea, I never thought of that but wish I had 4 years ago. Probably would've saved more money for pasta.

[blezheng]

I will try cooking this for sure, thanks for this

[SeaWitch]

Sounds delicious!