11 cheap ways to pimp your instant noodles
My student days are light-years behind me, and fortunately, so are the days when I was completely broke. Still, there’s one thing from that time that has remained in my life: instant noodles.
Easy, quick, hot, salty, packed with flavor enhancers and incredibly cheap. You can get a packet for just 40 cents. What more could a person want? Well, perhaps something nutritious. So here you go: 11 cheap ways to give your instant noodles that little something extra.
1. Fried onions
Instant crunch in a box. Fried onions are delicious on (almost) anything, so naturally they’re great on instant noodles too. Bonus points: just like instant noodles, they’re dirt-cheap, ready to use straight away and conveniently located nearby on the shelf. Well. Convenience is king.
2. Coconut milk
Would you like to make your soup a little creamier? Add some coconut milk — straight from the can, just like that — and you’re done.
3. Peanut butter
It may sound strange, but it’s great. As soon as you add it to the hot noodles, it melts slightly. It makes the broth a little richer and deliciously nutty. Think pad Thai. But not actual pad Thai. After all, they’re still instant noodles. My favorite is the kind with pieces of nuts, for extra crunch.
4. Sauce
Like it spicy? Add some sriracha or sambal. Prefer it sweet? Go for sweet chili, teriyaki, kecap manis, oyster or hoisin sauce. And if you want it a little saltier: soy sauce is the one.
5. Ginger
In slices, for a mildly spicy, fresh flavor in your broth. Finely chopped, for an extra punch.
6. Chili flakes & butter
One for the spicy kick, the other for a smooth, creamy counterpart. Of course, you can choose one or the other, but they also work really well together.
7. Kimchi
Fresh, sour, funky; kimchi’s flavor is hard to describe. But one thing I do know: it gives your instant noodles a whole new dimension.
8. Greens
My favorite: stir-fried bok choy. Preferably with a little garlic. I happily eat that as a dish on its own, but it’s also great in your bowl of noodles. A lovely crunchy counterpart to the broth and noodles. Mushrooms and bean sprouts are great too.
9. Fried tofu
You need to know how to prepare tofu, but once you do, it’s so delicious. Pretty much always, and therefore with your noodles too.
10. Egg
An egg is a must. Fried, boiled, poached. All equally delicious.
11. Cheese
Say what?! Yes, it sounds like questionable fusion, but in Korea it’s completely normal: cheese over your noodles. It makes them gooey and the broth lightly creamy. Give it a try.
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